Guadeloupe Facts
Guadeloupe is a French Caribbean archipelago made up of Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, Marie-Galante, La Désirade, Les Saintes and smaller islets. Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin are separate territories and are no longer part of the Guadeloupe department.
General
| Official status | French overseas department and region; part of France and an outermost region of the European Union. |
|---|
| Administrative capital | Basse-Terre. |
|---|
| Main commercial area | Pointe-à-Pitre and neighbouring Les Abymes/Baie-Mahault form the principal urban and economic area. |
|---|
| Population | About 380,400 inhabitants at the beginning of 2025. |
|---|
| Languages | French is official; Guadeloupean Creole is widely spoken. |
|---|
| Currency | Euro (EUR). |
|---|
| Time zone | UTC-4 throughout the year; no daylight-saving time. |
|---|
| Telephone code | +590. |
|---|
Geography
| Area | About 1,628 sq km. |
|---|
| Main islands | Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre, separated by the Rivière Salée. |
|---|
| Other inhabited islands | Marie-Galante, La Désirade, Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas in Les Saintes. |
|---|
| Highest point | La Soufrière, 1,467 m. |
|---|
| Terrain | Mountainous volcanic Basse-Terre contrasts with lower limestone Grande-Terre. |
|---|
| Climate | Tropical maritime climate moderated by trade winds; the mountainous west is much wetter than the eastern plains. |
|---|
Money and daily life
| Cards and cash | Cards are widely accepted, but cash remains useful for small businesses, markets and some ferry or beach services. |
|---|
| Price level | Many imported goods and accommodation can be expensive compared with mainland France or larger Caribbean markets. |
|---|
| Tipping | Service is normally included in restaurant prices under French practice; an additional tip is optional for good service. |
|---|
| Shopping | French products are widely available, while local markets are useful for fruit, spices, fish, crafts and prepared food. |
|---|
Transport
| Main airport | Guadeloupe Maryse Condé Airport (PTP) near Les Abymes and Pointe-à-Pitre. |
|---|
| Road traffic | Driving is on the right. |
|---|
| Car rental | The most practical option for exploring Basse-Terre, trailheads, waterfalls and less central beaches. |
|---|
| Public transport | Bus networks serve parts of Grande-Terre and the Pointe-à-Pitre area, but frequencies and coverage are less convenient for comprehensive sightseeing. |
|---|
| Ferries | Passenger ferries connect Guadeloupe with Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and La Désirade, with separate regional services to neighbouring islands on selected routes. |
|---|
Entry and practical conditions
| Border status | Guadeloupe is French territory but is outside the Schengen Area; entry rules for French overseas departments vary by nationality. |
|---|
| European travellers | EU, EEA and Swiss travellers should verify the accepted identity document for their route, especially when connecting through non-EU Caribbean islands. |
|---|
| Other travellers | Check the current French overseas visa and passport rules before departure. |
|---|
| Health care | French health standards and services apply, but remote islands have more limited facilities than the Pointe-à-Pitre/Basse-Terre urban areas. |
|---|
| Hurricane season | The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from June 1 to November 30; risk varies from year to year. |
|---|
What changed from the old Guadeloupe facts page?
The former page still used the pre-2007 administrative geography, which counted Saint-Barthélemy and part of Saint-Martin with Guadeloupe. It also named Martinique's former Lamentin airport as Guadeloupe's airport. Those entries have been removed and replaced by the current archipelago and Guadeloupe Maryse Condé Airport.
Guadeloupe Info | Guadeloupe Maps | Guadeloupe Gallery
