Language
French
French is the official language, although Guadeloupean Créole (very different from French) is the native language. Everyone speaks French but few people understand English.
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Americas · CaribbeanOutline guideOverseas department and region of France
Photo: LPLT, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Guadeloupe, known as Gwadloup in the local creole, and sometimes known as the Butterfly Island (French: l'île Papillon) on account of the shape of two of its major islands, is a group of islands in the eastern Caribbean, and is a French overseas department, southeast of Puerto Rico.
Answers to what travellers most often look up about Guadeloupe.
French
French is the official language, although Guadeloupean Créole (very different from French) is the native language. Everyone speaks French but few people understand English.
Tap water is usually safe for consumption.
There are no particular diseases to worry about, but you should protect yourself from the sun; and there might be Zika virus and dengue.
Culture of Guadeloupe is typical French and Caribbean. People should respect the people like how people do in European France and Caribbean.
Attractions, food, stays and travel essentials, with ratings, reviews, opening hours and directions.
Public transport and paid services in Guadeloupe.
By bus
There is a public bus system. You can find the routes and timings on Karulis. Most routes start from Pointe-à-Pitre and connect with the main locations, such as the Airport.
By taxi
You will find plenty of taxis. But this is definitely the most expensive way of getting around. Fares are 40% higher from 21:00 to 07:00, as well as all day on Sunday and holidays.
Apps for booking a taxi or a ride in Guadeloupe.
Finding apps for Guadeloupe…
Operators checked against their official websites in October 2026; services that have stopped running are not listed. Logos and Wikipedia links: Wikidata (CC0)
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Pointe-à-Pitre · International · PTP
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Calculated from climate averages: mild daytime highs and lower rainfall. It does not account for festivals, crowds or prices.
Average conditions in Basse-Terre
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg. high | 27° | 27° | 27° | 28° | 28° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 29° | 28° | 27° |
| Avg. low | 25° | 25° | 25° | 26° | 26° | 27° | 27° | 28° | 28° | 27° | 27° | 26° |
| Rainfall (mm) | 48 | 33 | 37 | 58 | 91 | 94 | 114 | 131 | 137 | 173 | 137 | 73 |
| Humidity | 76% | 75% | 74% | 75% | 77% | 78% | 78% | 79% | 78% | 79% | 78% | 77% |
Choose your passport and destination to see whether you need a visa.
We do not label countries as safe or unsafe. Below is the official advice from two governments, with the date it was last updated. Always read the full advice before you travel.
US Department of State
Level 1 of 4Exercise normal precautions
Exercise normal precautionin Guadeloupe. Guadeloupe is generally a safe destination for travelers. Guadeloupe regularly experiences hurricanes. Review our information on Weather and Natural Disasters in Guadeloupe. Review our Travel Guidance for Guadeloupe to learn how to prepare for a safe trip.
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
No advice against travel. Read the full advice before you go.
Before you travel No travel can be guaranteed safe. Read all the advice in this guide. You may also find it helpful to: see general advice for women travellers read our guide on disability and travel abroad see general advice for LGBT+ travellers read about safety for solo and independent travel see advice on volunteering and adventure travel abroad Travel insurance If you choose to travel, research your destinations and get appropriate travel insurance. Insurance should cover your itinerary, planned activities and expenses in an emergency. About FCDO travel advice The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) provides advice about risks of travel to help you make informed decisions. Find out more about FCDO travel advice. Get travel advice updates Sign up to get email notifications when this travel advice is updated. Follow FCDO: travel advice on X travel advice on Facebook Travel Aware on Instagram
Stories, itineraries and practical advice for travelling in Guadeloupe.
Nature & adventureWikivoyage has information about national parks, both about a host of individual ones, general information on parks in some countries and general advice for hiking and some related topics.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsLasting from the 1500s to the 1800s, the Atlantic slave trade was a crime against humanity of extraordinary proportions, leaving a huge mark on four continents and irreversibly changing world history and geopolitics.
Wikivoyage
Travel tipsChristopher Columbus (Italian: Cristoforo Colombo; Spanish: Cristóbal Colón) made four voyages from Spain to the Caribbean from 1492 to 1503.
Wikivoyage
Nature & adventureAs of 2023 the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves is made up of 738 reserves in 134 countries of which 22 are transboundary.
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Travel tipsFreighter travel is a less crowded and much slower alternative for crossing a sea or ocean, not using airplanes or commercial cruise ships or ferries.
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