Pointe-A-Pitre Cruises, Guadeloupe
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Flick through your French dictionary while sipping a Caribbean rum punch – Guadeloupe is where French and African influences fuse. This gorgeous spot is actually a bouquet of islands. There’s a scattering of little ones but the two main players are Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre. Together, they’re shaped like a butterfly resting quietly on the sun-blushed Caribbean. As famous for its sugar and rum as it is top dive sites and sparkling sands, this place will sweep you off your feet…
• Dig your toes into the sand at Grande Anse beach, arguably the best in Guadeloupe. You’ll find it on the north coast of Basse-Terre, stretching along the coast for one sun-kissed kilometre.
• Weave a path through the orchid and ginger-rich canopy of Guadeloupe's National Park. The air is thick with fragrance at this 74,000-acre park where a new snapshot appears with every twist and turn.
• Zip up your wetsuit and strap on your oxygen tank – you’ll need all the air you can get because this place is breathtaking. Jacques Cousteau Underwater Reserve, close to the town of Bouillante, is an underwater paradise. Think reefs, wrecks and rainbow-coloured fish.
SHORE EXCURSIONS View all excursions
Amazing Eco Tour
You’re in the hands of eco experts on this tour. The guides – who are both licensed dive instructors and certified marine biologists – will get you exploring a couple of wildlife-packed reserves via boat. Depending on the group size, you’ll board either a smart catamaran or a small but speedy zodiac boat. First up is the tangled, atmospheric mangrove forest that lies east of Salt River. We’ll continue on to the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve, where a coral reef lays the groundwork for a snorkelling session. Regular visitors include shoals of brightly-coloured fish, neon brain coral, stripy surgeonfish and luminous parrot fish. It’s little wonder UNESCO has crowned the area a protected Biosphere Reserve. The last stop is a millpond-still lagoon. Palm trees dot the white sands – you can use your free time here to sip freshly-squeezed juice in the shade, kick back on the beach, or take a dip in the sea.
Jacques Cousteau Reserve Marine
The Jacques Cousteau Marine Reserve is an underwater wonderland. It’s named after the famous filmmaker-come-conservationist who was known for his love of diving. Black-sand Malendure Beach on westerly Basse-Terre marks the start of the tour. Here, you’ll set off on a glass-bottom boat ride that’ll give you a glimpse of the brightly-coloured sea life – think neon brain coral, stripy surgeonfish and luminous parrot fish. If you fancy getting up close and personal with the critters, you can grab snorkelling gear and go for a swim off the boat. After the boat trip, we’ll head back to the ship – but not before stopping off at Crayfish Falls. A 10-minute stroll will take you to where the waters plunge into a crystal-clear pool.
Pointe-a-Pitre Bike Tour
For a different way of exploring a port of call, try one of our bike tours. This way, you can really get to know a destination and see the places that bus tours can't reach. You'll be led around by a guide, who'll give you the lowdown on all the sights.