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Walks and hikes

May31

Indispensable lung of Guadeloupe, the mangrove now covers over 8,000 hectares in the archipelago. Long destroyed in favor of the island’s industrialization, its importance is now more than proven, and its preservation is vital.

Half of its surface is now protected by the National Park in a lagoon called the “Grand Cul de Sac Marin”, a reserve kept intact thanks to the coral reef that protects it, and more recently, thanks to the human action of enthusiasts who will make you discover this fragile environment to raise awareness and make you active participants in its survival.

Located on the port of Sainte Rose, the Blue Lagoon team offers you a unique excursion to discover this incredible ecosystem. Upon arrival at their cabin, you will be welcomed by their team, consisting of more than just certified captains but a family of enthusiasts who are eager to teach you everything they know about the subject and involve you in this cause dear to their hearts.

The excursion they offer is conducted in small groups of up to 12 people. The unique feature of their boats is that they have a flat bottom, allowing access to hidden places where the depth sometimes reaches less than a meter, offering a unique and comprehensive visit to the most secret and inaccessible areas of the Grand Cul de Sac Marin.

Jean-Eudes, the owner, has acquired precious knowledge in this field after 15 years of experience, and he will share it with his team of captains: Clément, Max, Jérémie, and Matthieu. After several years of sailing individually, they all came together around the same passion: to make you discover and, above all, understand the importance of the mangrove and the immense ecosystem of which it is a part.

Through their excursion, they will present to you, with humor and pedagogy, the wonders of this natural environment where their expert eye is essential to look where it matters. You will also be able to enjoy the beauty resulting from this perfect alchemy of nature by swimming in turquoise waters that are even more beautiful on-site than in any photos you may find on the internet.

Blue Lagoon is a complete success, both in terms of their ecological approach and their passion for sharing their knowledge with you.

As for the setting, it will leave you with a timeless memory of our beautiful island, and when you look at your vacation pictures after returning home, it will surely make you want to come back.


Blue Lagoon Excursion

Phone: +590 6 90 34 99 69

Website: https://www.guadeloupe-excursion.com/excursion/

Open Monday to Saturday from 7am to 7pm.

Mention this article during your call and get a €6 discount per adult!

May19

Pointe-à-Pitre, an emblematic city of Guadeloupe steeped in history. This city, which has traversed the ages, sometimes worries more than it intrigues the many travelers who visit it. However, it hides unsuspected treasures that will allow you to discover the city from a new perspective.

 

Near the cruise terminal, a small discreet building houses the premises of Enoch and Julien, owners of the Pousse-pousse Taxi company. Former post office buildings with a ceiling adorned with metal beams from the Eiffel construction sites, the starting point of the tour sets the stage for the main theme: Pointe-à-Pitre is a city filled with history not visible to the naked eye.

Enoch and Julien offer different modes of transportation, such as small electric cars and electric and motorized Tuk-Tuks, which have crossed the ocean to take us on an unconventional tour through the city that we constantly traverse without paying attention to the right places.

Enoch is a native of Pointe-à-Pitre, passionate and fascinating with his journey and determination. He is a staunch advocate and defender of the arts and knowledge related to Guadeloupean and African history in the Caribbean. He is more than a guide; he is also an active participant in the preservation, realization, and development of the local culture that is dear to him.

During this tour, they will present different open-air paintings of Guadeloupean street art, which have breathed life and color into this city that can sometimes have a dark side. The various artists playfully graffiti history in strategic locations to accentuate their thoughts. Thus, one can find abandoned buildings transformed into monstrous animals several meters tall, deceased local figures brought back to life and transcending posterity on immense walls, and works filled with dozens of hidden messages narrating the infernal history of slaves torn from their countries to live through hell in the Caribbean.

Enoch is extremely knowledgeable about his subject, and his commitment is particularly noticeable during the visit to the Center for Arts and Culture, a building whose construction was halted without a clear reason. It has been taken over by numerous artists, and every unpainted wall is still crisscrossed with cables that abruptly stop. The artists have made the building their own and filled every centimeter with artwork worthy of a New York museum. Enoch has contributed, along with the many artists, to clean and preserve this place that seems to hold such significance for him.

When traversing Pointe-à-Pitre, one often gets the impression that the city is weighed down and bogged down in its past and its heavy architecture, where no one really wants to delve into it again. Thanks to the many artists and actors in this silent reconstruction, the city is gaining a new, calm, and patient momentum. It is a proof of hope, strength, and courage, allowing us to see the city with fresh eyes and, for once in a long time, imagine an optimistic future for it.

May13

Waterfall in Guadeloupe

 

Acomat’s Leap is one of the numerous and magnificent waterfalls of Guadeloupe.

It is situated at Black Point, at the place called ‘Les Plaines’ (The Plains) just before the Caribbean beach.

After taking the direction for Acomat, turn right at the small chapel and go down the road to park where the road forks.

Once you have left your vehicle, you have a short 15 minute walk before arriving at the river which you should cross and then follow to reach this famous waterfall and enjoy the sublime setting.

The water is a gorgeous emerald green colour!

Enjoy a swim in the pool hollowed out by nature in the stone!

Ensure you are well equipped and wear good hiking boots; the ground is quite steep in places with one particularly steep slope.
Picnics are authorised, although there is not an equipped picnic site, and it is a

popular and friendly place for Guadeloupians to meet with friends or family for picnicking at weekends in the shade of the tropical forest.

You can swim here but diving is absolutely forbidden. Rockslides have created piles of rocks in the pool so diving is actually very dangerous here. Ensure you check the weather forecast before you visit this place.

The river water level can rise rapidly when it rains and it is not recommended to visit this area in heavy rain as you may find yourself stranded.

And enjoy your stay at Piton Bungalows.

May13

The ‘Saut de la Lézarde’…. A waterfall about ten metres high that falls into a pool of around 25 metres diameter !

Lizard’s Leap is one of the most beautiful sites of Guadeloupe !

Its name originates from the winding shape of the river through the tropical forest leading to the waterfall, like the shape of a lizard’s path. Lizard’s Leap is situated in the parish of Petit Bourg.

The waterfalls at the ‘Lézarde’ could be described as dreamlike, you have the feeling that you are in a film and that Indiana Jones could suddenly emerge at any time !

Apart from the muddy and slippery track, or ‘trace’ (a hiking path is called a ‘Trace’ in Guadeloupe), the walk itself is very pleasant. There is plenty to see along the path leading to the waterfall and its pool.

We only come upon the waterfall and its pool at the last moment, it suddenly comes into full view… the sight is truly breathtaking !

The waterfall pours into a magnificent pool in which it is highly recommended to bathe and refresh yourself before your return.

The deep green luxuriant vegetation surrounding and above the pool, and the little streams running here and there, further enhance the beauty of this location…

The beginning of the hike is from the car park of an abandoned restaurant (to get there take the ‘Route de la Traversée’ in the direction of Vernou, then follow the signs for ‘Hauteurs Lézarde’. At the crossing, turn right. Watch carefully for a wooden sign indicating the direction of the waterfall. Stop at number 11 and park your vehicle at the side of the road.)
From there a path leads down to the waterfall. Take care as this path is always muddy and slippery; ensure you are wearing strong hiking boots!
The path is not marked by signs but is still easy to follow due to all the footprints of previous visitors. It will take approximately a half hour to reach the waterfall, the path descends by around 80 metres overall.
The return is by the same path and takes less than a half hour.
The walk is fairly easy although the slope can be fairly steep at times.

It should be noted that access has been officially closed for years now… It is therefore extremely important that you take care and remain prudent, follow the track carefully !

On your return from the hike, why not take a few moments to relax in the hammock on your bungalow terrace at Piton Bungalows !