Guadeloupe is a group of islands in the Caribbean Sea. The total land area of the islands is almost 700 square miles. Guadeloupe is a possession of France. There are five islands in Guadeloupe, Basse-Terre, Grande-Terre, La Desirade, Les Saintes, and Marie-Galante. Each island has its own topography. Grande-Terre has rolling hills and flat plains, while Basse-Terre is comprised of volcanic formations. Guadeloupe has really embraced her ties to France, and visitors to Guadeloupe will experience the class of Europe that you are not able to find elsewhere in the Caribbean. You will find sugar cane and tropical jungles all on the islands of Guadeloupe.

Water Sports
The islands of Guadeloupe offers water sports enthusiasts many thrills. Snorkeling coral reefs can be accessed directly from the beaches, and equipment can be rented on the islands. There are many famous and beautiful dive sites on the islands. Divers need to keep in mind that artificial lights are not allowed. There are several places on the islands where scuba diving instructors are available for hire. Divers need to keep in mind that many of the species living the Caribbean are protected and should not be touched. Visitors can also charter boats for deep-sea fishing trips. Be sure to stay out of the marine reserves when fishing. Water Skiing and small-boat sailing are other popular activities, and Guadeloupe hosts many sailing competitions throughout the year. Visitors can hire sailing instructors on the islands, and sailing is easy to do because on Guadeloupe, pleasure sailboats do not require a license to operate.

Island Diversity
Guadeloupe has had an interesting past. The island was first inhabited by the Arawak Indians, who were replaced by the Caribs. Christopher Columbus was the first European to land on a Guadeloupe island, and soon after the Europeans came. France took possession of the island, and the European diseases quickly wiped out the Caribs. Britain tried several times to take the island from France, but never completely succeeded. The French brought many slaves there to work the sugar plantations. As a result, today Guadeloupe’s population is primarily African, with minority populations of Indian and Europeans.

Activities
The National Park of Guadeloupe is a great destination to get in touch with the island’s flora and fauna. The park has 188 miles of marked trails through tropical rain forests. Visitors to the park will be able to visit beautiful tropical waterfalls hidden deep in the rain forest. Mountain climbing is another popular activity. The Sainte-Françoise golf course is famous and a popular destination. Of course, a trip to Guadeloupe is not complete without visiting the beautiful beaches that the islands are famous for. The majority of the beaches are open to the public. The beaches of Grade Terre are white, and the leeward beaches are brown. Basse-Terre boasts black beaches! There is such a huge variety of beaches that you will want to be sure to schedule time to visit all of them! Those who enjoy history will enjoy a visit to Guadeloupe. There are several museums dedicated to the history of the islands, and there is even a working sugar factory that is open four tours. Whatever you enjoy doing, you are sure to find it on the islands of Guadeloupe.