Traveling Luck for Guadeloupe. Guadeloupe, North America

Guadeloupe is located in Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, southeast of Puerto Rico.

Land in Guadeloupe is Basse-Terre is volcanic in origin with interior mountains; Grande-Terre is low limestone formation; most of the seven other islands are volcanic in origin.

Guadeloupe land covers an area of 1780 square kilometers which is 10 times the size of Washington, DC

Guadeloupe has borders with Netherlands Antilles for 10.199999999999999km.

Guadeloupe flag Guadeloupe national flag (Flag of Guadeloupe)

As for the Guadeloupe climate; subtropical tempered by trade winds; moderately high humidity.

Guadeloupian(s) speak French (official) 99%, Creole patois.

Places of note in Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe Map Guadeloupe map

Regions of Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe has been a French possession since 1635. The island of Saint Martin is shared with the Netherlands; its southern portion is named Sint Maarten and is part of the Netherlands Antilles and its northern portion is named Saint-Martin and is part of Guadeloupe

Country Profile for Guadeloupe

This Caribbean economy depends on agriculture, tourism, light industry, and services. It also depends on France for large subsidies and imports. Tourism is a key industry, with most tourists from the US; an increasingly large number of cruise ships visit the islands. The traditional sugarcane crop is slowly being replaced by other crops, such as bananas (which now supply about 50% of export earnings), eggplant, and flowers. Other vegetables and root crops are cultivated for local consumption, although Guadeloupe is still dependent on imported food, mainly from France. Light industry features sugar and rum production. Most manufactured goods and fuel are imported. Unemployment is especially high among the young. Hurricanes periodically devastate the economy.

Guadeloupe natural resources include cultivable land, beaches and climate that foster tourism

a narrow channel, the Riviere Salee, divides Guadeloupe proper into two islands: the larger, western Basse-Terre and the smaller, eastern Grande-Terre

Guadeloupe religion is Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 4%, Protestant 1%.

Natural hazards in Guadeloupe include hurricanes (June to October); Soufriere de Guadeloupe is an active volcano.

Travel Advice for Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe

This advice has been reviewed and reissued with amendments to the Health section.  The overall level of the advice has not changed.

SUMMARY

  • Guadeloupe is a French Overseas Territory.  There is no formal British diplomatic or consular representation.  The General section of this travel advice gives you more information.

  • Several hundred British nationals visit Guadeloupe each year.  Most visits to Guadeloupe are trouble-free.  The main type of incident for which British nationals require consular assistance in Guadeloupe is for replacing passports and medical problems.  The Health section of this Travel Advice gives you more information.

  • The threat from terrorism is low.  But you should be aware of the global risk of indiscriminate terrorist attacks which could be against civilian targets, including places frequented by foreigners.

  • Although the risk from crime is also low, it does exist and you should take normal common-sense precautions.

  • The hurricane season in Guadeloupe normally runs from June to November.  Please see the Natural Disasters section of this Travel Advice and Hurricanes for more information.

  • We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to Guadeloupe.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.  Please see: Travel Insurance.


SAFETY AND SECURITY

Crime

You should take sensible precautions and avoid isolated areas, including beaches, after dark.  Do not carry large amounts of cash or jewellery.  Valuables and travel documents should, where possible, be left in safety deposit boxes and hotel safes.


ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Guadeloupe is an Overseas Département of France. If you are a British Citizen or British Subject with Right of Abode in the United Kingdom, you will not need a visa to enter Guadeloupe.  Other British passport holders should confirm the current entry requirements with the nearest French Diplomatic mission.  All British passport holders require a valid passport.  There is no minimum passport validity requirement but you should ensure that your passport is valid for the proposed period of your stay.
Single parents or other adults travelling alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country.  For further information on exactly what will be required at immigration please contact the:  French Embassy in London.


HEALTH

We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling to Guadeloupe.  You should check any exclusions, and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake.  Please see:  Travel Insurance.
The Form E111 is no longer valid.  You should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK.  The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as nationals of Guadeloupe. You will not be covered for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature.  For more information about how to obtain the EHIC please see:  Europe and the EHIC
It provides emergency health cover for treatment in Guadeloupe by the French State health service for which you will have to pay but for which you will be able to claim back up to 70% of the costs on your return to the UK.  Visitors travelling (or being air lifted) to Guadeloupe from other non-French islands specifically for medical treatment should be aware that such treatment will not necessarily be covered.
General health care facilities, including emergency services in health service hospitals, and the availability of doctors (GPs), in Guadeloupe are very good and of an equivalent standard to those found in mainland France.  Specialist treatment is also available.  You will not be covered for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature.
You should seek medical advice before travelling and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.  For further information on health, check the Department of Health website at: www.dh.gov.uk
NATURAL DISASTERS
The hurricane season in Guadeloupe normally runs June to November.  You should monitor local and international weather updates from the World Meteorological Organisation.  You can also access the National Hurricane Centre for updates.  Please see Hurricanes for more detailed information about what to do if you are caught up in a hurricane.


GENERAL

If things go wrong when overseas, please:  What We Can Do To Help.

There is no resident British Diplomatic Mission in Guadeloupe.  Routine consular matters are covered by the British Embassy in Paris.  In case of emergency, contact the Honorary British Consul in Guadeloupe, 23 rue Sadi Carnot, 97110 Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe; (tel:  +590 82 57 57; fax:  +590 82 89 33).