Getting around in Guadeloupe

There are many ways of getting around in Guadeloupe. Guadeloupe Pole Caraïbes Airport is 6km (4mi) north of Pointe-à-Pitre. There are car rental agencies and a taxi stand at the airport. An airport bus runs about twice an hour to Pointe-à-Pitre on weekdays.

By Bus
Guadeloupe has a good public bus system that operates from early morning to early evening, with fairly frequent service on main routes. From Pointe-à-Pitre, you can catch one of these vans, either at the Gare Routière de Bergevin if you're going anywhere in Basse-Terre; to the Gare Routière de Mortenol if the northern half of Grande-Terre is your destination or the prolongement (extension) of the Marché de la Darse if the southern end of Grande-Terre is your destination. There is no direct bus service from the airport to Pointe-à-Pitre.

By Taxi
From 9pm until 7am, cabbies in Guadeloupe are legally entitled to charge you 40% more. Most taxis in Guadeloupe have meters. If the taxi you hire does not have a working meter, agree on a price before getting in. Taxis are plentiful but expensive. There are taxi stands at the airport, in Pointe-à-Pitre and in Basse-Terre. Larger hotels commonly have taxis assigned to them and the drivers wait in the lobby.

By Rental Car
Renting a car is a good way to get around Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre. Several agencies have offices at the airport and in major resort areas. Car-rental kiosks at the airport are open to meet international flights. Driving is on the right-hand side of the road and there are several gas stations along the island's main routes.

Because of the distance between gas stations away from the capital, make sure the gas gauge does not fall below the halfway mark. Renting a motorcycle can be fun on Terre-de-Haut and Marie-Galante, since there are few autos on the road. If you want to travel at a slower pace on Marie-Galante or La Désirade, try renting a scooter or a bicycle. There are buses on Marie-Galante everyday but Sunday.

By Ferry
Getting between Guadeloupe and its associated islands is easiest by ferry. There's service between Pointe-à-Pitre and Les Saintes, Saint-François, Trois-Rivières and Marie-Galante. There are also ferry routes between Saint-François and Marie-Galante and La Désirade. Flying between the islands is faster but not necessarily more convenient. Air Guadeloupe has daily flights between Pointe-à-Pitre and Marie-Galante, La Désirade and Terre-de-Haut.