RSS |
Land-based sports on Guadeloupe include golf, tennis, and biking, which is a major sporting event as can be seen by the 10 day Tour de la Guadeloupe international race held on the island each August. |
Hikers encounter challenges on trails of varying length and difficulty in the Parc National’s spectacular rain forest, whether it is climbing La Soufrière volcano, or exploring the Caribbean’s highest waterfalls, Les Chutes du Carbet. Horseback riding is offered at a number of different locations on the island. Off-road exploration by quatre-quatre (4x4) vehicle is also available, primarily on Basse-Terre.
Golf
Guadeloupe's only public golf course is the well-known Golf de St-François, opposite the Le Kalenda Resort. The course runs alongside a 320-hectare (800-acre) lagoon where windsurfing, water-skiing, and sailing prevail. Designed by Robert Trent Jones, Sr., it's a challenging 6,147m (6,755-yd.), par-71 course, with water traps on 6 of the 18 holes, not to mention massive bunkers, prevailing trade winds, and a particularly fiendish 364m (400-yd.), par-4 ninth hole.
The par-5 sixth is the toughest hole on the course; its 410m (450 yd.) must be negotiated in the constant easterly winds.
Hiking
The 29,640-hectare (74,100-acre) Parc Naturel de Guadeloupe contains some of the best hiking trails in the Caribbean. The 290km (180 miles) of trails cut through the deep foliage of rainforest, passing waterfalls and cool mountain pools, hot springs, and rugged gorges along the way. The big excursion country, of course, is around the volcano, La Soufrière. Another highlight is Chutes du Carbet, one of the tallest waterfalls in the Caribbean, with a drop of 240m (800 ft.).
Hiking brochures are available from the tourist office. Hotel tour desks can make arrangements.
Tennis
Big hotel mostly have their own free tennis courts, although there might be a small fee for nighttime illumination if it's available. There are two tennis courts at the Tennis Club de St-François, Plage des Raisins Claires, St-François.
