Did you know that Guadeloupe was part of France?

Well yes, this paradise island located in the Caribbean sea is one of the territories of France, even though it is about 7,000 kilometers from the mainland.

To learn more about this wonderful island full of a rich cultural and natural heritage, discover 20 interesting facts about Guadeloupe! 🏝

 

Facts on Guadeloupe to Learn All About It

Ready to learn all about Guadeloupe?

Facts are one of the best ways to learn more about something, and I personally love to read them! I’ve put together for you quite a bit of facts on Guadeloupe; I’ve split them in 4 categories:

  • The best Guadeloupe facts
  • Guadeloupe fun facts
  • Guadeloupe facts for kids
  • General facts of Guadeloupe

Let’s dive in straight away with our first category!

 

The Best Guadeloupe Facts

The region of Guadeloupe is part of France, and has definitely some interesting facts that you will want to learn about. In this first part, it will be about the general best Guadeloupe facts:

 

1. Guadeloupe is very far from France, but it is still a French territory

Guadeloupe is part of the Caribbean, an area reputed for being one of the most dreamy and paradisiac places in the whole world. Then what does it even have to do with France, a very historical, traditional and European country, with a discussable weather?

Well, whether you believe it or not, Guadeloupe is an integral part of France! Guadeloupeans are French citizens that have the same rights as those in continental France.

 

1 - guadeloupe facts geography

 

2. Guadeloupe is actually not an island… It’s an archipelago!

Though most people imagine Guadeloupe as being a single island, standing in the middle of the sea, with mythical mysteries and wonderful landscapes, Guadeloupe is actually made of 6 main islands.

If you ever go to Guadeloupe, you should visit each of them. They are all reachable by ferry, and all of them are inhabited. Also, if you are scared of the boat, you can fly between the islands pretty quickly.

 

3. The rhum of Guadeloupe is very renowned

You might know Guadeloupe’s main 2 products: sugarcane sugar and rum. In fact, the region is very famous for its local rum, the “Rhum Agricole”. I guess that’s a way to use all the sugar they have, right?

While Rhum Agricole emerged in the French Caribbean, it is said that it was further developed and perfected in Guadeloupe. Because of how smoother this rum is compared to the traditional one, it is heavily sought after, and some people even consider it to be the best in the world.

 

3 - guadeloupe fun facts about rum

 

4. Some of the best diving sites in the world are in Guadeloupe

If you like scuba diving, what will come next will please you. Because of the numerous gulfs, beaches and other beautiful marine areas, Guadeloupe is considered to be one of the best places in the world for scuba diving.

There are tons of clubs all around the region, for every level, whether you’re brand new to the sport or are an experienced diver. Don’t worry, if you’re not into that, you can just enjoy the sun!

 

5. There is a sublime national park in Guadeloupe

This will probably not surprise you, but in the heavenly islands of Guadeloupe, there is a gorgeous national park. 960 km² / 371 sq mi large, it is the best place to showcase the natural beauty of Guadeloupe.

There, you can see some of the best natural landscapes of all the islands. It was declared a nature reserve by UNESCO in 1992, and has a large rate of endemism.

 

5 - guadeloupe interesting facts about nature

 

6. Sadly, an important portion of the Guadeloupean wildlife was eradicated

Though this dates back to many years ago, it is equally sad. Due to extensive hunting in Guadeloupe, a major part of the region’s wildlife was eradicated. The most famous extinct animal is probably the Guadeloupe parakeet.

Nowadays, you can see 17 species of mammals, like the Javan mongoose, the Agouti and the Guadeloupean Raccoon. There are lots of fantastic bird species like the purple-throated carib or the Guadeloupe woodpecker.

 

6 - guadeloupe facts and information about fauna

 

7. Creole is the second, unofficial language of Guadeloupe

Officially, the language of Guadeloupe is French. Nearly all of the population speaks it, or at least understands it.

Most of the population also speaks Creole, which is the unofficial language of the region. Guadeloupe has its own variation of the language, Guadeloupean Creole, a variety of Antillean Creole. This tongue is key to the local pride and culture, and was for long not accepted as much as it should have.

 

8. Guadeloupe is one of the outermost regions of all of the European Union

Well, this is logical, but since Guadeloupe is a French region, it is also part of the European Union. And it is one of the outermost regions of all the Union, nearly 7,000 kilometers / 4,350 miles away from France.

But it is not the outermost region, in fact it is not even the furthest French region! The number one region is French Guiana in South America, 7,086 kilometers / 4,403 miles away from continental France.

 

And that’s it for the 8 Guadeloupe interesting facts. Onto the fun part now!

 

Guadeloupe Fun Facts

Every place has unusual and funny facts that you should know about.

For Guadeloupe, I have 6 of them for you.

 

9. There are only 2 seasons in Guadeloupe

This fact is common to most countries around the Equator, and since Guadeloupe is one of them, well, there are only 2 seasons there. Due to its tropical climate, the archipelago is a place of extremes: the season is either completely dry, or permanently wet.

No matter the time of the year though, the temperature is very similar. On average, the temperature ranges from 24.5 °C / 75.2 °F to 27.7 °C / 80.6 °F.

 

10. Christopher Columbus first discovered Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe and the whole continent of America have stayed a mystery for Europeans for hundreds of centuries. Before Christopher Columbus, the legendary sailor that discovered the New World, world maps were… very limited.

In fact, Columbus was also the first European to see Guadeloupe! He landed there in 1493, and gave the island its name: “Santa María de Guadalupe”. The region was designated as a shrine to the Virgin Mary, venerated in Guadalupe, a Spanish town in Extremadura.

 

10 - guadeloupe information facts about christopher columbus

Portrait of Christopher Columbus

11. There is a local dance in Guadeloupe called “biguine”

The interaction between African, French and Indian cultures has created some very original and new forms of music and dance in the archipelago. Zouk music is very famous locally, and since the 70s the local language has become the go-to language of popular music.

Biguine is the most popular local dance, but there are others like cadence-lypso, gwo ka and kadans. The rhythm is what makes biguine so enticing. It actually originated from Martinique in the 19th century.

 

12. Guadeloupe is a tropical paradise, in which everything is just magical

This is simply the best summary of the archipelago anyone could make: an equatorial wonderland. It’s just that perfect!

Not only is Guadeloupe an ideal holiday destination, but it is also a magical place all around the year. With its stunning sandy beaches, beautiful mountain peaks and clean forest waterfalls, there is not much more to add to the marvel that the region is. Go there if you can!

 

12 - la guadeloupe facts

 

13. If you want to visit Guadeloupe, you should avoid June to November at all cost

I have already told you about the only 2 seasons that there are in Guadeloupe. Precisely because of that, you will want to avoid the wet season at all cost! It is literally raining all day long. On top of that, the air is so humid that it gets unbearable relatively quickly.

However, during the dry season, the temperature stays around 27 °C / 80 °F.

 

14. De Gaulle might have kept Guadeloupe in France on his own

Charles de Gaulle is probably the most recent French legendary figure. He was a huge part of the win of the Allies during World War II, and was elected President of France after that, from 1958 to 1969.

Not only was his charismatic Appeal of 18 June a motivating speech that made French people rise up against the Nazis, but he also calmed down the independence movements that emerged on Guadeloupe when he visited the islands 3 times.

 

So these were my fun Guadeloupe facts and information!

The last part will be about facts for kids.

 

Guadeloupe Facts for Kids

Though every fact on this list is suited for kids, I want to dedicate a special part to the youngsters.

Eternally curious and thirsty for knowledge, I hope they will be happy with these 6 facts I have for them. 

 

15. Guadeloupe looks like a butterfly

There are several islands that make up the archipelago of Guadeloupe, but 2 of them stand out a lot: Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre.

Because of how close these 2 are, and how they are shaped, the main islands resemble a butterfly: better get your camera ready if you fly above Guadeloupe! The picture will be even more beautiful when you see the contrast between the mountainous Basse-Terre and the sunny Grande-Terre.

 

16. The first name of Guadeloupe was “Karukera”

Before Christopher Columbus landed in Guadeloupe, there were already native indigenous people, the Arawak. Their home was named “Karukera” in their own language, which means “island of beautiful waters”.

Just go to Guadeloupe, you will quickly understand why. All around the archipelago, the crystal clear blue waters are simply mesmerising. They are perfect for swimming, diving or simply taking magical pictures.

 

17. There is an active volcano in Guadeloupe

Though Guadeloupe is a peaceful and natural heaven, it has some natural wonders… and sometimes disasters. The islands are especially vulnerable to hurricanes, like Hurricane Cleo in 1964 and Hurricane Maria in 2017.

However, the most renowned Guadeloupean natural marvels are its volcanoes. The most famous of them, La Soufrière, located on Basse-Terre, is still active to this day, and its last eruption dates back to 1977.

 

17 - guadeloupe island facts about la soufriere

La Soufrière volcano in Guadeloupe

18. There are picturesque coral reefs all around Guadeloupe

Forget about Australia and New Zealand, in the Caribbean Islands, you can find everything you want, even wonderful coral reefs!

If you want to discover a rich wildlife beneath the waters, Guadeloupe is a place you should definitely visit. Luckily, the main tourist resorts are found on the white sand beaches of Grande-Terre, right next to the coral reefs.

 

19. There was slavery in Guadeloupe up until 1848

This is the sad part of the history of Guadeloupe. Just like lots of European colonies, the region was first an important place for… slavery.

It began ever since Christopher Columbus landed in South America. After the failed attempts at colonization by the Spanish, when the French managed to settle in Guadeloupe, lots of indigenous people died. After centuries of harsh domination, slavery was finally abolished in the French Empire in 1848.

 

20. Almost every Guadeloupean is Roman Catholic

In terms of ethnic, you will find 90% of Creole, the rest of the population being East Indian, Lebanese and even some Chinese people.

Regarding religion, about 95% of the Guadeloupean are Roman Catholics, but there are still some Hindus, pagan Africans and Protestants. Churches there are very colorful, generally bright and white.

 

And that is it, these were all my 20 Guadeloupe island facts, France. I hope you enjoyed them and that you learned something new today.

In case you want to learn more about the region, or the country as a whole, feel free to keep reading, as I still have lots of things to tell you about. 

 

General Facts of Guadeloupe

You’ll find below a few general facts of Guadeloupe, to learn more about this French region:

  • Name: Guadeloupe
  • Land area: 1,628 km² / 629 sq mi
  • Population: 396,000
  • Name of inhabitants: Guadeloupéen, Guadeloupéenne (French) / Guadeloupean (English)
  • Website: Guadeloupe

 

Guadeloupe Flag

guadeloupe flag

 

More Facts!

Want to learn more facts about France?

Well, I have other France facts posts I’m sure you’ll love reading!

Here is the main guide of the best France facts 👉 The 60 Best Facts about France

Check out these France facts by city:

Or these French facts by region:

You can also check these French facts by topic: 

Or click here to see ALL the facts up on the blog! Spoiler alert: there’s A LOT of them.

 

The Full List of 20 Guadeloupe Facts

  1. Guadeloupe is very far from France, but it is still a French territory
  2. Guadeloupe is actually not an island… It’s an archipelago!
  3. The rhum of Guadeloupe is very renowned
  4. There is a sublime national park in Guadeloupe
  5. Some of the best diving sites in the world are in Guadeloupe
  6. Sadly, an important portion of the Guadeloupean wildlife was eradicated
  7. Creole is the second, unofficial language of Guadeloupe
  8. Guadeloupe is one of the outermost regions of all of the European Union
  9. There are only 2 seasons in Guadeloupe
  10. Christopher Columbus first discovered Guadeloupe
  11. There is a local dance in Guadeloupe called “biguine”
  12. Guadeloupe is a tropical paradise, in which everything is just magical
  13. If you want to visit Guadeloupe, you should avoid June to November at all cost
  14. De Gaulle might have kept Guadeloupe in France on his own
  15. Guadeloupe looks like a butterfly
  16. The first name of Guadeloupe was “Karukera”
  17. There is an active volcano in Guadeloupe
  18. There are picturesque coral reefs all around Guadeloupe
  19. Almost every Guadeloupean is Roman Catholic
  20. There was slavery in Guadeloupe up until 1848

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