Guadeloupe , Under The Sunâ¦
Often reduced to its eternal image of seaside resort island, water blue lagoon and white sand beaches, the Guadeloupe proposes to travelers innumerable activities and varied landscapes. From the magnificent seabed, to banana and sugar cane plantations, everyone finds their happiness. Today, the Guadeloupe has even made its mark in the incentive market.
The inevitable:
Distillery Severin: Heritage of the Island
“Ti-Lagoutte, Ti pape, pete -pied …†The rum has as many nicknames as opportunities to be drunk. It can be transformed at anytime into a delicious cocktail with all kinds of fruits available on the island; the famous one being Punch Coconut. The rum is aging in oak barrels for the ‘aficionados’, and has become the island’s Heritage, while visitors are given the opportunity to visit its distilleries.
Located on the heights of the town of Sainte-Rose, in an abundance of delightfully hilly ultra green vegetation, Severin is one of the oldest rum distilleries of the island; the only one which still uses the old waterwheel, in operation since 1802, by means of the water from the great river Guavas. Every year around 2000 to 2500 tons of sugar cane from the northern Basse-Terre farms is crushed here through a mixture of processes. But this former ‘sucrote’ offers more than a simple introduction to the manufacture of rum. It is a true immersion into the richness of the Guadeloupe ecosystem.
Gourmet Fireworks
The Creole cuisine is characterized by a delicate marriage of flavors from its migrated population. To the knowledge of European conservation and fishing, has been added a variety of roots and vegetables from Africa, the spices from India and the abundance of tropical fruits such as guava, passion fruit, coconut, pineapple… The result is a variety of delicious dishes: Colombo, Acras, Creole sausage… to name only the most known.Â
Marie-Galante: As before…
Carved by picturesque country roads and hilly terrain, Marie Galante evokes the old Guadeloupe, with white sand beaches and emerald green water. Marie-Galante, populated by only ten thousand inhabitants, marks our mind by its authenticity as well as it’s calcareous and clay lands largely devoted to cane cultivation. The area of Bellevue is one of the live witnesses, with its distillery which produces up to 6,500 litres of rum per day, including its famous white rum at 59 °. As long as we aspire to revitalize ourselves in isolation, we can always think about Marie Galante.
Submarine Carnival
A sea between 26 and 28 °, clear, populated by a colorful fauna which gloats in a turquoise water; the Guadeloupe has not stolen its nickname of the ‘island of beautiful waters’. Henceforth, it might be very difficult for us to resist getting hold of our mask and snorkel, to immerse ourselves in such a submarine carnival. Boxfish, butterfly fish, surgeon fish, sergeant major, turtles; the archipelago is full of a variety of species. At Marie-Galante, ideal for snorkeling, you float over the natural aquarium; at Basse-Terre, you will let yourself be amazed by the beauty of the coast… a world of silence which can also be observed at the Marina aquarium at Pointe a Pitre … without even getting wet.
The Bonifierie: 100% Arabica
The falling prices of sugarcane has led in the nineteenth century, many landowners to diversify their business. Imported a century ago into the Caribbean, coffee was once located in Guadeloupe, on the very site of the old sugar mills. The House of Esperance became ‘Bonifierie’, and is now one of the most successful examples of this conversion. On the edge of the plantation, its venerable windmill turns slowly and distills its grain, which is then tasted in the former home of the foreman. The production of this coffee ‘Bonifieur’, plucked, roasted and ground on site, 100% Arabica, however, does not exceed a few tens of pounds per year. Regardless of the same, the ‘Bonifierie’ also cultivates cocoa which is turned into a delicious chocolate. It also proposes a typical Creole restaurant only for guests, where you can taste your ability or adaptation to the Creole cuisine.
Pointe-A-Pitre: The capital.
Pointe-à -Pitre is not Havana or Salvador de Bahia. No Colonial neighborhood here, nor heroic pirates or remnants of forts built to counter pirate attacks. Just a few bourgeois pastel villas strung here and there. Pointe-à -Pitre is the economic capital of the island and it does not hang up to its past. Affected by cyclones, earthquakes and many fires, the city has too much often suffered. May be a punishment from heaven against this human folly built by the sweat of tens of thousands of slaves? Even the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul could not resist the earthquake of 1843. To soak up the atmosphere, you must wander through the Victory Square surrounded by beautiful houses with columns, passing by the house Souqes-Pages converted into a museum in memory of Saint John Perse. You should also explore the opportunity of the carnival or jazz festival, strolling up to the marina…where you can hear the beautiful waves swaying.
 WHY CHOOSE GUADELOUPE:
 It is often forgotten, but Guadeloupe is an archipelago of five islands that each have their own identity: Ecotourism at Basse Terre, the beaches at Grande Terre, the authenticity at Marie Galante, the charm of Saintes and the discovery of Désirades . In all the islands, the hotels have been renovated in order to accommodate all kind of customers especially those from “Business Tourismâ€.
Many hotels now have meeting facilities and special deals for International conferences and delegates.
What about incentives?
The market is very recent. The infrastructure has evolved a lot; not only hotels, but also the touristic sites, theme houses, sports centers … The hotels have created a range of quality offers.
The best season as a tourist to visit the island is from December to April, but for the incentives, we recommend in November and May; the climate will still be pleasant and the accommodations are more accessible.
Finally, it is a destination where green tourism is booming. Travelers who discover the island for the first time are always surprised by its environmental heritage
About the Author
Voyages Designers Consulting is a Worldwide Travel Management Company specialized in Tailor-made travel packages, all inclusive and Luxury vacations, Transportation, Hotels and Apartments services reservations.
” CROSS COUNTRY CRUISE “, the movie & the 1935 Quetta earthquake