Guadeloupe Islands: Preservation and a Renewed Visitor Experience


© Guillaume Aricique/ HappyMan

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Incomparable, the Guadeloupe Islands offer agencies a straightforward answer to their clients: a French archipelago, a season driven by the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, and experiences that are easy to arrange, on land or at sea, alongside a warm, welcoming population.


A SAFE BET

At the moment when your clients scan international news before booking, the Guadeloupe Islands offer a clear answer: French identity card or passport, the euro, reimbursed healthcare, a secure yet exotic setting that feels both unfamiliar and familiar. For clients who hesitate, it’s a decisive argument. For you at the counter, it’s a sale with no objections.

This reliable value also proves itself when you return from the field.

“We’ve moved from discoveries to discoveries. I already knew the Guadeloupe Islands, but now it will be a real pleasure to sell them.”

Kamel, Hôtels & Lagons, Lyon, educational tour Secrets des Îles de Guadeloupe, June 2026


THE ROUTE DU RHUM – DESTINATION GUADELOUPE


© Guillaume Aricique/ HappyMan

The year’s flagship event is taking shape right now. On November 1st, the 13th edition of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe will begin from Saint-Malo with 118 skippers. Charles Caudrelier, Armel Le Cléac’h, Thomas Coville, Jérémie Beyou, Élodie Bonafous, and Francis Joyon form a line-up that gives the race immediate visibility to sailing enthusiasts as well as to the general public.

In Pointe-à-Pitre, the finish village will be set up from November 6 to 20 at the ACTe Memorial and the Bas-du-Fort marina. It will extend the experience with concerts, activities, tastings and prize ceremonies. The 2022 edition drew 305,000 visitors to the Guadeloupe Islands and gathered nearly 2 million TV viewers on the day of the arrival: solid benchmarks to position November as a peak travel period.

Before the start, CTIG will be present at the Saint-Malo village from October 20 to November 1. For the occasion, the Celtéa de Sélectour network, the official partner of the race, teams up with CTIG to turn the excitement of the race into concrete purchases.

Exotismes, Havas Voyages and Voyamar also offer turnkey stays around the event to make November your best-selling month.

Knowing that public fervor peaks when Guadeloupean skippers such as Kenny Piperol, Luc Coquelin, Damien Seguin, and Thibaut Vauchel-Camus arrive, flagship events like the 5th edition of the “World Kréyol Art Festival,” dedicated to street art in Pointe-à-Pitre, provide additional reasons to stay in Guadeloupe during the month.



© Guillaume Aricique/ HappyMan


EXTEND THE SEA ADVENTURE

In the Guadeloupe archipelago, the sea becomes a guiding thread for building stays that ride the waves. From Marie-Galante, My Sail offers day-long or half-day sea trips aboard an innovative craft, the very first monomaran (or monocat) that blends the spaciousness and comfort of a catamaran with the performance and sensations of a monohull. Up to ten guests can board the Padishah for cruises to the Saintes archipelago and to Dominica.

The seabed still holds wonderful surprises: multicolored fish, stingrays and lobsters populate seagrass beds and coral formations at depths reachable from the surface. Crystal Boat in Pointe-Noire takes travelers aboard a 100% transparent boat: from the glass deck, you can watch the ballet of species beneath your feet, as if suspended between two waters. An ideal experience for families, non-swimmers and clients who are still hesitant to dive.


© Ggpiks



BETWEEN LIVING MEMORY AND PRESERVED NATURE


MORE FACILITIES FOR ISLAND COMBINATIONS

In addition to existing connections, FRS l’Express des Îles now links Trois-Rivières to Terre-de-Haut from €23 return and to Terre-de-Bas from €21 return.

Starting October 26, 2026, Air Inter Îles will also connect Pointe-à-Pitre to Terre-de-Haut by air, after Marie-Galante. In collaboration with Corsair and Air Caraïbes, these links enable premium, tailor-made itineraries across the Guadeloupe archipelago.

The simplicity of these crossings makes selling island combinations easier.


AN ARCHIPELAGO EVEN MORE ACCESSIBLE

Access from metropolitan France reinforces the promise of an easy-to-market stay. Air Caraïbes offers up to 21 weekly flights from Paris Orly in an A350-1000. Since March 28, 2026, Air France connects Paris CDG to Pointe-à-Pitre with up to 17 weekly frequencies in high season on a Boeing 777.

Corsair complements the offering with 13 frequencies in the A330neo and creates a concrete opportunity for the provinces: Nantes from December 2025, Marseille from December 15, 2026, and Toulouse from December 16, 2026, with round trips starting at €760. For agencies in the Greater South, these departures simplify recommendations and reduce the travel hurdle.

As of December 11, 2026, Air France also opens a direct, seasonal link between Pointe-à-Pitre and Panama City with two weekly flights, opening possibilities for combos to Central and South America.


BE THE EXPERT YOUR CLIENTS ARE LOOKING FOR

The certification program “Secrets of the Guadeloupe Islands” supports professionals who want to move from inspiration to mastery-level recommendations. Free to access at www.secretsdesilesdeguadeloupe.com, it combines e-learning, webinars, a sales challenge and an experiential eductour. Goal: equip agents with practical references to build the right stay, from the initial advice to on-site activities to book.

The June 2026 eductour perfectly illustrates this: the top 20 salespeople from France, Belgium and Switzerland traveled across four islands over five days. The program included scuba diving, a trek through the tropical forest, and a visit to an art gallery in Basse-Terre, a tour of the Saintes archipelago, a rhum tasting in Marie-Galante, and culinary stops in Grande-Terre. During this eductour, organized in collaboration with Air Caraïbes and the Des Hôtels et Des Îles group, each step of the journey provided concrete examples to relay to clients, from suitable accommodation to pacing the itinerary and activities to book on-site.


© Comité du Tourisme des Îles de Guadeloupe


Join the “Secrets of the Guadeloupe Islands” community. Among the concrete benefits: a privileged card at 70 local partners, and priority access to eductours and dedicated events.

Find the CTIG at IFTM, stand G024, with 18 partners, and at the Travel Agents Cup on www.iftm.fr.



Les Îles de Guadeloupe : entre préservation et expérience renouvelée

Patrick GALIN (Promotion Officer)

Comité du Tourisme des Îles de Guadeloupe

[email protected]

www.secretsdesilesdeguadeloupe.com

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Guadeloupe: How CTIG Trains Its Top Salespeople to Become True Experts


Avec ses paysages spectaculaires, la pointe des Châteaux accueille chaque année près de 500 000 visiteurs - Photo : LG

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For five days, twenty travel agents explored four of Guadeloupe’s six inhabited islands.

Organized by the Comité du Tourisme des Îles de Guadeloupe (CTIG), with the support of Air Caraïbes and the Des Hôtels et Des Îles group, this educational tour had a clear objective: to show that the destination is not limited to its beaches, but that it blends nature, culture, gastronomy, and a hotel offering capable of meeting all types of travelers.

But this study trip is only the final step in a much more ambitious scheme.

Named “Secrets des Îles de Guadeloupe,” the CTIG certification program rests on four phases: an e-learning course, a seminar or webinar, a commercial challenge, and an on‑site experiential edutour.

The aim is to raise the distributors’ skills so that they become true destination specialists.

The twenty participants are among Guadeloupe’s best sellers at the end of the 2025 commercial challenge, which generated more than €563,000 in revenue for the destination.

Barely landed in Pointe-à-Pitre (Grande-Terre) after a direct flight provided by Air Caraïbes, the participants headed to Deshaies (Basse-Terre).

For five days, they traversed Grande-Terre, Basse-Terre, Terre-de-Haut and Terre-de-Bas, which make up the Saintes archipelago. In other words, four of Guadeloupe’s six inhabited islands, a feat hailed at the end of the stay by Patrick Galin, the promotion officer for the Îles de Guadeloupe.

« You have experienced four islands out of six. You have visited an island I have only been to three times in my life. That is Terre-de-Bas. »

A reminder that this edutour does not follow the most conventional itineraries.



Hotels for every traveler profile


La plage de l'hôtel La Toubana, seul cinq étoiles de la Guadeloupe - Photo : LG

One of the trip’s objectives was naturally to discover the accommodations that agencies will later propose to their clients.

The first night therefore took place at the Langley Resort Fort Royal, in Deshaies (Basse-Terre).

Nestled between a broad blonde-sand beach and the tropical forest, this four‑star resort makes an excellent base for exploring the north of Basse-Terre. The bungalows scattered across the gardens, direct beach access, and tranquil atmosphere immediately appeal.

Deshaies hides another surprise. Fans of the series Death in Paradise will instantly recognize the scenes from this British fiction shot here since 2011, portraying the fictional “Isle of Sainte-Marie.”

The police station, the seafront, the Creole lanes, Catherine’s bar, and several beaches feature among the iconic spots visitors can discover on a stroll.

On the second day, a change of scene with a three-night stay at La Créole Beach (Des hôtels & des Îles) in Gosier, Grande‑Terre.

More lively, with several restaurants, a spa, and a spacious pool, the property caters to both families and couples who want to stay close to Grande‑Terre’s main attractions.

The group also visited La Toubana (Des hôtels & des Îles) in Sainte-Anne, Grande‑Terre, the destination’s only five‑star property. Overlooking the Caribbean Sea, it positions itself in the premium segment with its bungalows, suites, private beach, and spa.

In Les Saintes, Bois Joli hotel in Terre‑de‑Haut completes this discovery thanks to its privileged location opposite one of the world’s most beautiful bays.


A destination you experience as much as you visit it


Un des grands moments du séjour : la découverte de la mangrove en pagayant - Photo : LG

Very quickly, hotel visits gave way to experiences. At the Jardin botanique de Deshaies, the agents plunged into lush tropical vegetation before taking the Route de la Traversée.

In the heart of Guadeloupe National Park, a forest hike allowed them to measure the richness of this preserved nature. Swimming at the Écrevisses Falls (Basse-Terre) stands out as one of the trip’s highlights.

Another memorable discovery: a kayaking excursion in the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin (Grande-Terre). Gliding quietly among the mangroves, participants explored the mangrove from a different angle and became aware of its essential role in maintaining the balance of this ecosystem.

The ACTe Memorial, in Pointe‑à‑Pitre (Grande‑Terre) provided a historical and commemorative dimension to the journey by recounting the history of slavery and the peoples of the Caribbean.


Bokit, coconut sorbet, and agricole rhum


Arrêt indispensable pour déguster un sorbet coco fait maison - Photo : LG

The best memories do not always come from scheduled visits.

In Sainte-Anne (Grande‑Terre), the group settled at a food truck to sample a bokit. Born from African, European and Caribbean influences, this generously stuffed fried bread has become one of Guadeloupe’s emblematic street foods.

The day before, a stop at the Mamelles roundabout (Basse‑Terre) had allowed tasting Lucie’s famous homemade coconut sorbet, a true local institution.

It would be impossible to mention Guadeloupe without talking about rum. In Sainte‑Rose (Basse‑Terre), a visit to the Reimonenq distillery reminds how sugarcane cultivation shaped the archipelago’s history and economy. The participants discovered the various stages of making agricole rum, from cane harvest to tasting.


Another way to sell Guadeloupe


Laurent Guéna Published by Laurent Guéna Journalist – TourMaG.com
See all articles by Laurent Guéna

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Julia Désirée: Guadeloupe Islands’ New Ambassador


Julia Désirée élue Miss Guadeloupe 2026, photo by Studio Rozas

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The new beauty queen Julia Désirée becomes the official representative of the Guadeloupe Islands following her coronation on July 16, 2026.

Thanks to the partnership established between the local tourism committee and the Miss Guadeloupe organization, she will be tasked with promoting the archipelago both locally and in mainland France.

This ambassadorial role will see her lend her image to the destination’s communication campaigns and participate in several major tourism and economic events, before competing for the Miss France 2027 title.


Meet Julia Désirée at IFTM Top Resa in September 2026

Julia Désirée’s mission as ambassador will unfold across several flagship events throughout 2026.

In August 2026, she will participate in La REF, the Rencontre des entrepreneurs de France, organized by the UDE-MEDEF.

In September 2026, she will be present at the professional tourism fair IFTM Top Resa, in Paris.

Read: Guadeloupe: 6 must-see experiences to discover the archipelago

In autumn 2026, she will also represent the destination at the famous transatlantic race Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, as well as at the International Tourism and Travel Show (SITV) in Montreal.

Beyond these trips, the new Miss will lend her image to the CTIG’s digital and print communication campaigns to highlight the authenticity and diversity of the archipelago.

Simultaneously, the Committee continues to support its former ambassadors, notably Indira Ampiot, Miss France 2023, who is currently preparing for the Miss World 2026 pageant.

Martinique, Guadeloupe, and Réunion: Exotismes Launches €1 Serenity Guarantee


Martinique, Guadeloupe, Réunion : Exotismes lance une Garantie Sérénité à 1 € ! Photo Exotismes

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The tour operator Exotismes expands its offering for the French overseas departments and territories with the launch of a new option named “Garantie Sérénité.”

Available from June 1, 2026, it is aimed at travelers booking a stay in Guadeloupe, in Martinique or in La Réunion.

Priced at an additional 1 euro until July 14, 2026, this guarantee is designed to address travelers’ concerns in an economic context marked by uncertainties.

It rests on two commitments: the permanent maintenance of the price paid at the time of booking, regardless of any changes in energy costs, inflation or exchange rates, as well as the ability to cancel the trip without fees and without justification up to fifteen days before departure.

According to Exotismes, this option should allow clients to book more calmly while preserving a great deal of flexibility. The tour operator thus emphasizes its aim to offer “more visibility, flexibility and serenity when booking their holidays.”


Martinique, Guadeloupe, Réunion: The “Garantie Sérénité” Applies to All “Poker de l’Été” Offers

The “Garantie Sérénité” applies to all “Poker de l’Été” offers to Martinique, Guadeloupe and the island of La Réunion, for departures scheduled through September 30, 2026.

Exotismes also highlights the advantages of travel to the French overseas territories, noting that they provide continuity of territorial ties and simplified formalities.

A simple identity card is enough, with no special entry formalities, with medical coverage via the Carte Vitale,” notes the tour operator, which thus intends to promote “the tropical change of scenery” while preserving the ease of a trip within France.

Corsair to Launch Two New Routes From Mainland France to Guadeloupe


Corsair va desservir la Guadeloupe depuis Marseille - Crédit photo : RP

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By the end of September 2026, Corsair will no longer face any Europe-imposed constraints as part of its restructuring plan.

Until that date, the fleet must still be strictly limited to nine aircraft and slots must be handed back.

To read : Slots, aircraft… Brussels’ constraints do not dampen Corsair’s appetite!

The company led by Pascal de Izaguirre has, however, decided not to wait for this deadline to resume its development. It announces the opening of two new routes to Guadeloupe from mainland France.

Thus, Corsair will launch Marseille – Pointe-à-Pitre starting 15 December 2026, followed by Toulouse – Pointe-à-Pitre from 16 December 2026.

The routes will operate during the winter, on board Airbus A330neo.


The schedules of Corsair’s new flights

Corsair is already present at these airports in southern France, but this announcement allows it to continue pursuing its ambition: to offer more direct long-haul connections from major regional hubs.

The Toulouse – Pointe-à-Pitre route will depart every Wednesday at 12:00, arriving in Guadeloupe at 15:50. The return flight will also take place on Wednesdays, with a Pointe-à-Pitre departure at 17:50 and an arrival in Toulouse at 06:50 the following day.

The Marseille service will be operated every Tuesday until December 29, then every Thursday thereafter. The departure is scheduled at 11:30, with an arrival on the other side of the Atlantic at 16:00.


Returns are planned on Tuesdays until December 29, then on Thursdays, with an 18:00 takeoff from Pointe-à-Pitre and a 07:30 arrival in Provence the next day.


For several years, Corsair has made a structural choice to directly connect the French regions with the overseas territories, with the aim of offering itineraries that are simpler, smoother, and better suited to customer expectations.

Today, no other airline offers as structured a network between the mainland and the overseas territories.

These new links between Marseille, Toulouse and Pointe-à-Pitre illustrate our will to strengthen connections between the territories and to facilitate the travel of all those who live, work or travel between the Hexagon and the Overseas territories,
” explained Pascal de Izaguirre, Chief Executive Officer of Corsair