How to Get Around Guadeloupe

A hire car is the practical choice. The two wings are spread out, buses are infrequent outside the urban area, and the roads are good French ones. Traffic around Pointe-a-Pitre and the bridges over the Riviere Salee is genuinely congested at peak times — allow for it.

Getting in is through Pointe-a-Pitre airport, with direct flights from Paris and regional connections to Martinique, Saint Martin and the neighbouring islands.

Ferries are part of the transport network here. Services run from Trois-Rivieres and Pointe-a-Pitre to Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and La Desirade several times a day, and internationally to Dominica, Martinique and Saint Lucia.

Buses cover the main routes cheaply and stop running early in the evening.

On Les Saintes, scooters and walking; cars are restricted. On Marie-Galante, a hire car or scooter.

Driving is on the right; there is no Uber.