The Butterfly Island
Guadeloupe has no grand resorts and the shopping is certainly not as cosmopolitan as that on nearby Martinique. But the soul of Guadeloupe lies in its small inns and B&B-style gites, rustic harborfront cafes, and beachside seafood shacks. The language and laws here are Gallic, but the flavor is pure Caribbean Creole — saucy and exuberant. Physically, Guadeloupe is stunning. Its nickname, “The Butterfly Island,” comes from the shape of its two main islands. Basse-Terre is wild, lush, and mountainous, with an active volcano in Mount Soufriére, Guadeloupe’s highest peak.11
