Life’s a beach in Guadeloupe, where relaxation-seekers can rejoice in abundant opportunities for sailing, sunbathing, snorkeling, and swimming.
 Perhaps the best way to fully explore Guadeloupe and its tiny surrounding islands is by sailboat. The Caribbean Sea offers constant wind; clear, warm waters; and overall ideal sailing conditions. Weaving through the archipelago, you’ll be able to visit a new destination each day, even exploring tiny villages and islands that wouldn’t otherwise be easily accessible.
A plethora of companies offer chartered sailboats to cruise around the islands, and various packages allow you to choose where you go, what kind of boat you take out on the water, and how involved you are in the sailing process. If you’re interested in just taking a day trip around Les Saintes, Marie Galante, Petite Terre, or Dominique, many companies offer simple day cruises. Other companies offer “all-inclusive” voyages from Bas du Fort, Saint François, Rivière Sense, Deshaies, or Bouillante.
Feeling adventurous? You can also hire boats, monocoques, or catamarans with or without a skipper and crew, allowing you to captain the ship yourself or help out with its handling. Recent additions to this category are cabin cruises or “floating hotels,” which allow you to take an all-inclusive trip around the islands while eating, sleeping, and of course sailing on a manned catamaran. It’s also possible to inexpensively rent small motorboats for visits to deserted islands, even if you’ve never piloted a boat before.
 Of course, once you reach your island destination, it’s time to hit the beach. Whether you’re into water sports, diving, or just lounging in a tropical setting, the variety and beauty of the beaches you’ll find in Guadeloupe will astonish you. Beaches of white or black sand contrast against the lapping waves of the Atlantic Ocean or Caribbean Sea. In many areas beautiful coral reefs, a diverse local fish population, and even a few wreckage sites beckon to snorkelers and divers of all ability levels.
No matter how you prefer to spend your time, the waters and shores of Guadeloupe will make you think you’ve died and gone to – well, paradise!
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