Best Eco Stays in Guadeloupe
Where to stay in Guadeloupe
The best areas to stay in Guadeloupe range from a family run eco lodge of tree cabins and Creole cases spread across a 10,000 square metre domain above Deshaies Bay, to an owner built rainforest lodge of duplexes, villas and a treehouse on a Basse-Terre slope, and a locally run rainforest retreat of eight lodgings tucked into lush exotic gardens above Pointe-Noire. Options are spread from Deshaies to Pointe-Noire. Every stay we recommend below is genuinely sustainable and chosen so your money stays on the island.
Where to stay in Guadeloupe by area, at a glance
Deshaies is best for couples and nature lovers who want rainforest, the Jardin Botanique and Grande Anse beach on the doorstep
Deshaies sits at the wild north-west tip of Basse-Terre, the green wing of Guadeloupe, a fishing village strung between forested slopes and golden beaches. It suits couples and nature lovers above all, the kind of traveller who wants rainforest trails, the 7 hectare Jardin Botanique (once the comedian Coluche’s estate) and the golden sweep of Grande Anse beach within easy reach. The pace is gentle, the hills are dotted with ecolodges such as Au Jardin des Colibris and Tendacayou, and a hire car is the sensible way to reach and explore this hilly corner once you have flown into Pointe-a-Pitre on Grande-Terre and crossed onto Basse-Terre.
The difference between Deshaies and other popular beach towns in Guadeloupe like Sainte-Anne and Le Gosier is that those Grande-Terre resort towns are flatter, busier and built around long calm lagoon beaches and a livelier seafront, whereas Deshaies is a quieter, greener village wrapped in rainforest and national park, where the draw is wildlife, botanical gardens and dramatic west-coast scenery rather than a wide resort strip.
Where to stay in Deshaies: Top Pick
Au Jardin des Colibris Ecolodge & Spa is the best place to stay in Deshaies, Guadeloupe
Tucked into the lush hills above Deshaies Bay on Guadeloupe’s Basse Terre coast, Au Jardin des Colibris Ecolodge & Spa is a family run retreat of tree cabins and traditional Creole cases spread across a 10,000 square metre domain. The setting is the draw here: terraced gardens tumble down towards the sea, hummingbirds (the colibris of the name) flit through the foliage, and the whole estate sits within easy reach of Deshaies village, its beaches and the surrounding national park. It was the first tourist establishment in Guadeloupe to be classified a bird refuge, which tells you everything about the kind of place it is.
Who owns Au Jardin des Colibris Ecolodge & Spa?
This is a family run ecolodge, owner managed rather than part of any chain, and that personal stewardship runs through everything from the gardens to the welcome. The owners built the property around the natural contours of the hillside above Deshaies, and their hands on approach is a large part of why it has earned the recognition it has. Guests tend to remark on the warmth and the attention to detail that come from a place looked after by the people who created it.
About the rooms in Au Jardin des Colibris Ecolodge & Spa
There are two distinct styles of accommodation at Au Jardin des Colibris Ecolodge & Spa, including raised wooden tree cabins that perch among the canopy and traditional Creole cases that nod to Guadeloupe’s island architecture. Each is set within the 10,000 square metre domain so that privacy and garden views come as standard, and the elevated position above the bay means many enjoy sweeping outlooks towards the sea. A spa rounds out the stay, giving guests somewhere to unwind after a day exploring the coast.
What food is available at Au Jardin des Colibris Ecolodge & Spa?
Dining leans into the flavours of Guadeloupe, with Creole cooking that makes the most of local produce and the island’s spices and fresh fish. Sitting within a national park and surrounded by its own gardens, the lodge is well placed to source seasonally and keep things rooted in the surrounding terroir. Meals are taken amid the greenery, which suits the unhurried, nature first mood of the place.
Sustainability features of Au Jardin des Colibris Ecolodge & Spa
Few properties in the region can match the credentials here. Au Jardin des Colibris was the first tourist establishment in Guadeloupe to win the Palme Verte du Tourisme and the first to be classified a bird refuge by the Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux. It also carries the national park’s Esprit Parc label, a mark reserved for businesses that meet the park’s environmental standards. Most striking is its one night, one coral programme run with Ocean Quest France: for every booked stay a coral is planted in Deshaies Bay, working towards a goal of 1,000 corals and turning each guest’s visit into a small act of marine restoration.
Who is Au Jardin des Colibris Ecolodge & Spa for?
Travellers who want their holiday to tread lightly will feel at home here, especially nature lovers, birdwatchers and couples after a romantic, restorative escape. Anyone drawn to genuine eco credentials rather than greenwashing will appreciate the coral programme, the bird refuge status and the Esprit Parc label. It suits visitors happy to swap resort bustle for hillside calm, and those who like the idea that simply booking a stay helps regenerate the reef below.
How to get to Au Jardin des Colibris Ecolodge & Spa from the airport
The closest airport to Au Jardin des Colibris Ecolodge & Spa is Pointe-a-Pitre International Airport, also known as Guadeloupe Pole Caraibes (PTP), which sits on Grande-Terre to the east. From there it is roughly a 60 to 75 minute drive of about 50 kilometres up the leeward coast of Basse-Terre to Deshaies, following the Route de la Traversee or the coastal road through Sainte-Rose.
Private transfer or taxi to Au Jardin des Colibris Ecolodge & Spa
A pre arranged private transfer is the easiest option to get to Au Jardin des Colibris Ecolodge & Spa, and the lodge or a local operator can usually organise this for you. A metered taxi from outside the PTP arrivals hall is the alternative, though fares for the cross island run are high and worth agreeing before you set off. Either way you arrive without having to tackle the winding hillside roads above the village yourself, while a hire car remains a strong choice if you want the freedom to explore Basse-Terre at your own pace once you are settled in.
Public transport to Au Jardin des Colibris Ecolodge & Spa
Public transport to Au Jardin des Colibris Ecolodge & Spa is possible with multiple changes. Guadeloupe’s network of route taxis and local buses, run through the islandwide Karu’lis service, links Pointe-a-Pitre with the leeward coast towns, so you would travel by bus from the Pointe-a-Pitre bus station towards Sainte-Rose and on to Deshaies. Services are infrequent, geared to islanders rather than visitors, and do not climb the lodge’s hillside road, so you would finish with a short taxi from Deshaies village. For practical purposes a hire car or a pre booked private transfer is by far the easier way to reach the lodge and to get the most out of Deshaies and the wider west coast.
Things to do while staying at Au Jardin des Colibris Ecolodge & Spa
Things to do around Au Jardin des Colibris Ecolodge & Spa range from a slow morning spotting hummingbirds and tropical birdlife on the property itself, which is classified as a bird refuge, to a full day exploring the wild north of the island. Within easy reach you have the golden sands of Grande Anse beach for swimming and sunsets, and the celebrated Jardin Botanique de Deshaies, with its lily ponds and aviaries, just down the road.
Further afield, Basse-Terre rewards the curious. The trails and waterfalls of the Guadeloupe National Park lead to the Carbet Falls and the brooding La Soufriere volcano, the Route de la Traversee cuts through dense rainforest, and the colourful fishing village of Deshaies itself offers fresh creole dining, a quiet harbour and local rum to sample. Snorkelling and boat trips along the leeward coast round out the options.
The mix suits a wide range of travellers. Nature lovers and hikers will be in their element on the rainforest paths, families will enjoy the calm beaches and the botanical garden, solo travellers will appreciate the gentle pace and the small spa, and those drawn to culture can wander the village, taste creole cooking and learn the story of Guadeloupean rum.
Pointe-Noire is best for divers, snorkellers, hikers and slow travellers wanting an authentic, low-key west-coast base near the Cousteau reserve
Pointe-Noire is an unhurried working town on the leeward coast of Basse-Terre, backed by dense rainforest and known for its woodcraft heritage, sheltered snorkelling and easy access to the Cousteau marine reserve. It suits divers, snorkellers, keen walkers and slow travellers who want a green, owner-run base rather than a resort strip, with intimate ecolodges like TropicAngel set between the hills and the sea. From Pointe-a-Pitre airport (PTP) it is roughly an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half down the west coast, and as buses are sparse you will want your own car to reach the village and the dive sites.
The difference between Pointe-Noire and other popular beach towns in Guadeloupe like Sainte-Anne and Le Gosier on Grande-Terre is that those eastern resort hubs are built around long white-sand bays, busy beach clubs and a livelier nightlife, whereas Pointe-Noire is wild, quiet and rainforest-backed, with dark volcanic sand, a working fishing harbour and nature on the doorstep rather than tourist crowds.
Where to stay in Pointe-Noire: Top Pick
TropicAngel is the best place to stay in Pointe-Noire, Guadeloupe
Set in the hills above Pointe-Noire on Basse-Terre, TropicAngel is a locally run rainforest eco lodge wrapped in lush, exotic gardens. The retreat gathers eight individual lodgings built from sustainable materials and powered by the sun, so guests rest close to the forest canopy while leaving a light footprint on this green corner of Guadeloupe.
Who owns TropicAngel?
This is a genuinely independent, owner run property cared for by Magali and Francois. Living on site and managing the lodge themselves, the couple bring a personal, hands on welcome that larger resorts rarely match, and their commitment to running on solar power and sourcing locally shapes every part of the stay.
About the rooms in TropicAngel
There are eight rooms at TropicAngel, including individual lodgings dotted through the exotic gardens above Pointe-Noire. Each one is built from sustainable materials and tucked into the lush rainforest setting, giving guests privacy, greenery and the quiet of Basse-Terre rather than rows of identical hotel doors.
What food is available at TropicAngel?
Meals here follow a farm to table approach, with a kitchen that leans on fresh, organic and locally sourced produce. Dishes are built around what the surrounding land and nearby growers provide, so the menu reflects the seasons of Basse-Terre and keeps food miles low while flavours stay bright.
Sustainability features of TropicAngel
Solar power runs the lodge, while rainwater harvesting and water saving systems make careful use of every drop. Comprehensive recycling and composting push the property towards zero waste, the buildings themselves are made from sustainable materials, and the farm to table kitchen closes the loop by favouring organic, locally grown food.
Who is TropicAngel for?
Travellers who want to wake up inside the rainforest, not beside a car park, will feel at home here. Anyone drawn to solar power, low waste living and honest, locally sourced food will appreciate the ethos, and couples or nature lovers seeking a calm, eco minded base above Pointe-Noire are especially well suited to this small, owner run retreat.
How to get to TropicAngel from the airport
The closest airport to TropicAngel is Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport (PTP) on Grande-Terre, roughly an hour and a quarter to an hour and a half away by road, around 50 kilometres, depending on traffic across the bridge onto Basse-Terre. The final leg climbs the green west coast road up to Pointe-Noire and then onto the lane above the town.
Private transfer or taxi to TropicAngel
A pre arranged private transfer is the easiest option to get to TropicAngel, and the hosts can help point you in the right direction. Taxis in Guadeloupe are metered but not cheap over this distance, so a pre booked transfer is usually the more relaxed choice after a long flight, especially for the winding final stretch above the town.
Public transport to TropicAngel
Public transport to TropicAngel is possible with multiple changes. The island network coaches, run under the regional Karu’lis brand out of Pointe-à-Pitre, link the main towns, and you can pick up the leeward coast service down Basse-Terre towards Pointe-Noire, but services are sparse, slow and stop running early, and they will not take you up the lane to the lodge. You would finish at Pointe-Noire town and need a short taxi or a lift from the hosts for the final climb, so for reaching the dive sites, the national park trailheads and the scattered beaches, a hire car collected at the airport or a private transfer is by far the more practical choice.
Things to do while staying at TropicAngel
Things to do around TropicAngel range from hiking in the Guadeloupe National Park, where the trails to the Carbet Falls and up towards La Soufrière volcano reward you with cascades and cloud forest, to gentler days by the water on the dark sand and snorkelling beaches of Grande Anse and Plage de Malendure.
Closer still you have the protected reefs of the Cousteau marine reserve off Bouillante for diving and glass bottom boat trips, the Maison du Cacao cocoa house, and the laid back fishing town of Pointe-Noire itself with its woodwork heritage, Creole restaurants and village markets. The hillside gardens of the lodge are a draw in their own right, alive with birds and tree frogs.
Nature lovers and families will be in their element among the falls and beaches, solo travellers find the diving and hiking easy to join, and anyone drawn to culture has the cocoa, the woodwork museums and the markets close at hand. It is an especially good fit for conscious travellers who want their days outdoors to match the low impact ethos of where they sleep.
When is the best time to visit Guadeloupe?
The dry, cooler season runs roughly December to April and is the most reliable for sunshine; January to March is the sweet spot and the busiest, most expensive period, with school holidays at Christmas, February and Easter pushing prices and demand highest. The wetter low season runs May to November, bringing lush green landscapes, quieter beaches and lower prices, but also frequent showers and the Atlantic hurricane season, which officially spans 1 June to 30 November and peaks around August and September (the riskiest weeks to avoid). Shoulder months such as late April, May, June and November can offer good value with still-decent weather, though brief tropical downpours are possible year round. Note: 2026 is a Route du Rhum year, with the transatlantic race finishing in Pointe-a-Pitre in late autumn, so expect higher demand and book early if visiting around then (confirm exact dates).
Is Guadeloupe safe, and how do you get around?
Guadeloupe is generally a safe destination with a low rate of violent crime against tourists, though petty crime such as bag snatching and car break-ins occurs, especially in Pointe-a-Pitre’s old town, at popular beaches and the cruise port, so do not leave valuables in parked hire cars. Driving is on the RIGHT (as in mainland France), and because public transport is limited and the best beaches, gardens and rainforest trails are spread out, a hire car is effectively essential for the Basse-Terre areas above; expect roughly 45 to 65 euros a day, and note mountain and rural roads are narrow, winding and best avoided after dark. As an overseas region of France, Guadeloupe uses the EURO, not pounds or US dollars, so bring euros and a card; cards are widely accepted and ATMs are common in towns. A UK driving licence is accepted for short visits, though an International Driving Permit is sometimes recommended as a backup (verify current requirements before you travel). On tipping: a service charge is usually included in restaurant and hotel bills, so tipping is not expected, but rounding up or leaving small change for good service is appreciated.
Why we only list sustainable stays in Guadeloupe
Every stay in this guide was hand picked and checked for how it actually runs, and most are locally rooted so your money stays on the island. For the full breakdown see our guide to the best sustainable hotels in Guadeloupe, or zoom out to the best sustainable hotels across the Caribbean.
More Caribbean Sustainable Stays
Book Your Next Stay Consciously
Travel is a wonderful opportunity to connect with Mother Earth.
However, it is also frequently undermined by reckless development and disrespectful tourism practices.
This directory is a curated, verified list of hotels, lodges, and resorts that honour our planet and are led by visionary stewards of the environment.
From farm-to-table culinary experiences to dedicated ocean conservation efforts, such as marine protection and coral restoration, these establishments are redefining hospitality.
12% Off Sustainable Swimwear
Freedom Ecowear is offering our readers 12% off their eco-friendly swimwear, perfect for your next eco getaway. Use the link and your discount is added automatically.