Car rental in Guadeloupe: tips, prices, routes

Are you going to Guadeloupe for a road trip of a few days? Here is our mini-how to rent a car in Guadeloupe!

The archipelago of Guadeloupe is one of the leading destinations to escape the winter morosity. You can practice water sports, go hunting for exceptional views or discover the Creole culture. Located in the Caribbean, the region of the world is synonymous with beaches of fine sand, turquoise water and coconut trees, the archipelago consists of 7 main islands. Guadeloupe, Marie-Galante La Désirade, Grande-Terre, Basse-Terre, Petite-Terre and the Saintes islands offer all the wonders of a stay under the tropics. But some of his treasures are well hidden. A good reason to rent a car in Guadeloupe.

So do you feel like it? In this case, follow the guide and its tips to rent a car in Guadeloupe and go to discover its unforgettable landscapes!

Where to rent a car in Guadeloupe?

At the airport

The airport is located in Pointe-à-Pitre and has a building specially dedicated Car rentals. Near the northern terminal, you can find many international or even local agencies.

In town

Many local agencies have their offices in the city. You can easily rent a car in Guadeloupe outside the airport. The vast majority of them focus on Pointe-à-Pitre but not only. You can also find it in Gosier and Sainte-Anne.

Finally, it should be noted that the renters are installed, for the most part, on the south coast of Grande-Terre. On the other hand, there is almost no one on Basse-Terre.

Itineraries in Guadeloupe by car: some ideas of road-trips!

Due to the many hours of flight required to reach it from the metropolis, the island is rather a destination for the long stays . But if you do not want to rent a car throughout your stay in Guadeloupe, small road-trips are quite possible.

To Grande-Terre

If you like the atmosphere of the seaside resorts and you are looking for large sandy beaches suitable for swimming, you are made for the south of Grande-Terre. From Pointe-à-Pitre:

• Take direction Gosier and why not start this fierce stay on beach de La Datcha ? You can learn snorkeling on the island of Gosier just across the street.
• Then take the road back to Sainte-Anne to swim in crystal clear waters from the beach to the Caravelle or the Club Med beach which, as its name suggests, is quite frequented.
• Continue your exploration until Saint-François with its superb beach of the Clairs Raisins and the coral barrier before reaching one of the most beautiful places on the island, Pointe des Châteaux. The top is to attend the sunrise and climb to the top to enjoy the panorama.

If you have more time, enjoy it for:

• Go up to the west part of Grande-Terre, which is much more wild and authentic.
• Make a stop in the village Moule which is charming and, if you are in harvest time, visit the Gardel sugar factory which is the last historical sugar unit of Guadeloupe.
• Continue north to admire the landscapes of the Gate of Hell and discover the hole Man Coco before arriving on the Pointe de la Grande Vigie.
• Redescend on Pointe-à-Pitre along the Anse Bertrand to discover the fishing village of Port-Louis. End your journey by remembering the history of Guadeloupe to the marches to the slaves of Petit-Canal, stone staircase leading to the market where the slaves were sold.

To Bass-Terre

If you decide to rent a car in Guadeloupe, go discover :

• Western part of the island! Here, the beaches cohabit the lush vegetation of the tropical jungle, nothing to do with the great plains of the east.
• Explorer Grand Cul de Sac Marin is a first step of the most promising, book a trip to learn all about the riches of this protected area between mangroves and coral reefs.
• Numerous charming beaches fight the coast of Sainte-Rose In Deshaies, besides, do not miss a stage in this village, considered one of the most beautiful in Guadeloupe.
• Tasting ti punch in its bay, in the sunset, is an unforgettable experience. Its botanical garden is splendid and is also worth a visit.
• To Pointe-Noire, do not miss to take a look at the Saut d’Acomat waterfall before entering the National Park of Guadeloupe.
• The point of the itinerary is the hike on the La Soufrière volcano as well as swimming in one of the hot springs. In the south, to Three Rivers, the archaeological park of the Grave Rocks is an opportunity to discover the culture of the first inhabitants of the island.
• For lovers of all kinds of drinks, Bass-Terre is the ideal place to make you a thematic circuit by discovering, for example, the Bologna distillery and one of the coffee plantations of the region without forgetting the Creole gastronomy.

Finally, if you’re lucky to have a lot of time in front of you, don’t miss a tour on the Saintes Islands , to Marie-Galante or on the island of Petite-Terre, nicknamed the iguana island.

How to compare and book your rental car online?

Guadeloupe sees a great crowd of tourists at certain times of the year. This is the case, especially during the winter in the metropolis and there is therefore a very strong demand for car rental in Guadeloupe. Sometimes even, prices fly away, so it’s better to take good in advance , that is to say several months before your stay to find your car. For this, you can use a comparison that will give you at a glance all the offers, such as the site Rentiles .

Other sites such as RentÎles are specialized in independent rentals. Don’t hesitate, too, to make quotes from local agencies whose offers can be interesting.

How much does a rental car cost in Guadeloupe?

For a car rental in Guadeloupe, prices are:

• In high demand: 35€ per day,
• In low season: 20€,
• For 7 days in high season: 192€ minimum,
• For 7 low season days: 95€ minimum.

Driving in Guadeloupe: traffic rules to know

Guadeloupe is a French region, the road code and signalling are the same as in metropolis. That said, vigilance is being exercised because traffic reports are clear, in Guadeloupe, the severity of accidents and the number of deaths on the road are twice as high as those on the continent. You are on vacation so be careful, leave to go very quiet.

Our tips for your car rental in Guadeloupe

Rent a car in Guadeloupe: what conditions do you need?

As with any car rental, the driver will have to be more than 21 years of age and have been licensed for more than a year. On the other hand, if the driver is under 25 years of age, additional costs are applied.

A security deposit will be requested when the vehicle is rented. However, there is no need for a specific bank card for the regulation.

Limited or unlimited mileage?

During a road trip, it is better to take the unlimited mileage, the towers and detours being frequent.

Do you need insurance to rent a car in Guadeloupe?

The basic insurance offered in car rental contracts in Guadeloupe rarely covers all small accidents such as punctures, for example. Compare options before leaving by checking, among other things, the guarantees included in your bank card.

Where to park in Guadeloupe?

Most tourist sites and cities have parking. However, the parking lots for the other islands are quickly stormed. In general, avoid parking in unlit places. Also, do not leave objects of value in the vehicle.

What is the most convenient car category to visit Guadeloupe?

Some roads can be steep so rent a car with a minimum power to attack the slopes. Some paths can also be quite cabossed. Therefore, it will be better to favour a high car. However, renting a 4×4 is not necessary.

It is there, you are ready to rent a car in Guadeloupe and discover this island by your own means. Good trip!