Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe is nicknamed “le papillon” – the butterfly – for the distinctive shape of its two main islands. The left wing, Basse-Terre is a lush, wild eco-paradise of great natural beauty. La Grande Soufriere volcano rises more than 4,800 feet over the verdant mountainous interior, most of which forms a vast, uninhabited rainforest preserve. Guadeloupe National Park is celebrated for its rich array of tropical flora – trees, ferns, orchids and more – many birds, rivers, stunning waterfalls and challenging hikes. Basse-Terre’s coastline is strikingly diverse, home to more fishing villages and towns than resorts amid the mix of pebbly shores and stretches of black, pink, brown and golden sands. On the west coast you’ll find the Grande Anse, the island’s best beach, and fantastic diving and snorkeling spots that include the Cousteau Reserve, set around tiny Pigeon Island. A botanical garden and a pre-historic archaeological park are among the handful of cultural sights but Guadeloupe’s acclaimed slavery museum, Memorial ACTe in the port city of Point-a-Pitre, can be visited from Basse-Terre.