Guadeloupe: When to Go

Guadeloupe is pleasant to visit at any time of the year, with a warm climate year-round. During winter (December to February), evenings are gorgeously mild and temperatures linger between 19-28°C (67-83°F). The driest months are between February and April, with rain falling an average of seven days a month and the humidity staying in the realm of the tolerable. This temperate period is also the peak tourist season. The wettest months are July to November, which is also hurricane season, so keep an eye on weather reports.

Most cultural events take place in the spring and summer. The Fête des Cuisinières (Festival of Women Cooks) is a colorful event held in early August where women in Creole dress parade through the streets to the cathedral, where they are blessed by the bishop.

Weather

Like its eastern Caribbean kin, Guadeloupe experiences quite evenly spread rainfall during the year, with a wetter season between July and November which coincides with hurricane season. In the more mountainous areas, rainfall becomes substantially heavier. Tropical heat is the norm for Guadeloupe, bringing constant highs of around 32°C (89°F) that drop to 20°C (68°F) at night.

At a higher altitude, Basse-Terre is both cooler and rainier than Grande-Terre. Its highest point, La Soufrière, averages 990cm (390in) of rain a year. Trade winds, called alizés , often temper the climate.