Guadeloupe surf has to be one of the most underrated in the region. Swell from NE to SW works on the breaks here, and there are cruisy beach breaks right up to consistent barrels on the menu.
An introduction to Guadeloupe surf
Ah, Guadeloupe. We almost don’t wanna’ write this, because there’s a general feeling that this isle is second-only to Barbados when it comes to consistency and class in the Eastern Caribbean region, only without the ever-increasing crowds and angry line ups. Shaped like a butterfly, it’s made up of two large islands, Basse Terre and Grande Terre, with the latter enjoying nice exposure to the open Atlantic Ocean, a steep continental drop off that generates decent power, and a good coastal topography for wave making.
We actually can’t sing the praises of Guadeloupe enough when it comes to consistency. Basse Terre gets good action from low-pressure storms moving across the North Atlantic almost all year round, while the southern spots feel the brunt of rare hurricane swells from the S and the center of the Caribbean from July to November. Throw in E trade winds for decent summer windswell action and you start to see where we’re coming from.
Mainly, though, our plaudits for the Guadeloupe surf are to do with the fact that it’s relaxed and accessible. While pros vie for drop ins back in Soup Bowl, the barrels here can peel morning until night totally unridden. When there is a line up, it’s generally friendly and chilled – just as the Caribbean scene should be, don’t you think?
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This guide is just one part of our complete guide to surfing in the Caribbean
Guadeloupe surf at a glance
The good…
The bad…
What’s in this guide to Guadeloupe surf?
Where is Guadeloupe?
Guadeloupe is nestled just to the north of Dominica in the Eastern Caribbean. The vast Atlantic Ocean spreads out to the east of the island of Grande Terre, the eastern side of Guadeloupe itself and the main region to know about as a surfer. Volcanic Basse Terre is the southwestern island of the main two and it’s much more mountainous. That has the Caribbean Sea to its flank. There are also a number of outer islands that have very good potential for surfers, especially Marie-Galante (to the south) and La Désirade (to the west), though they remain virtually completely undiscovered.
How to get to Guadeloupe?
Getting to Guadeloupe is usually done via the Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport (PTP). It’s got a number of long-haul links to continental Europe and Canada, plus connections to the east coast of the United States. Air Antilles also run regular flights to and from other islands in the region, which means you can now add Guadeloupe to a cross-Caribbean surf odyssey if you like.
Guadeloupe surf spots
You’ll notice that most of the top Guadeloupe surf spots are down the eastern and southern sides of Grande Terre, the larger island that gets the best action off the Atlantic swells. There are one or two on Basse Terre though, and some that wait for the winter NE swells on the northern side of the islands. Here’s a closer look at the lot…
Petit-Havre
A rugged finger of rock pokes out from the south side of Grand Terre island at Petit-Havre. It’s accumulated sandbanks on its western side that now help harness the E swells and S summer swells into decent lefts that have shortboarder goofies drooling when it’s larger and there’s little wind. Those days can make them semi-hollow and rippable. The surf is over sand mainly with a nice paddle channel starting at the end zone for getting back out.
La Caravelle
A very long dash of coastal reef extends right off the grounds of the massive Club Med hotel at La Caravelle. It’s a paradise for surfing because this is clear-water, azure-sea, white-sand territory. There are a handful of different named peaks fronting the coast, which very rarely will link up to offer uber-long rides. Outside is the Surgeon’s Table, named so for the jagged reef that runs underfoot. Don’t override that because you’ll be dinner for urchins. The inside section is easier going but it’s still shallow, so best left to experienced surfers. Summer and winter swells can work at La Caravelle, but an element of S in the swell is best.
Le Helleux
Le Helleux – also called just Helleux – is firmly established as the very epicenter of the Guadeloupe surf scene. An all-level break over cobble and sand, it’s located on the south side of Grande Terre island, where regular E trades blow a touch cross-shore but there’s excellent consistency from big Atlantic E groundswell and wet-season hurricane swells from the south. To put it another way: I don’t think we’ve ever seen this spot totally flat!
Le Helleux is a cruisy little number that loves 4-6 foot swells. It really lends itself to midlengths and minimals, egg shortboards or something nice and fat underfoot. There’s hottdogging to be done and hang 10s come thick and fast. It’s generally a very fun, very playful spot that’s a top choice no matter if you’re a complete beginner or a performance surfer that wants to slow the action a little for a sesh.
Le Helleux is now the home of the Surf School De Guadeloupe, the main beginner-level surf school and rental spot on the island.
Saint-François
The same wrap-around E swells curl into the reefs off gorgeous Raisins Clairs beach on the south of the island. They turn to mush along many of the coral stretches but not at one point some 200 meters off the end of the harbor wall in Saint-François. There, they’ll lip up and then break right into a deeper channel, offering rides of up to 100 meters over very deep rock and coral reef. Again, it’s much like Le Helleux in its playfulness and really favors something with some extra length. We’d put it down as a top intermediate break for those keen to graduate from beach breaks to reefs.
La Bouelle
Most people say that La Bouelle is the single highest quality break on the island. We’re inclined to agree, so long as you don’t mind dispensing of the Caribbean dream of cruising on glass towards coconut trees. The wave is on a more rugged run of shoreline just east of Le Moule. When E or NE winter groundswells are in action, it will offer strong and punchy right points off the Pointe Morne headland. On smaller days or when the action is SE and wrapping around, you’ll see something more like Noosa, with peeling logger stretches that can go smooth for 100 meters plus. La Bouelle will hold shape a lot better than many spots in the Caribbean, which is why it’s usually got a line up. There’s also a shorter, mushier left here that’s helps spread out the crowds.
Plage de la Chapelle
There’s a fun A-frame that reminds us a little of Balian in Bali on a good day come the winter season. Punchy and clean when combined with a neat SE offshore, the wave is a fun one for both stances. The right tends to be more hollow but it takes you over shallower coral that’s teeming with urchins. We love the left, which is more forgiving overall and invites some fun hotdogging on 2-5 foot days. Generally a great break for all levels, but it tends to be winter only.
Plombier
The Plombier barrel is a Plage de la Chapelle is a pit machine come the winter months. Virtually ANYTHING in the NE swell channel will lip up here into a slot-like tube that’s makable for even intermediates. Bigger days should be left to the more experienced surfers because the rips can get super heavy when it’s on.
Damencourt (Le Moule)
The action basically never stops on the main Damencourt reef stretch that runs west out of Le Moule, the main coast town on the windward side of Grand Terre. It’s the consistency that’s helped to make it perhaps the overall most popular break on the island, but it’s also got some quality. There are two main take-offs. The first is to the right of the peak into what’s usually a trundling shoulder that’s hardly ever hollow but nicely rippable for the performance riders. The other is a left into a reef section that gets barrely when its over 6 foot. Don’t expect to be alone here. Oh, and if there’s going to be localism in Guadeloupe, this is probably where you’ll find it.
Plage de Bananier
Plage de Bananier is a rare break down on Basse Terre, the less swell-gifted bro of Grande Terre. It’s also one of the few places here that has exposure to the Atlantic swell channels, though there’s lots of protection from outlying islands that helps to mute the power a touch and make it a decent choice for beginners. The waves tend to be mushy and cruisy, without the same punch you get further east in the archipelago. The local Gwada Surf Cool can help you with lessons and rentals. The beach is black sand but downright gorgeous if you ask us.
Where to stay when surfing in Guadeloupe?
You’ll get the same lux tropical vibes from the hotels in Guadeloupe as you would elsewhere in the Caribbean – don’t worry about that! Here are a few fantastic options that can also offer great access to the surf breaks…
La Toubana Hotel & Spa
We totally love the La Toubana Hotel & Spa for its access to the lefts that roll around the headland of teh Club Med to the west. They are within walking access, so long as you can pull yourself away from the glorious infinity pool and private La Toubana swimming lagoon!
Surf camp kokoplaj
The Surf camp kokoplaj is a budget-friendly option that puts you a 150-meter walk from the beginner-friendly break at Le Helleux. They have rooms that benefit from a shared kitchen and even their own pool. It’s a surf-minded stay too, so plenty of space for stashing the board and whatnot.
Shambala Lodge
Shambala Lodge is a midrange accommodation choice that offers easy access to the uber-consistent breaks on the east coast. It’s got a lovely pool and gorgeously tropical gardens, along with suites that have roomy bathrooms and healthy breakfast offerings.
Step-by-step guide to planning your guadeloupe surf trip right now
Step one: Book flights to the guadeloupe surf…Lately, we like Omio for searching flights. It’s a nice interface and has lots of airline options. We also use Skyscanner because that sometimes offers deals that even beat going direct to the carrier!
Step two: Book your surf camp Book Surf Camps is the numero uno online booking platform for fully-fledged surf-stay packages on the internet right now. Then there’s Booking.com. That has consistently unbeatable rates for hotels and a nifty map feature that lets you check EXACTLY how close your hotel is to a surf break.
Step three: Get insuranceThis is kinda’ important. Not just for surf trips but for any trips. SafetyWing is great for nomad travelers. They offer rolling contracts that cover amateur surfing.
Step four (optional): Rent a car If you’re surf camping then you might not need wheels. If you’re not then we’ll just say this: We’ve never been on a surf trip that wasn’t improved by having our own car. Use RentalCars – they’re the best.
Step five: Enjoy!
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When to surf in Guadeloupe?
The odd shape of Guadeloupe and coastlines facing both southeast and northwest mean that the island gets decent swell throughout the year. The overall best season is surely the winter, when the strong Atlantic NE and N channels are working overtime and groundswell is powering the breaks along Grand Terre’s eastern side, from Damencourt across toLa Bouelle. There’s decent action on the south coast spots that are more tropical then, too, especially when its bigger and there’s more E action in the swell direction. Summer time can be great for said south-coast spots and the smaller isle of Basse Terre, since southerly storm swells send good power onto the black-sand beaches down that way, although that season is generally better for beginners and lower intermediates, and could involve some waiting between sessions.
We might use affiliate links in this post. Basically, you click em’ and we get a little something from your booking or purchase. They help us keep offering more and more in-depth surf guides to awesome places all around the globe. So, thanks for that!
