Guadeloupe

The French overseas region of Guadeloupe is set in the balmy waters of the Southern Caribbean. Its two largest islands look like the wings of a butterfly spreading out over the sea. Smaller islands cluster around to bring the total up to more than a dozen. The country is home to gorgeous tropical beaches, lush greenery, moss-covered stones, and swampy mangroves, a spectacular volcano, and picture-perfect mountain views.

Head to the western island of Basse-Terre for the country’s capital city, which shares a name with the island itself, and La Grande Soufrière, the tallest peak in the region at 1,467 metres high. Its volcanic slopes are crisscrossed with stunning walking trails, and it’s set in the beautiful Guadeloupe National Park, also home to hot springs at Bains Jaunes, spectacular waterfalls such as the Chutes du Carbet, and breathtaking mountain vistas. Head to the eastern island of Grande-Terre for laid-back beach towns and resorts clustered around the island’s southern coast. Although its name suggests otherwise, this is the smaller of the two islands, but it’s by far the most popular thanks to its golden sand beaches and magical coral reefs. Rare plant and animal species can be spotted at Pointe des Châteaux. Head to Plage de Malendure and Pigeon Island for black sand beaches and some of the region’s best diving.