On the northwest coast of Basse-Terre, a 40- to 45-minite drive northwest from both Basse-Terre town and Pointe-à-Pitre, this town of about 4,000 (known as Déhé in the local creole), established in 1732, is perhaps the island’s prettiest village. Surrounded by a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, Deshaies is framed by green hills and a calm bay filled with fishing boats, and feels sleepy and tropical (and even cinematic; Brits may recognize it as the filming location for the ongoing BBC TV series Death in Paradise). Apart from soaking up the ambiance, browsing for wooden crafts in local shops, and enjoying local beaches such as Grande Anse, Plage Riflet, and Plage de la Perle, visitors can take paddle through the local mangrove swamps; take local eco tours; check out the Jardin Botanique de Deshaies, which bursts with tropical blooms, parrots, and waterfalls (among its packed with more than a thousand plant species (you´ll notice a lot of orchids); and venture out to the Parc des Mamelles Zoo de Guadeloupe a half hours away, which apart from its more than 80 species of critters (including giant tortoises, sloths, monkeys, even jaguars and pumas) features suspended walkways through the rainforest. Accommodations are in guesthouses, small hotels, and rental villas and bungalows. Also, if you happen to be here on the third Satuday of the month, by all means have a leisurely browse through the charming artisans´ and farmers´ market.
Read more in my post Guadeloupe and 8 of its Top Highlights.
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