Discovering the Region from Villas Kanisi, in Baie-Mahault
Things to do around Baie-Mahault during your stay? Settling here means choosing the most central point in Guadeloupe: within just a few minutes’ drive, you can reach both the wide beaches of Grande-Terre and the lush rainforests of Basse-Terre, without ever having to change accommodation.
What to do around Baie-Mahault?
Here is our selection, updated as we make our own discoveries and hear from our guests, to help you plan your days around the villa.
Key distances from Villas Kanisi
| Location | Distance |
|---|---|
| Destreland | 6–8 min |
| Zone de Jarry | 8–12 min |
| Pointe-à-Pitre | 12–15 min (16–18 min during the day) |
| Pôle Caraïbes Airport | 15–18 min |
| Datcha Beach (Le Gosier) | 20–25 min |
| Cluny Beach (Sainte-Rose) | 30–35 min |
| Anse Laborde (Anse-Bertrand) | 55–60 min |
| Souffleur (Port-Louis) | 55–60 min |
| Route de la Traversée | 8–10 min |
| Cascade aux Écrevisses | 15–18 min |
| La Soufrière Volcano (Bains Jaunes) | 65–75 min |
| Carbet Falls | 45–55 min |
| Les Saintes Ferry Terminal (Trois-Rivières) | 50 min |
| Marie-Galante / La Désirade Ferry Terminal (Pointe-à-Pitre) | 12–15 min |
Note: travel times are given as a guide from 698 rue Albert Dupont, Baie-Mahault, and may vary depending on traffic.
A stone’s throw away: Jarry and its shops
The Jarry district, about 10 minutes from the villa, is home to most of the archipelago’s economic activity.
- Destreland shopping centre, the largest shopping mall in Guadeloupe with over 140 stores: national and local brands, a supermarket and restaurants. Handy for a full grocery run as soon as you arrive.
- Jarry business park: a mix of all kinds of shops, varied restaurants and major retail chains.
- Local shops, just a hundred metres from the villa: a convenience store and late-opening takeaway food, ideal for late arrivals.
The beaches …
Guadeloupe is never short of beaches, and from Baie-Mahault you can choose between two quite different settings.
- Le Gosier: Datcha beach and Anse Tabarin, light sand and views of the Gosier islet; plenty of seafront restaurants for lunch with your feet in the sand.
- Sainte-Rose: Cluny beach, wilder and unspoilt, valued for its natural setting and quiet.
- Northern Grande-Terre: a little further away, the beaches of Anse Laborde or Souffleur, for a day of exploring between cliffs and coconut trees.
Nature and hiking in Basse-Terre
About twenty minutes away, the Route de la Traversée opens onto the Guadeloupe National Park, a UNESCO-listed biosphere reserve.
- Cascade aux Écrevisses: reached via a short, well-maintained path (accessible to reduced mobility), a cool waterfall tucked into dense vegetation. One of the easiest family outings on the island.
- La Maison de la Forêt: an exhibition on Guadeloupe’s ecosystem and a nature trail, with picnic areas along the Bras-David river.
- Les Mamelles: the Petit-Bourg peak and the Pigeon peak, for hikers looking for elevation and panoramic views over both wings of the island.
- Further afield, a full day out: La Soufrière volcano and the Carbet Falls are among the must-sees of Basse-Terre; we’re always happy to suggest a route depending on the day’s weather.
History and culture
The region carries a rich history, just a short distance from Pointe-à-Pitre.
- Fort Fleur d’Épée, in Le Gosier: panoramic views over the Caribbean Sea and the remains of an 18th-century fort.
- Mémorial ACTe (MACTe), in Pointe-à-Pitre: a cultural institution devoted to the history of the slave trade and slavery, run by the Guadeloupe Region.
- The Schoelcher Museum, in Pointe-à-Pitre: dedicated to abolitionist Victor Schoelcher, to understand the archipelago’s social history.
- Local markets: don’t miss Montebello market in Petit-Bourg, lively every Friday afternoon, for spices, tropical fruit and Creole specialities to take home or enjoy on the spot. Pointe-à-Pitre’s fish markets are also well worth a visit!
Activities at sea
The Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin, just north of Baie-Mahault, is a vast protected lagoon perfect for days on the water.
- Excursions to the islets: day trips by boat, snorkelling and diving in waters sheltered by France’s second-largest coral reef.
- The Guadeloupe Aquarium, in Le Gosier: an immersion into Caribbean marine life, perfect with children on rainy days.
A day trip away: nearby islands
For stays of a week or more, an excursion to one of the islands of the Guadeloupe archipelago is well worth adding to the itinerary. Ferries mainly leave from Pointe-à-Pitre or Trois-Rivières.
- Les Saintes: two unspoilt islets, the bay regarded as one of the most beautiful in the world, quiet lanes and Fort Napoléon.
- Marie-Galante: nicknamed the “island of a hundred windmills”, for its sugar cane fields, rum distilleries and deserted beaches.
- La Désirade (from Saint-François): the most low-key, for a timeless escape far from the bustle.
Spiritourism: must-visit distilleries
Guadeloupe is rum country, and staying in Baie-Mahault puts you right at the centre of the archipelago’s finest distilleries. Less than 30 minutes away, you can visit iconic estates such as Longueteau and Karukera in Capesterre-Belle-Eau. Further afield, discover Damoiseau in Le Moule or Bologne at the foot of La Soufrière.
For a full day out, Marie-Galante offers three legendary distilleries — Bielle, Père Labat and Bellevue — where agricultural rum is made in the purest tradition. Tastings, guided tours, local know-how: a must for spiritourism enthusiasts and anyone curious to understand the soul of Guadeloupean rum.
As you can see: there’s no shortage of things to do around Baie-Mahault, from beaches and hikes to heritage and days out at sea.
Our local tips, straight from the villa
When you arrive, we always take a moment to hand you the keys in person and share our favourite spots for making the most of everything there is to do around Baie-Mahault. The region keeps changing, and so do our recommendations: feel free to contact us before you arrive.
Régis and Delphine