Basse-Terre is Guadeloupe's capital on the western 'wing' and more scenic of the country's main butterfly shaped island. After crossing a bridge over a river, visitors can head north or south along the coasts or straight into the national park, an ecological spread covering one-fifth of Guadeloupe's total terrain. The park has a lush rain forest, a sparkling waterfall and pond, and a zoo and botanical garden. It also features a rum museum and a working sugar factory. There are miles of white-sand beaches, and offshore Pigeon Island is suitable for diving. From Basse-Terre there are great views of La Soufriere, a dormant volcano located seven miles away.

Motorcoaches take visitors almost to the summit (4,813 feet) to see the wisps of sulfur vapor and fumaroles. For other active clients, Guadeloupe offers practically every sport imaginable, including golf, tennis, squash, biking, hiking horseback riding, scuba diving, sailing, snorkeling, windsurfing, deep-sea fishing, water skiing, yachting and plenty of spectator sports. Those who love to party will find night-clubs and discos in most of the large hotels and the island's casinos. The restaurants (Guadeloupe is touted as one of the culinary capitals of the Caribbean) are magnificent!