Martinique or Guadeloupe : Which island to choose ?

You are thinking about your next trip and you already know that you want to go far away, in the sun, to enjoy paradisiacal beaches... You know that the French West Indies are the ideal destination for that, but between Martinique and Guadeloupe, you don't know which island to choose.

Although they share a common history and culture, the two Caribbean islands each have their own particularities that Tourcrib offers you here to compare.

Where are the most beautiful beaches?

Martinique and Guadeloupe are sunny all year round and both have heavenly beaches, with water between 24°C and 30°C.

Beaches in Martinique

Cap Macré, Anse Couleuvre, les Salines... The beaches of Martinique are numerous and different: white sand beaches, black sand beaches, large coves, small bays... There is something for everyone! Moreover, you will be able to enjoy a moment of relaxation with your family, as well as surfing at Anse Trabaud, or even the traditional Bwa Flo at Basse Pointe and Grand'Rivière.

Beaches in Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe being a little bigger than Martinique, and including three surrounding islands - Marie-Galante, les Saintes, la Désirade - it has more beaches, lagoons and islets. Many beaches are strongly exposed to the trade wind, so you can practice many water sports such as windsurfing, kitesurfing, and surfing in Le Moule or Saint-François.

What are the best diving spots ?

Diving in Martinique

In Martinique, you can discover a very diversified marine fauna and flora by diving in the deep channel of Saint Lucia in the South or in the one of Dominica in the North. Equipped with a tank or simply fins, mask and snorkel, you can observe many species of tropical fish, sea fans, sea turtles and dolphins.

The Diamond Rock is world famous for its beauty, as are the giant aquariums located between Saint-Pierre and Le Prêcheur.

Diving in Guadeloupe

Known as "Karukera", the island of beautiful waters, Guadeloupe offers a colorful diving experience with its rich waters and dense fauna.

It has many diving spots, and is particularly well known in the world thanks to the Pigeon Island and the Cousteau Reserve, located in the National Park, where you can observe hundreds of species of multicolored fish, corals, sea fans, turtles, humpback whales…

Where are the most beautiful hikes ?

Hiking in Martinique

With more than 180km of trails spread all over the island, Martinique is an ideal destination for hiking and adventure lovers. With a range of landscapes as rich as varied, you will cross the tropical forest, the beaches, the peaks, the hills and the coastline. Among the most famous trails, you will find the Montagne Pelée, the Presqu'île de la Caravelle, or the Canal de Beauregard.

Hiking in Guadeloupe

With more than 300km of paths often developed by Man, Guadeloupe could seem a little less wild than Martinique, but with its mountains, its active volcano and its turquoise water coastline, you will be able to discover enchanting natural sites such as the Deux Mamelles, the Carbet falls or the famous Soufrière volcano at more than 1400 meters of altitude.

Horseback riders or horseback riding enthusiasts will also have the opportunity to ride through the foothills of La Soufrière and the deserted seashores.

Which island is the most animated?

Whether in Martinique or Guadeloupe, music and dance are a real state of mind and accompany many events such as carnival, Christmas caroling, bicycle races, town festivals, and many others.

Events in Martinique

In Martinique you will generally find a peaceful and joyful atmosphere with picnics on the beach and Ti-punch tastings in the water, which are perfect for families. Smaller than Guadeloupe, the island offers less entertainment in the evening: you have to go to Fort-de-France, which is thirty minutes away from the main tourist areas.

Nevertheless, you won't miss the Fort-de-France Festival in July and the Tour des Yoles Rondes from the end of July to the beginning of August.

Events in Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe has a reputation for being a bit more festive than Martinique, as it has more places to party, such as the marina in Gosier and the outskirts of Pointe-à-Pitre which are perfect for groups of friends.

Here, you won't miss the International Music Festival in Marie-Galante in May, the Guadeloupe Festival in July and August and the Gwo-Ka Festival in Sainte-Anne in July.

Where do you eat best?

As far as gastronomy is concerned, Martinique and Guadeloupe have the same culinary bases: they perpetuate a tradition of authentic and mixed cooking, mixing cultures, times and tastes. Colombos, acras, black pudding, coconut flan, flambéed bananas... so many delicious dishes that will delight your taste buds.

Eating in Martinique

In Martinique, in addition to the coconut sherbets served by the sea, you will have the opportunity to taste the local cuisine: local black pudding, cabri colombo, pâté en pot, dombré and poulet boucané. And you can wash it all down with Martinique's agricultural rum, known worldwide for its fragrant taste and considered one of the best in the world.

Eating in Guadeloupe

In Guadeloupe, you will be offered cod acras and Creole blood sausage, chicken colombo, bébélé, matété, all washed down with Ti-punch.on the beach, you will break your crust with the famous bokit, a local sandwich fried and filled with chicken or cod.

Which island for a family trip?

Both islands are safe and easy with children, even babies, and are practical choices because you are going far away and in the sun, with all the comforts of the metropolis.

Martinique in family

The beaches of Martinique have beautiful stretches of white and shallow water. You can go very far out into the sea with your feet still on the ground! The island is smaller than Guadeloupe, so the distances are shorter and the travel time shorter. This can be important for your children, especially since most of the activities are feasible at any age.

Guadeloupe in family

With its well-developed nautical activities, Guadeloupe will particularly delight your teenagers. Despite its larger surface area and therefore longer travel distances, the island is very well suited for families.

Where can I get around more quickly?

Whether in Martinique or Guadeloupe, you will need a car to get around. On both islands, the main roads are paved and good. Nevertheless, the mountain roads are often narrower, potholed and very steep.

Getting around in Martinique

Martinique being smaller than Guadeloupe, distances are shorter. On the outskirts of Fort-de-France, you will be in traffic as early as 6 am and around 6 pm during the week.

Getting around Guadeloupe

Guadeloupe is much larger than Martinique. Thus, the travel time is necessarily reflected on the discovery of its heritage, especially since you will also fall into traffic jams at rush hour, in the morning and at the end of the day. If you have a long journey to make, plan it in a weekend.

Where are the most beautiful landscapes?

If you love nature and hiking, it will be hard to choose between the two islands. They both have similar landscapes, each with a volcano - La Montage Pelée in Martinique and La Soufrière in Guadeloupe, lush tropical vegetation and remarkable national parks.

The landscapes of Martinique

Known as the island of flowers, you will discover in Martinique more than 1700 species of flowers and 3000 species of tropical plants... You will be amazed by its hills, its cliffs, its white sandy beaches and its tropical forests which shelter iguanas, mongooses, hummingbirds... Moreover, the traditional houses are well-preserved and add charm to all this lush vegetation.

The landscapes of Guadeloupe

In Guadeloupe, you will be disoriented by its beaches, its turquoise lagoons, its thick forests dotted with rivers and waterfalls... The landscape is more varied and wilder than in Martinique. In Grande-Terre, you will enjoy more sandy beaches and shallow water lagoons, while in Basse-Terre you will prefer tropical forests and agricultural landscapes.

Where is the best accommodation?

On both islands you can find the same types of accommodation from 4-star hotels to self-catering cottages or private apartments.

Top 3 accommodations in Martinique

The Bambou Hotel

With its direct access to the beach, a large swimming pool, colorful bungalows, a green garden and an attractive price, the Bambou hotel rhymes with conviviality and typically Creole atmosphere.

The French Coco Luxury Boutique Hotel

The French Coco is located in the northeast, on the Caravelle peninsula! It is located in the heart of a lush tropical garden with 16 of the 17 suites having a private pool. It is the ideal place if you are a couple.

The hotel la Pagerie

The hotel de la Pagerie is located in the southwest of the island, in Trois-Ilets. It has a direct access to the beach and is close to a marina which leads you in less than 15 minutes to Fort-de-France.

Top 3 accommodations in Guadeloupe

La Toubana hotel & Spa

In Sainte-Anne, you will be amazed by the infinity pool of La Toubana, its bungalows in the middle of the tropical garden, its suites and its private villas.

The Malanga Garden

In the south of the island, in Basse-Terre, the Malanga Garden is a true haven of peace nestled in the middle of six hectares of coffee, cocoa, cane and banana trees.

The Aqua Lodge

Unusual, it is in the middle of the turquoise lagoon in Saint-François that you will stay in a floating and ecological bungalow, cut from the world.

So, Martinique or Guadeloupe?

As you can see, there is no objective answer. Guadeloupe might be ideal for groups of friends looking for a two-week adventure, while Martinique might be more suitable for families looking for a shorter stay. But rest assured, no matter which island you choose, you will not be disappointed and will come back enchanted.