Gardens of Guadeloupe: Life in Paradise 8292

Enjoy access to the airport executive lounge before we depart from London to Guadeloupe. On arrival we transfer to our hotel. The rest of the day is free to rest and relax in the hotel, before a welcome dinner is served in the evening.

We begin our exploration of Guadeloupe in Basse-Terre, the westerly, more sheltered of the two ‘wings’ of the butterfly-shaped main island, with a visit to the Jardin Botanique de Deshaies, which offers the perfect introduction to the surprising flora of the West Indies. Designed by French landscape gardener Michel Gaillard, the garden is planted with both native and exogenous species and is divided into a number of different ‘worlds’. Tropical Asia is the first world we encounter, centred around a large sunny pond planted with aquatic plants and stocked with Japanese koi carp. Our tour continues through the worlds of plant hunters, palm trees, arid and tropical, as we discover more than 1000 plant species. Keep an eye out too for pink flamingos and two species of colourful lorikeets, similar to parrots. If the garden looks familiar it’s perhaps because it was the location of the murder of the original ‘Death in Paradise’ Inspector, as played by Ben Miller. Lunch is available here (not included). 
The nearby town of Deshaies is the primary location for ‘Death in Paradise’ and will be instantly recognisable to viewers of the series, in particular the red tower of the building which doubles as ‘Honoré Police Station’, which we will view along with some of the other locations such as the fishing port and Catherine’s Bar, where we will enjoy a drink. 
We continue with a visit to Habitation Côte Sous le Vent (House on the leeward side) which as well as a botanical park and an arboretum offers a museum of piracy, thematic exhibitions, a treehouse and a Creole house. In the garden and arboretum we find coffee and cacao plants, orchids and spices along with precious woods, royal palms and majestic mahoganies. 
We will later return to our hotel where the evening is at leisure.

We begin today with a visit to a Rum Factory for a our of the plantation and, for those who wish a morning pick-me-up, a taste of the finished product, the ‘national drink’ of Guadeloupe. 
In the south of Basse-Terre we have a visit to the Jardin de la Rencontre, 1.5ha of totally tropical gardens featuring plants such as Alpinia, Parrot’s Beak and Strelizia. There is also a banana plantation, where we will discover different varieties such as pink, snake and pole bananas along with banana flowers and a ‘pharmacy’ garden with medicinal herbs. After a guided tour of the garden we have lunch, prepared with carefully selected and fresh local products and enjoyed in delightful surroundings. We will also be shown how to make sugar cane juice. 
In the afternoon we visit the nearby garden of Cantamerle, which offers a more intimate experience but packs in over 400 plant species into a relatively small space, with tropical flowers, palm trees and fruit trees. There is also a wide range of plants used as spices, such as nutmeg, curry, ginger, turmeric and pepper.  
We will return to our hotel later this afternoon, where the evening is at leisure.

We turn our attention this morning to Grand-Terre, the easterly side of the main island, as after an early breakfast we drive to the port of Saint-François, where we board the ferry that will take us to the island of La Désirade, where we visit the Jardin Botanique du Désert. As the name suggests, this garden presents a stark contrast to the lush properties we have seen so far, specialising in cacti and other succulents. Created by a husband and wife team, along with a dozen volunteers, this is an inspiring botanical garden and the largest of its kind in the Caribbean, with around 3,500 plants across 800 different species from the West Indies, North and South America, Africa, Asia and southern Europe. 
Returning to Grand-Terre we will take a scenic route back to our hotel.

Following breakfast this morning, as it’s a Sunday the day is free to stroll along the beach, take a swim or perhaps venture further afield.

We return to Basse-Terre this morning as we visit the Sylvathèque. Managed by the National Forestry Office, this extraordinary garden contains most of the trees, flowers and plants of the tropical forest of the Caribbean Mountains. After a look at the reconstructed Creole garden which gives us an understanding of the cultivation methods inherited from the Amerindians, we will take a gentle walk along one of the forest trails which presents the hygrophilous forest, the silviculture of oleander (Podocarpus coriaceus) and the cypress. 
In the heart of the town of Basse-Terre we find Guadeloupe’s oldest Botanical Garden. When it was created in 1820, it was a place for experimentation and acclimatization of exotic plants. The site now has an educational vocation, as it has been home to the Island Biodiversity Space since 2013. Its aim is to inform the public about the richness of the archipelago’s ecosystems and the need to preserve them. 
We conclude today at the Jardin de Beauvallon, home to around 80 species of palm trees, some of which are over 100 years old. There are also two ponds, filled with carp and tilapias that swim among the aquatic plants and flowers. A suspension bridge leads to a viewpoint with views of the sea framed by an old mango tree. 
We will later return to our hotel, where the evening is at leisure.

Our first visit is to the Ecomuseum of Sainte-Rose, located on the heights above this coastal town. The site includes a botanical garden that has become a conservatory, supported by local authorities and UNESCO, and which has been awarded the Remarkable Garden label. The medicinal properties of plants are particularly highlighted. This “Creole Garden” has been completed by the installation of more than 30 display cases dedicated to the municipalities of the island and tracing their history, their traditions, their cultural specificities. The daily life of yesteryear is also explained during the visit via sketches with figurines, panels and documents. We also have a tasty treat in store as we enjoy a tasting of traditional hot chococlate. 
We conclude with a visit to the Jardin Valombreuse. Nestled in the hollow of a lush valley in the ‘green’ commune of Petit Bourg, the Valombreuse garden is the work of a passionate woman, Madame Chaulet. In 1989 Hurricane Hugo destroyed her entire farm, so she decided to create the first floral park in Guadeloupe and showcase the most beautiful plants on the island. Designed as a work of art, this magical world displays all the richness of an exceptional botanical collection: orchids, ferns, hoyas, tillandsias, anthuriums, alpinias and porcelain roses. Look out for some wonderful Strelitzia, commonly known as the ‘bird of paradise’, as well as many birds of the feathered variety, who make their home here among the multitude of plants and trees. 
This evening we will enjoy a farewell dinner in the hotel.

After breakfast this morning we will have some free time to do some last-minute shopping or relaxing before we check-out of the hotel (please ensure any extras are settled prior to departure) and transfer to the airport in time for our overnight flight back to London.

We will arrive in London.