Bouillante
Guadeloupe · Basse-Terre · 10 m
Description
Bouillante is the diving capital of Guadeloupe, named for the hot springs that still steam into the sea along its shore and now feed a geothermal power station. The Pigeon Islands lie a kilometre offshore inside the marine reserve that Jacques Cousteau argued for, and a bronze bust of him stands on the seabed at fifteen metres. Dive boats and glass-bottomed boats leave Malendure beach all day. The black sand here shelves steeply, and the reef wall drops away close in, which is why the fish life is so heavy. The village sits halfway along the leeward coast road.
Length of stay
Recommended length of stay: 2 to 5 days (optimal 3 days)
Travel season
Best time to visit: December – April
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
Highlights
- Réserve Cousteau and the Pigeon Islands
- Plage de Malendure
- Snorkelling over the reef wall
- Cousteau bust on the seabed
- Hot springs steaming into the sea
- Glass-bottomed boat trips
- Turtles grazing the seagrass off Malendure
- Plage de Petite Anse
- Geothermal plant and the Bouillante bay walk
- Whale and dolphin watching offshore