Guadeloupe in January, an ideal time to visit the island ?
Guadeloupe in January, the best month to visit the island
Why choose Guadeloupe in January?
Want to go on vacation at the beginning of the year? Choose Guadeloupe in January! This month offers ideal weather, an authentic local atmosphere, and the freedom of a road trip in a rental car to explore the entire archipelago. By booking a vehicle now with our car rental agency, you can enjoy a stress-free stay at a Caribbean pace.
✨ Must-see events in January in Guadeloupe
January officially kicks off the most vibrant festivities of the year in Guadeloupe. With music, parades, traditions, and the first whiffs of Carnival, the island enters a unique atmosphere combining culture, color, and popular jubilation.
🎭 The launch of the Guadeloupe Carnival
From the first Sunday in January, the archipelago bursts into life to the rhythm of drums and parades:
the carnival season opens after Epiphany
the first parades take place in the streets of Pointe-à-Pitre, Basse-Terre, and many other towns
concerts, snare drum bands, choreography, costumes, and handmade floats
a family-friendly, festive atmosphere day and night
It's the perfect time to discover Guadeloupean culture, and a rental car makes it easy to follow the various parades in different towns.
🎉 GO Carnaval – Opening Carnaval
Every year, a major event symbolically marks the start of the season: GO Carnival, with several days of entertainment, concerts, and artistic performances (e.g., January 3–5, 2025). This is often the first gathering for carnival culture enthusiasts.
What are the activities to do in Guadeloupe ?
There are a multitude of activities to enjoy in Guadeloupe, whether it's taking in the majestic views on a mountainside hike, soaking up the culture in local museums or galleries, exploring historic monuments like Fort Napoleon, or immersing yourself in nature on a trip to the marshes, lagoons and forests.
Guadeloupe is blessed with lush vegetation and crystal clear waters. This creates the perfect setting for various activities such as snorkeling or diving in coral reefs filled with exotic fish of all shapes and sizes, as well as sailing, windsurfing and kite surfing along its beautiful coastline.
With so much to do and explore, visitors can enjoy all aspects of this tropical wonderland during their stay in Guadeloupe.
A few places to explore in Guadeloupe in
As a bonus, here are some road trip ideas for Guadeloupe.
Explore the Islands of the Archipelago
January is one of the best times to discover the gems of Guadeloupe: Les Saintes, Marie-Galante, and La Désirade. With calmer seas and dry weather, ferry crossings are pleasant and the landscapes even more stunning. Between secluded beaches, authentic villages, and turquoise waters, each island offers a different atmosphere. It's a real breath of fresh air that allows you to experience Guadeloupe beyond Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre.
📍 Les Saintes – Marie-Galante – La Désirade
Tour of the Beaches
With ideal temperatures in January, it's the perfect time to take a road trip to the island's most beautiful beaches. From Caravelle to Sainte-Anne with its crystal-clear waters at Bois Jolan, to vast stretches such as Grande Anse in Deshaies, each beach has its own charm: white sand, coconut trees, turquoise lagoons, or long Atlantic waves. By car, it's easy to visit several beaches in a day and find quieter spots away from the tourist areas.
📍 Sainte-Anne – Deshaies – Saint-François
Photographing the Best Spots
January offers incredible light for capturing Guadeloupe at its most beautiful. From sunrise at Pointe des Châteaux to the waterfalls of Basse-Terre, panoramic views of the Soufrière volcano, and colorful villages like Deshaies, the island is full of magnificent viewpoints. It's the perfect time to fill your gallery with spectacular shots of wild landscapes, golden beaches, and wave-battered cliffs.
📍 Pointe des Châteaux – Soufrière – Deshaies
🍍 Seasonal fruits and vegetables in January
Pineapple: harvested during the dry season, it is particularly juicy this month.
Star fruit: its star shape is appealing and it is available until February.
Apricot: the season starts in January/February, bringing sweetness and exoticism.
Citrus fruits (oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes, etc.): still fresh and abundant at the start of the year.
Passion fruit: fully ripe in January in the Caribbean.
Okra: a tropical green vegetable, harvested at this time of year and used in many dishes.
Cabbage, eggplant, tomato: these vegetables are grown in the archipelago and are available in January.
January temperatures
Daytime temperatures are pleasant, ranging from 26°C to 30°C. Evenings remain mild, generally between 20°C and 22°C.
Water temperature in January
The sea reaches around 26°C to 28°C, which is ideal for swimming, diving, or simply relaxing by the water.
Rainfall and sunshine in January
January marks the dry season in Guadeloupe: few rainy days, with showers that are generally short. There is plenty of sunshine, with many hours of sun per day. The risk of hurricanes is very low during this period.
🎒What should you pack for Guadeloupe?
When traveling to Guadeloupe in November, don't forget to pack the following essentials in your luggage:
Sunglasses to protect you from intense UV rays.
Ocean-friendly sunscreen to protect your skin and the marine ecosystem.
A hat to protect you from the sun.
Hiking shoes to explore the island's trails.
Insect repellent to protect you from bugs.
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