Pointe-à-Pitre, the capital of the French Antilles island of Guadeloupe, is a colourful port and trading town surrounded by long, white, sandy beaches, The town has a number of attractive buildings, include the Place de la Victoire, the Schoelcher Museum and the St. John's Perse Museum in the former manor houses in the colonial style. The colourful market and lots of shops and boutiques on the Rue Frebault, the Rue de Nozière and the Rue Schoelcher make them the perfect place for a stroll.

Tips for excursions

Basse Terre & Soufière volcano

Lunch is included in the price

Glass-bottomed boat trip to Pigeon Island

Tour of Pointe-à-Pitre, followed by a trip into the country, over the salt river and through the tropical rainforest into the nature park. It's then into the glass-bottomed boat for the 90 minutes trip to Pigeon Island. The island consists of an underwater reef, described by Jacques Cousteau as one of the most beautiful in the world. Having enjoyed fantastic views through the glass bottom, the participants will be served with refreshments. Return trip to Pointe-à-Pitre.

Visit to the Bel Air plantation

A trip over the strait which separates Basse-Terre from Grande-Terre, to Sainte-Marie de Capesterre, a small village in which Christopher Columbus once made landfall. The Bell-air banana plantation has been running since the 19th-century. A tour of the banana fields in special vehicles. An opportunity to visit the packing hall and the small family museum. There will be an opportunity to learn to distinguish between different sorts of banana. The trip then continues to the Longueteau rum distillery, followed by a visit to a picturesque Hindu temple on the way back to the ship.