Dangerous beaches Guadeloupe

What's the weather like in Guadeloupe?

Want to know the weather forecast for this year? Good weather with (+ or -) risk of showers!

This is the general case that is often true. However, you should know that an island is particularly vulnerable to wind, rain and swell conditions in particular. But insularity also allows you to seek better conditions on the opposite side of the exposed coasts. But then, how do you plan your outings to go to the beaches of Guadeloupe according to the weather.

Weather forecast Guadeloupe: where to find out?

First of all, you need to find out about the weather. To check the weather forecast, there are a plethora of sites and mobile applications. First of all, the little phone app that tells you the weather is honestly an unreliable gadget, or at least insufficient. Specialized coastal weather sites like Windguru or Windy are much more accurate, and often used by surfers and windsurfers. But you need to be used to reading weather files that are sometimes a bit technical.

For ordinary people, my advice is to watch the weather on the local TV channel Guadeloupe 1ère. It's at 7:25 p.m., just before the local news at 7:30 p.m. The strength and direction of the swell and wind, the main parameters to take into account, are clearly shown with arrows and will allow you to decide on your program for the next day during dinner or an aperitif.

Understanding the swell to plan your outings in Guadeloupe

If you are looking for calm seas and the swell is greater than 1.50 to 2 meters, you will have to go to the opposite side of the exposed coasts. The maps below show the "swimmability" of the coasts according to the direction of the swell. Of course this is not an exact science, but by looking at the maps you will easily understand the logic that will allow you to choose your swimming spots. Surfers will of course look for coastal areas in red.

You should know that the dominant swell and wind in the Antilles generally come from the east (from right to left if you prefer), varying between East / Northeast and East / Southeast, and sometimes the swell comes from the north. Except in exceptional cases such as a cyclone in the Caribbean basin, the swell can then come from the west or the south, but this is very rare. This is why you will only see the maps of the 4 most frequent cases in this article.

Beach Guadeloupe Saint François

The East is the sector where the swell and wind come from most frequently in the Antilles, all year round. It is also the orientation that allows you to make the most of the beaches of Guadeloupe. The south coast of Grande Terre is protected by a coral reef, the beaches are almost always passable, as is the Leeward Coast of Basse Terre which, as its name suggests, is located under the wind of the island which thus protects the entire west coast. The large cul de sac marin, the part located at the top between the two wings of the butterfly, is also protected and calm. You are therefore spoiled for choice with an easterly swell.

Guadeloupe Deshaies beach: when to avoid going there?

The beaches of Deshaies are magnificent and calm, except with a swell coming from the north. Especially if you have young children, the coasts of Deshaies, which are not protected by a coral reef, can quickly become dangerous when the swell comes from the north, and choppy with an east/northeast swell. Take this into account, change your program if you have planned to go to Deshaies. Wait instead until the swell has returned to the east, or at least east/northeast. The risk of drowning exists for the less vigilant, but more frequently we see broken collarbones or sprains. So be careful and, a word of advice, when you are in the water in a slightly rough sea, always look towards the sea to see the waves coming. Otherwise, while you are waving to your friends on the beach, a wave surprises you from behind and can violently take you away. If you are more of an aquatic person by nature and swimming in rough seas does not scare you, know that you will not be able to cope with a big roller, but you can dive under it just before the wave breaks and come out on the other side. This is the surfers' technique to reposition themselves behind the wave.

A north swell does however occur occasionally. It generally lasts 2 to 3 days, before moving further east.

Guadeloupe Gosier Beach

Towards the end of the tourist season, from April, the dominant swell comes more frequently from the East / South-East. The coasts exposed to the South are then more exposed. The south coast of the mainland, called "the Riviera", is largely protected by a coral reef, most of the beaches remain passable, but still requires a little vigilance. If the wind also comes from this direction, it also sweeps directly over the coast, which is rather pleasant when the wind is less than 30 km/h. Beyond that, the best conditions are undoubtedly on the north side of the island.

Guadeloupe Le Moule Beach

The North / North-East swell is more frequent from December to April. Vigilance is then required in the North Basse Terre, the windward coast of the Mainland. In Le Moule, this is when you will see the most surfers in the water on the famous surf spot of Damencourt.

The advantage of central accommodation

Being housed in the center of the island allows you to go wherever you want on the most beautiful beaches of Guadeloupe depending on what the weather conditions dictate you to do. Leaving from the Jaden Kreyol cottage, you are 30 minutes from the beaches of Deshaies, Bouillante and Gosier, 50 minutes from Port Louis or Saint François. Reasonable travel times that put all the sites of interest in Guadeloupe within driving distance.

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