Though a tiny speck in the Atlantic Ocean, Guadeloupe has scores of towns and urban centres that are definitely worth a visit. Also the island is dotted with white sandy beaches and rock cliffs that consitute some wild and exciting scenery.

Gosier

Gosier has some of the finest beaches in Guadeloupe and is one of the island's major resort centers. It has nearly 8km (5 miles) of sandy but narrow beach, stretching east from Pointe-à-Pitre. Gosier attracts mainly French visitors, so one feels like being on a Mediterranean holiday. Gosier also has some of the island's best dining and nightlife, plus a casino.

A 15-minute climb takes you to the 18th century ruins of Fort Fleur-d'Epée. Its dungeons and battlements are testament to the ferocious fighting between the French and British armies in 1794. The ruins provide good views over the bay of Pointe-à-Pitre. If the visibility is good, the neighbouring offshore islands of Marie-Galante and Iles des Saintes are visible.

Pointe des Châteaux

Eleven kilometers (7 miles) east of St-François is the rocky headland of Pointe des Châteaux, the easternmost tip of Grand-Terre, where the Atlantic meets the Caribbean. Crashing waves have sculpted a cliff by the sea into dramatic castle-like formations, the erosion typical of France's Brittany coast. The view from here is panoramic. At the top is a cross erected in the 19th century.

Pointe des Colibris is the extreme end of Guadeloupe. To the east is the La Désirade, an island that has the appearance of a huge vessel anchored far away. Pointe des Châteaux has miles of coved white-sand beaches.

Most of these are safe for swimming, except at the point where the waves of the turbulent Atlantic encounter the tranquil Caribbean Sea, churning up the waters. There's a nudist enclave at Pointe Tarare.

St Francois & Le Bas Du Fort

St-François

Continuing east from Ste-Anne are many old round towers named for Father Labat, the Dominican founder of the sugarcane industry. These towers were once used as mills to grind the cane. St-François, 40km (25 miles) east of Pointe-à-Pitre, used to be a sleepy fishing village. Following the opening of a Méridien hotel with a casino by Air France and the promotional activities of J. F. Rozan, St-François has transformed into a jet-set resort. Now the once sleepy village has first-class accommodations, as well as an airport available to private jets, a golf course (it's the golfing center of the island), and a marina, where there's a casino. It also has some good beaches and is known for its Creole restaurants.

Le Bas du Fort

Just 3km (2 miles) east of Pointe-à-Pitre is the tourist area of Le Bas du Fort, near Gosier. It is situated close to the airport. Although it has some good sandy beaches, there are far better ones further out from the center. Aquarium de la Guadeloupe, place Créole, Marina Gosier, is one of the largest and most modern aquariums in the Caribbean. Just off the highway near Bas-du-Fort Marina, the aquarium is home to tropical fish, coral, underwater plants, huge sharks, and other sea creatures. Hours are daily from 9am to 7pm. Admission is 6.50€ for adults, 3.50€ for children age 6 to 12; free for kids age 5 and under.