Want to spend your holidays on an island? An island, yes, but not just any island: Guadeloupe. A paradise for sunny breaks and sporting stays, Bouillante is THE dream destination for holidays on the island of Basse-Terre.
In the heart of the Leeward Coast, the one rightly known as Boiling "the Green" is located halfway between the volcanic mountains and the warm waters of the Caribbean. The town takes its name from the many hot springs that dot its surroundings, gushing out of the blue from just about anywhere, even in the sea. In the heart of a particularly well-preserved natural environment, Bouillante offers its visitors incredible sites to discover during hikes. Several itineraries criss-cross the volcanic mountains, cliffs and coastline: the trace of Machette from Pointe Lézarde to Anse à Sable beach, but also the trace of Petit Malendure, the stroll of the Phare Jaune, the Cascade aux Écrevisses, the mangrove and coconut groves of Anse à la Barque (and the ruins of its indigoterie), the paths of the Parc National de la Guadeloupe and those of the Crêtes des Bois will allow you to discover the different landscapes of Bouillante.
Surrounded by vegetation, Boiling is also well known for the practice of water sports for all desires and budgets. River walks, canyoning in the tropical forest, snorkeling, swimming in the hot springs at Anse à Sable beach, surfing, sea kayaking, sailing, fishing (the waters of Boiling are very fishy), boat trips with glass bottom to observe fish and corals... Because indeed, the town is also famous for the beauty of its seabed: it is therefore quite naturally that Boiling has become over the years the largest scuba diving site in Guadeloupe, attracting divers from all over the world to the waters of its magnificent Cousteau reserve (in the Pigeon Islands). Get your fins, masks and snorkels! You will find many spots, including that of the Coral Garden where, immersed at the bottom of the water, there is a statue of the bust of Captain Cousteau. Excursions to the high seas are also popular: from Malendure beach, you can embark on a discovery of the cetaceans that inhabit the bay. Humpback whales, pilot whales, sperm whales, dolphins by the hundreds, beaked whales, but also green and nested turtles... Beautiful encounters that will undoubtedly leave their mark on you!
On the beach side, Bouillante reveals a vast choice of beaches and coves along its coastline where you can put your towel. Here, the sea is calm and it is easy for families to swim. On the banks of the "Réserve Cousteau", Malendure beach is a star in the region: coconut palms, turquoise sea, gentle waves and beautiful exposure make it one of the favourite beaches for travellers passing through Bouillante. L'Anse à Sable and its famous "Bain du Curé", Petite-Anse and its magnificent water, Machette and its grey sand, or Anse Thomas will satisfy you... for little, of course, that you like the paradisiacal beaches and the postcard landscapes.
As a family, we strongly recommend a visit to the Guadeloupe Zoo. Also called the Parc des Mamelles, it shelters a large number of animal spaces: ocelots, large parrots, iguanas, jaguars, sakis monkeys, raccoons... Something to amaze the youngest ones.
Finally, it is impossible to stay in Boiling without learning the flavours of local cuisine: colombo, codfish, grilled fish with coconut milk and spices, punch, rum, Creole sausages... The perfect combo to make your taste buds travel.
