Car Rental in Pointe-a-Pitre

Why rent a car in Pointe-a-Pitre?

Guadeloupe is a great place to visit. The island has many man-made attractions including old colonial architecture, interesting museums, lovely marinas, and bustling marketplaces. The number one attraction of Guadeloupe, however, is its amazing nature. Whether you decide to enjoy the island’s world-class beaches or head into the jungle to explore the vegetation and wildlife, you won’t be disappointed. 

Top ways to enter Pointe-a-Pitre

• Pointe-a-Pitre Airport: Also known as Le Raizet and Pôle Caraïbes or the Caribbean Hub, it is the only international airport on Guadeloupe. It served nearly 2.5 million travelers in 2018, making it the second-busiest airport in the Lesser Antilles. Served by around 15 different airlines, Pointe-a-Pitre Airport hosts flights to and from other Caribbean islands and nations, North America, South America, and Europe. Located just 8km (5 miles) north of Pointe-a-Pitre’s city center, the airport can be reached in about 15 minutes.
• By sea: A charter boat and ferry service link Guadeloupe to other Caribbean islands like Martinique, Saint Lucia, Dominica, and St. Martin. Most of the time, it is not possible to take a rental car on a boat - if you want to do this, you should ask both your rental car provider and the ferry company about it in advance. If you plan to visit more than one island during your trip to the Caribbean, the most popular choice is to drop off one rental car on Guadeloupe and pick up another after arriving at your next destination.

City facts

• Guadeloupe has a tropical monsoon and rainforest climate. The average high temperature is 32°C  (90°F) in August, the warmest month, and 29°C  (84°F) in January, the coldest. The island has distinct dry and wet seasons, the former lasting from January to mid-March and the latter from mid-March until December. 
• Guadeloupe is made up of six inhabited islands, as well as a large number of uninhabited islands and islets. The two largest islands, Basse-Terre and Grande-Terre, are separated by only a narrow channel and make up by far the largest part of Guadeloupe’s territory and population. 
• Guadeloupe is an overseas department of France and therefore, despite its location in the Caribbean, is a part of the European Union (EU). The island uses the euro as its currency and citizens of the EU can visit the region for an indifferent period of time. The official language of Guadeloupe is French, but most inhabitants most often use Antillean Creole, a mixture of French, West African, and Native Caribbean languages. Knowledge of English is high among people working in the tourism industry. 

Top sights and activities

• Mémorial ACTe. The largest museum about slavery in the world, Mémorial ACTe focuses on this dark and crucial page in the history of Guadeloupe and the Caribbean as a whole. The museum has many expositions about how the Atlantic slave trade was done, what the living and working conditions of the slaves were, and what the original cultures of mainly West African people who were brought to the island were. After visiting the memorial, head to the neighboring Victor Schoelcher Museum dedicated to the Frenchman who dedicated his life to abolishing slavery. Both museums are in Pointe-a-Pitre.
• Sainte-Antoine Market. Also known as the Creole Market, it is the best place to buy the ingredients for a proper Caribbean meal. Made up of European, African, and Native Caribbean influences, Caribbean cuisine is a colorful mix and the same can be said of this Pointe-a-Pitre market. There are many other interesting markets on Guadeloupe, including the night market in Le Gosier.
• Basse-Terre City. Although not the largest city of Guadeloupe (that would be Pointe-a-Pitre), Basse-Terre is the island’s administrative capital. Fittingly, the city is home to an impressive cathedral, a large main square, and many other impressive buildings and museums. The surroundings of the city include a lush jungle and some impressive volcanic landscapes. Located some 63km (39 miles) southwest of Pointe-a-Pitre, Basse-Terre City can be reached in about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
• Schoelcher Museum. The vast majority of the inhabitants of Guadeloupe are the descendants of the enslaved West Africans that were brought to the island by the French colonizers in the past centuries. Fittingly then, one of the most notable cultural institutions is the museum named after Victor Schoelcher, the French writer and lawmaker who campaigned for the abolition of the slaves. The museum is quite small but does a good job of providing more context on this delicate and historically important matter.

Traffic and parking

• Guadeloupe drives on the right-hand side of the road. 
• Unless indicated otherwise, the speed limit in Guadeloupe is 110km/h (68 mph) on highways, 80km/h (50 mph) on all other intercity roads, and 50km/h (31 mph) within urban and built-up areas. 
• The legal alcohol limit is 0.05%. Exceeding limit can lead to large fines and even deportation or imprisonment. 
• While the main roads in Guadeloupe are in good shape, many rural roads and roads in mountainous areas can have potholes and other issues, so it’s important to be extra cautious when driving them, especially after dark. 
• It is forbidden to pass when there are continuous white lines. 
• Drivers are only permitted to use a mobile phone with a hands-free system. 
• One of the main road hazards in Guadeloupe is the falling coconuts; therefore, it is not advisable to park under a palm. 
• Proof of insurance and the car’s documentation needs to be inside the car whenever you’re driving.
• When driving, you need to have your passport or ID card with you at all times.
• The fire department’s phone number in Guadeloupe is 18, the police’s number is 17, and the ambulance’s number is 15. 

Toll roads

There are some toll roads in Guadeloupe. Most of those are the roads leading to the country’s most popular beaches. Different toll roads are administered by different companies, so the tolls vary for each specific road. Cash payments are almost always accepted. 

Ideas for day trips

• Guadeloupe National Park. Impressive nature can be found at every step in Guadeloupe, but nowhere else is it so majestic and concentrated as in this national park. Home to the La Soufrière volcano, the largest mountain in the Lesser Antilles, as well as a tropical rainforest and mangrove forest, the park also has unique flora and fauna species like the seagrape, Guadeloupe raccoon, big-claw river shrimp, and manatee (the latter lives in the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve which is adjacent to the park). Located only some 30km (18 miles) from Pointe-a-Pitre, the national park can be reached in about 35 minutes.
• Carbet Falls. Also part of the national park, but deserving a special mention, Carbet Falls are three waterfalls on the river of the same name. Visited by Christopher Columbus in 1493 and by thousands of visitors every year, the impressive falls are surrounded by hiking trails, lush jungle, and even natural hot springs. Some 47km (29 miles) south of Pointe-a-Pitre, the waterfalls can be reached in around 30 minutes by car.
• Le Gosier. A coastal town on Grande-Terre, Le Gosier is most famous for its nightlife. A number of nightclubs, beach restaurants, and bars make sure that nobody goes to sleep too early. If you find Le Gosier’s atmosphere too hectic, take a very short boat ride to Ilet Gosier, a tiny and quiet nearby island with a lighthouse on it. Le Gosier is only 10km (6.2 miles) east of Pointe-a-Pitre and can be reached in 10-15 minutes. 

Most popular cars

The most popular rental car in Guadeloupe is Volkswagen Golf, although many travelers also pick the Renault Clio and the Dacia Sandero. The most popular rental car types are mini, economy, and compact.

Further destinations

• Beaches. Although home to a wealth of history and impressive nature, Guadeloupe is, first and foremost, a beach destination. The island’s coastline is long and generally very accessible. Some of the best places for swimming, catching a tan, or diving are the towns of La Datcha and Sainte-Anne, the latter some 23km (14 miles) west of Pointe-a-Pitre.
• Les Saintes. An archipelago made up of two small, picturesque islets, Les Saintes is only a short boat ride from Pointe-a-Pitre. Less crowded and more tranquil than Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre, the archipelago has a number of protected nature areas, an old lighthouse, colorful little villages, impressive coastal cliffs, and, of course, many amazing beaches.
• Marie-Galante. A rather large island south of Grande-Terre and east of Basse-Terre, Marie-Galante is one of the most picturesque places in Guadeloupe. In addition to many natural attractions, it is also home to two small towns and a number of old, but well-preserved windmills. There is a ferry from Grande-Terre to Marie-Galante, and it’s a good idea to check the schedule in advance.
• La Désirade. The easternmost in the Guadeloupean archipelago, La Désirade is home to less than 1,500 people, but this only adds to the remote atmosphere of the island. The beaches here are absolutely stunning, and the island is also known for its lighthouse, rocky landscapes, and fauna like Lesser Antillean Iguanas. La Désirade can be reached by boat, and while you can’t take a rental car with you, the island is small enough to easily get around on foot.
• Martinique. Another overseas department of France, and another wonderful Caribbean destination famous for both its beaches and interesting culture, Martinique is an island to the southeast of Guadeloupe. The two places are connected to each other by either a very short flight or a ferry trip that takes under five hours – and while you cannot bring a rental car with you from Guadeloupe, there are plenty of options once you arrive in Martinique. 

Car rental prices in Pointe-a-Pitre

• Small cars - from $16 per day
• Convertibles - from $196 per day
• SUVs - from $25 per day
• Medium cars - from $28 per day
• Vans - from $40 per day
• Large cars - from $48 per day

Money-saving and other tips

Follow these tips and land a great rental car in Guadeloupe:

• Compare the rates of different rental car providers
• Book your rental car well in advance
• Plan your route before you go
• Know your fuel and mileage requirements
• Visit during the month when the rental prices are the cheapest. According to our data, visiting Pointe-a-Pitre is the cheapest in May when renting a car is about 72% cheaper than the yearly average and a whole 82% cheaper than renting a vehicle in July.