It’s the island on the map that looks like a butterfly – the French island of Guadeloupe is perfect for a Caribbean yacht charter with calm lagoons and coves, easterly trade winds and line-of-sight sailing. A fusion of two landscapes; Grande-Terre has the commercial capital and the main port and Basse-Terre has the administrative capital and is a vast, fertile nature reserve. On Grand-Terre enjoy the classic Caribbean beach vacation on white coral sands, while in contrast on Basse-Terre find yourself in a green land of tropical rainforest and mountainous slopes.

The 74,000-acre Parc Naturel on Basse-Terre contains the Soufriere volcano and the beautiful 350ft Carbet Falls. It is marked with nature trails and information centers through the island’s magnificent tropical rainforest. Enjoy a good day’s walking and be rewarded by spectacular views of the landscape at the end of your climb or take a dip in the many rockpools, some containing water warmed by the volcanic activity.

On Grand-Terre’s beautiful beaches enjoy café society and join in the windsurfing, waterskiing and other watersports. Grand-Terre has 650 acres of mangrove swamps and a marine park where you can see birds such as pelicans and doves. And if all that activity works up your appetite, you’ll find excellent cuisine heavily influenced by Gallic flavors. Then, dance the night away to the lively, loud sounds of zouk and ragga in the discos!