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As an archipelago, Guadeloupe depends on several systems of public transport. The two islands that make up Guadeloupe proper - Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre - have an extensive road network, while water and air transportation connects to the outer islands as well as international destinations.
Road transport
editGuadeloupe uses right-hand traffic. Of the 2,082 km of roads in the region, the majority (1,742 km) are paved and are well-maintained. As Guadeloupe is a French-administered territory, road signs and directions are written in French. The two main islands of Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre are connected by the N1 and N11 highways. Winding roads are common, and in Basse-Terre, the mountain roads have especially sharp turns.[1]
Karu'lis operates several bus routes across Grande-Terre (including direct services to and around Basse-Terre), and a small route runs on the north-eastern island of La Désirade.[2]
Rail transport
editThere are no public railways in Guadeloupe. A public railway line between Pointe-à-Pitre and Le Moule (Grande-Terre) was proposed but was later scrapped.[3] Some plantations operate private railways.[4] There exists a tourist railway that is operational (as of 2014) from Beauport, Port Louis to de Poyen.[3] The construction of a tramway was planned with two lines: one between the Abymes and the Memorial in Pointe-à-Pître; the other between Baie-Mahault and Gosier. This project was later abandoned due to High-service buses being preferred over the tramway.[5]
Water transport
editThe container terminal Port de Jarry, in Pointe-à-Pitre, is Guadeloupe's primary port for cargo and cruise ship passengers. It handles more than 95% of Guadeloupe's trade.[6] Basse-Terre city contains a smaller sea port which also handles passengers.
Ferries connect Guadeloupe proper to the outer islands of La Désirade, Marie-Galante, and Îles des Saintes, as well as other Caribbean ports.[7]
Air transport
editPointe-à-Pitre International Airport is the primary gateway for international travel into and out of Guadeloupe. It offers direct and chartered/seasonal flights to South America, the Caribbean, North America and Europe.[8] It is a hub airport for Air Caraïbes.
References
edit- ^ "Driving in Guadeloupe". Sixt car hire. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ "[French] Lines and schedules". karulis.com. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ a b "The Railways of Guadeloupe 2014". www.internationalsteam.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
- ^ "Guadeloupe - People | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 2023-01-14.
- ^ "Cap Excellence doit renoncer à son projet de tramway". Guadeloupe la 1ère (in French). Retrieved 2023-01-14.
- ^ "[French] Extension of the port of Guadeloupe to support economic development". European Commission. Retrieved 23 December 2020.
- ^ "Plan your trip online". Fodor’s Travel. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
- ^ "[French] Destinations: Guadeloupe Airport". Aéroport de Guadeloupe Pointe-à-Pitre (Caraïbes). Retrieved 23 December 2020.