2 2 2 CARIBBEAN: REPORT Verdant landscapes coupled with a rich, diverse culture have made the Guadeloupe Islands a popular cruise destination The natural choice Nestled in the Caribbean, Guadeloupe Islands attributes its success as a cruise destination to its environmental and natural beauty, as well as its long and diverse cultural history. The islands are home to one of the best-preserved tropical forests in the Lesser Antilles, marine spaces composed of reefs and seagrass beds, and a vast mangrove. Guadeloupe National Park – which was the first national park of France’s overseas territories – was created in 1989 to preserve and promote these natural wonders and educate locals and tourists about the environment. One of the park’s most sensitive areas is the ‘Coeur de Parc’, which was designated as a biosphere reserve by Unesco in 1992, earning it global recognition as a territory with highquality ecosystems. Known for its butterfly shape due to the two main islands of Grande Terre and Basse-Terre being separated by a narrow sea channel, the Guadeloupe Islands are home to many endemic animals and plants, such as the Guadeloupe Woodpecker, which digs its nests in the trunks of dead trees by using its powerful straight beak. Guadeloupe also has more than 100 species of orchids, five of which grow only on the mountainous island of Basse-Terre. The islands’ natural beauty has contributed to many areas becoming popular tourist attractions. For example, Deshaies on Basse-Terre – the filming location of British drama series Death in Paradise – has become an important ecotourist stopover for cruise ships in recent years. The picturesque principality
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