Leaving mainland France to settle in Guadeloupe means trading four seasons for a tropical climate where rain, sunshine and, for part of the year, the risk of hurricanes set the rhythm of daily life. Before you even start looking for a home or sign off on a job transfer, it pays to understand how this climate works: it shapes the town you choose, the orientation of your house, the type of construction to favour and even the ideal time of year to arrive with your boxes. This guide sets out, for general guidance, what you need to know to arrive relaxed and settle in for the long term on the butterfly island.
Guadeloupe’s climate: the key markers
Guadeloupe enjoys a humid tropical climate, with relatively stable temperatures all year round. It is warm, often between 25 and 32 degrees depending on the season and altitude, and humidity is high. There is no summer and winter here as in mainland France, but rather two main seasons.
Carême: the dry season
From December-January to around June comes the carême. The weather is drier, the trade winds blow steadily and freshen the air, and the sky is often clear. This is the most pleasant time to discover the island, but also when the most visitors arrive. If you are planning your move, landing at the end of the carême (April-May) often lets you get organised in peace before the first heavy rains.
Hivernage: the wet and hurricane season
From July to November comes the hivernage. Temperatures climb slightly, humidity is higher, and tropical downpours, short but intense, are frequent. This is also the period when the hurricane risk is concentrated. The Atlantic hurricane season officially runs from 1 June to 30 November, with a statistical peak generally falling between mid-August and mid-October.
One important point for newcomers: micro-climates are very pronounced in Guadeloupe. Basse-Terre, mountainous and covered by rainforest around La Soufrière, receives far more rain than Grande-Terre, which is flatter and drier. Two towns just a few kilometres apart can have very different weather.
Understanding the hurricane risk without panicking
The word hurricane often worries people preparing a transfer. It should be taken seriously, without becoming an obsession: the vast majority of seasons pass without any major direct impact, though some years have left their mark on the island, such as Hugo in 1989 or Maria in 2017. The essential thing is to know how the alert system works and to be prepared.
The alert system
Météo-France issues hurricane alert levels that escalate progressively: yellow, orange, red, then purple (lockdown) and grey (all clear). Each level comes with specific instructions. From orange alert onwards, travel is limited; on red, you stay at home; on purple, lockdown is total. As a resident, following these bulletins during the hivernage is essential.
The right habits to adopt
- Identify, as soon as you arrive, the assembly point or shelter for your town.
- Put together an emergency kit: water, non-perishable food, a torch, a battery radio, important papers in a waterproof pouch.
- Know where your home’s hurricane shutters are and how to close them.
- Fill up with fuel and withdraw some cash ahead of an announced alert.
- Sign up for your town hall’s alerts and follow the prefecture’s official accounts.
Good news for settling in: a hurricane never arrives without warning. Systems are tracked several days in advance, which leaves time to prepare.
Choosing a home to suit the climate
The climate should guide your property search far more than in mainland France. Here are the criteria that make a real difference day to day.
Construction and building standards
Favour homes built or renovated to the earthquake-resistant and hurricane-resistant standards in force. Guadeloupe is in fact a high-seismicity zone, something mainlanders sometimes underestimate. Recent buildings, in reinforced concrete with a properly fixed roof, offer better safety than some older wooden cases. Check for solid shutters (metal or thick wood) and the condition of the roof.
Orientation and ventilation
A house well oriented towards the trade winds stays naturally cool and limits the need for air conditioning. Cross-ventilation is a major asset: it clears out the humidity and mould that are so common during the hivernage. Be wary of enclosed, poorly ventilated homes where damp takes hold.
Location and natural hazards
- Avoid flood-prone areas and the bottoms of ravines, which are vulnerable during heavy rain.
- Look into the town’s Plan de Prévention des Risques (PPR, risk prevention plan), available at the town hall.
- On the coast, factor in the risk of storm surge and hurricane swell.
- In mountainous Basse-Terre, find out about landslide risks.
For an initial period, before committing to a purchase or a long-term lease, furnished and equipped accommodation lets you test a town, an exposure and a way of life. It is often the best way to avoid a costly mistake. You can browse our properties for this transitional phase.
Where to settle? An overview of the towns
The choice of town depends on your work, your budget and your relationship with the climate.
Grande-Terre: the urban, drier side
- Les Abymes and Baie-Mahault: the island’s economic heart, close to Pointe-à-Pitre airport and the Jarry business zone, the largest in the Caribbean. Convenient for work, but heavily built up.
- Le Gosier, Sainte-Anne, Saint-François: the tourist Riviera, beaches, drier and sunnier, sought-after but with higher rents.
- Le Moule, Morne-à-l’Eau, Petit-Canal: more rural, more affordable, with a quiet pace of life.
Basse-Terre: nature, greenery and rain
- Basse-Terre (the administrative capital) and Baillif: at the foot of La Soufrière, a magnificent setting but a more humid climate.
- Bouillante, Deshaies, Pointe-Noire: the leeward coast, drier than the interior, known for its easy living and diving.
- Petit-Bourg, Lamentin, Sainte-Rose: the transition between the urban area and nature, a good compromise for many families.
Pointe-à-Pitre remains the commercial nerve centre, while Basse-Terre concentrates the administrative functions. Many newcomers settle in the Baie-Mahault / Petit-Bourg / Le Gosier triangle to stay close to employment while keeping quick access to nature.
