Piton

We loved the lush tropical views from our sea-view bungalow, with coconut palms, banana plants, and mango trees all around. The bungalows have plenty of charm and character, and ours exceeded our expectations. We spent two wonderful weeks here in June 2017, exploring the island extensively. It felt like paradise, and we had no regrets. Piton Bungalows is well placed for Grand Anse, La Perle, and the lovely village of Deshaies. The owners, Valerie and Matthieu, were delightful and shared lots of information about places to see around Guadeloupe. They could communicate in English. You’ll need a rental car to explore the island. The major rental companies are at the airport, and rates are reasonable. If you watch Death in Paradise, it’s definitely worth a visit. Deborah and Graham Ward

The bungalow was open to the breeze and sounds of nature, apart from the bedroom, whose door could be shut and locked if needed. I left it open, but be ready for crickets and tree frogs at night and roosters very early in the morning. Earplugs are a good idea. I could cook most of my meals with the cooking equipment provided, and the hosts also left tropical flower arrangements and ingredients for Ti Punch. Valerie and Matthieu were gracious and always available when I needed something. My bungalow was directly above a very nice pool, with a view of the ocean 3 km away at Dehaies. I liked having breakfast, and sometimes lunch, by the pool. Each bungalow is very private, and being above the pool wasn’t an issue. Staying at Piton Bungalows far exceeded my expectations. I’d always wanted to live in a tree house, and this was the next best thing.

The spot was a great base for exploring Basse-Terre. We mostly stayed within about 40 km of our gîte because there was so much to do nearby. We loved the boat trip with Blue Lagoon, including snorkeling and the mangrove tour, kayaking and snorkeling at Réserve Cousteau after renting from Kristal Kayak at Plage de Malendure, the thermal baths in Bouillante, Jardin Botanique in Deshaies, the swimming hole at Cascade aux Écrevisses, and a hike at Pointe de la Grande Vigie on Grande-Terre. Food was wonderful everywhere, from beach cafés and food trucks to nicer restaurants. Two especially memorable meals were at “La Kaz du douanier” in Deshaies and “L’Exotic brefort Lamentin guadeloupe” in Lamentin. My daughter and I stayed in the Zen Lodge for an incredible week in March 2024. It had its own hot tub, and the open-air kitchen, dining, and living area made it easy to prepare breakfast and snacks, read, or relax in the hammock and enjoy the view. At 300m, there was always a nice breeze to take the edge off Guadeloupe’s heat and humidity. The bed was comfortable, we used the mosquito netting but hardly noticed any mosquitoes, the shower was lovely, and the swimming pool was great. The free washer and dryer were handy for drying towels and swimsuits after the beach. It’s a curvy drive up the hill, about 2.5 km from Plage de Grande Anse, one of Guadeloupe’s most spectacular beaches. From there, an easy hike takes you to nearby Plage de la Perle, which was almost deserted when we swam. Valérie lent us snorkeling gear, and she and Matthieu shared helpful tips that made the trip more memorable. A rental car is pretty essential. We’re American and speak French, which helped, though some Guadeloupéens also have working English. It was refreshing not to see many Americans. Guadeloupe isn’t overrun with tourists, even if some beaches and parking lots get busy, and we didn’t encounter the all-inclusive resort or Spring Break party crowd at all in this wonderful French “département outre-mer.”

The bungalow was clean and peaceful, and the view was amazing. The owners were kind, discreet, available, and helpful. We made amazing memories!