Piton Bungalows Ecolodges

With a rental car, which you’ll need to explore the island, we were able to see Guadeloupe extensively. The major rental companies are at the airport and the rates are reasonable. We had no regrets about exploring, and the whole stay felt like paradise. If you’re a fan of Death in Paradise, it’s definitely worth a visit. My husband and I spent two fabulous weeks in June 2017 at the piton bungalows near Deshaies, Basse Terre, Guadeloupe. Our bungalow had a sea view, and the setting was full of tropical foliage in vibrant colors, with coconut palms, banana plants and mango trees. The bungalows were charming and full of character. The location worked really well, close to lovely beaches like Grand Anse and La Perle, as well as the village of Deshaies. Valerie and Matthieu were delightful and shared a wealth of information about Guadeloupe’s many points of interest. They could communicate in English.

I loved having breakfast, and sometimes lunch, by the pool. My bungalow was directly above it, with an ocean view toward Dehaies, about 3 km away. Each bungalow felt private, and being above the pool wasn’t an issue. The hosts also provided beautiful tropical flower arrangements and ingredients for Ti Punch, the island rum punch. Piton Bungalows exceeded my expectations. Valerie and Matthieu were gracious hosts, always available when I needed something. I’d always wanted to live in a tree house, and this was the next best thing. The bungalow was open to the elements apart from the bedroom, whose door could be shut and locked. I left it open to enjoy the tropical breeze and sounds of nature. Expect crickets and tree frogs in the evening, and roosters early in the morning, so earplugs are a good idea. I was able to cook most of my meals with the cooking equipment provided.

The location was ideal for exploring Basse-Terre. We mostly stayed within about 40 km of our gîte because there’s so much to do nearby. We enjoyed a boat trip with Blue Lagoon for snorkeling and a mangrove tour, kayaking and snorkeling at the Réserve Cousteau with kayaks rented from Kristal Kayak at Plage de Malendure, the thermal baths in Bouillante, Jardin Botanique in Deshaies, a swim at Cascade aux Écrevisses, and a Grande-Terre hike at Pointe de la Grande Vigie. We ate well at beach cafes, food trucks and nicer restaurants, especially at “La Kaz du douanier” in Deshaies and “L’Exotic brefort Lamentin guadeloupe” in Lamentin. A rental car is pretty essential. We’re American and speak French, which helped, though some Guadeloupéens know English. It was refreshing not to encounter many Americans. Guadeloupe isn’t overrun with tourists, even if some beaches and parking lots were busy, and we didn’t run into the all-inclusive resort or Spring Break party crowd. My daughter and I had an incredible week in March 2024 at Ecolodge Piton Bungalows, and we’d highly recommend this lovely bungalow-style hotel. We stayed in the Zen Lodge, which has its own hot tub. The open-air kitchen, dining and living area made it easy to prepare breakfast and snacks, read, relax in the hammock and take in the views. At 300m, there was usually a nice breeze to ease the heat and humidity. The bed was very comfortable, and we used the mosquito netting, though we barely noticed any mosquitos. The shower and swimming pool were lovely too. Having a free washer and dryer meant we could quickly dry towels and swimsuits after the beach. It’s up a curvy hill, about 2.5 km from Plage de Grande Anse, one of Guadeloupe’s most spectacular beaches. From there, it’s an easy walk to Plage de la Perle, which was nearly deserted the day we swam. Valérie lent us snorkeling gear, and she and Matthieu shared helpful tips that made the stay extra memorable.

Amazing views, and a clean, quiet bungalow. The owners were discreet, kind, available and helpful. We made amazing memories!