Travel Logistics

Travel to and from Guadeloupe

Packing List:

  • Any paperwork you have been sent (Letters of Invitation, Certificates of Accommodation, etc.)
  • Your Visa (if applicable)
  • Appropriate clothing -- our conference is casual, but it’s nice to dress up to give your presentation and for the social events, especially closing banquet.
  • Swimwear, mask and snorkel (there is good swimming right at the Karibea Beach Resort)
  • Good hiking shoes for field trips
  • Sun protection (hat and long sleeves, sun screen)
  • Outlet adaptor (European style)
  • Snacks - we encourage you to bring some snacks with you (bags of trail mix, granola bars, etc.), especially if you like to graze between meals
  • Reusable water bottle and reusable coffee thermos / travel mug; it’s great to have both, so you can have water and a hot beverage with you whenever you are inside a presentation or meeting room
  • Silent Auction Item


Currency / Cash to bring:

  • The formal currency of Guadeloupe is Euros.
  • This is important to keep in mind for other purchases you may make (taxis, tipping, etc.).
  • BirdsCaribbean will accept and use both US Dollars and Euros. Our exchange rate for sales will be around 1 USD = 0.9 Euro, but will vary somewhat to round to whole numbers and avoid the need for small coins). Keep in mind the Silent Auction and all of the other goodies we will have for sale (new book launches, t-shirts, etc.)
  • Tipping: it’s always a great idea to tip your house-keepers,other staff that has been a big part of making your stay and your trip comfortable, birding guides, etc. Remember to tip in Euros!

Visa Information:

Información de visa / Information sur les visas

All delegates should print out and bring a hard copy of this Letter of Invitation [hyperlink to this document coming soon]. Have this with you as you disembark and make your way through customs in Guadeloupe.

Visa information by country of residence can be found here.

Baggage and fees:

Equipaje y tasas / Bagages et frais

Many of you will be traveling with multiple carriers to reach Guadeloupe. If that's the case, keep in mind that baggage policies are likely to change from one carrier to the next. Here's a chart to help you plan accordingly:

Baggage Fee Chart

Flight options:

Opciones de vuelos / Options de vols

If you're choosing to put together your flight without the help of our Travel Agent, we've compiled a list of flights to and from Guadeloupe to help you with your planning:

All available flights options (Excel Sheet)

Insider Advice: Rather than having to rely on wifi as soon as you get off the plane in Guadeloupe, prep a few things on your smartphone before you travel to save yourself some time. Google Maps has a great "Offline Maps" option - download satellite imagery of the entire island a few weeks before the conference so that you can pull it up anywhere, anytime while traveling around Guadeloupe. Here's a quick tutorial on how to do so. Also be sure to "star" some destinations that are important (hotel, airport, trailheads for hikes you are interested in, beaches you want to visit, etc.).

Arriving to Pointe-à-Pitre International Airport (PTP)

PTP is a small, convenient airport that offers everything you need upon your immediate arrival to Guadeloupe.

> Free wifi

> Quick food (Jenny's Food Store)

> ATM (for pulling out cash in Euros)

> Pharmacy

> Information kiosk with agent

Renting a Car

Your transportation between the hotel and conference venue will be taken care of, as will all of your field trip transportation. However, if you do decide to rent a car on island, here are a few useful tips:

  • Most rental cars available will be manual (stick shift). Call ahead to the specific Car Rental Agency you are using if you need a vehicle with an automatic transmission.
  • The main Rental Car Office is a separate building beside the PTP Airport. As you walk out of the airport, turn to the right and you will see signs.
  • The cars themselves are located just off-site, about 1/4 around the nearest round-about.
  • Car rentals are fairly affordable - we were able to find some deals for about € 25/day.
  • Gasoline is very expensive on Guadeloupe. You're looking at between € 50-70 to fill a normal-sized gas tank.
  • Speed limits on major roads are enforced by "Speed Meters" - small, well-concealed camera traps that detect if you're speeding, photograph your license plate, and then mail you the fine. Trust us, they do their job well and if renting a car, the fine will be waiting for you at the rental agency when you drop off the car. Moral of story - be very mindful of your speed!

Nostalgi - definitely the best radio station on the island. Who doesn't want 24/7 Michael Bolton as you cruise around the beaches of Guadeloupe?