It’s easy to find the island of Guadeloupe on a map. In the middle of the Lesser Antilles—a chain of tiny islands that arc across the southern Caribbean—it’s the butterfly floating on the ocean. Really two islands divided by an estuary, Grande-Terre forms Guadeloupe’s northern wing and Basse-Terre its southern.
But the butterfly has a richer symbolism for the island than just its shape. In its brilliant hues, fusion food, and joyous spirit, today’s island culture is a butterfly that emerged from the dark days of sugarcane plantations and slavery.
Guadeloupe is an island full of colour: chartreuse, saffron, and lemon walls under red tin roofs, and iron balconies painted white against turquoise and mauve houses. Exotic flowers bloom in confetti-coloured splendour in every corner.
