The Botanical Garden of Deshaies, discover an incredible botanical biodiversity.

Welcome to the town of Deshaies, located in the North West of Basse-Terre. The territory of the town is composed of twelve places called (Low-Wind, Coffee, Shell, Pinaud, Riflet, ….). Bordered by the Caribbean Sea, you will enjoy beautiful beaches (Grande Anse) in an idyllic setting with the island of Montserrat in focus. Privileged places to enjoy beautiful sunsets. This proximity to the sea and its history with piracy makes it a traditional stop for sailboats and sea excursions.  You will find walks along the coast that will allow you  to discover all the blond sand coves of this town.

In terms of services, you will find many seafront restaurants on the beaches and in the village of the town. You will also find a post office, banks, souvenir and spice shops and nearby petrol stations.

Finally, do not forget to visit the gardens located in the town and in particular the property which was the one of the famous humorist Coluche, and which has become nowadays a magnificent botanical and animal garden.

The botanical garden of Deshaies is a must to discover a space where biodiversity of tropical fauna is at the heart of the richness of this visit. An environment of exhilarating freshness with its staging between streams, waterfall, pink flamingos and special moments with Loriquets.

An incredible garden in Guadeloupe.

Itinerary

To join the Deshaies Botanical Garden, from Pointe-à-Pitre, take the N1 towards Basseterre and Petit-Bourg then D23 (Route de la Traversée). This route will offer you many stops to satisfy your curiosity and your desire to swim in the river. At the end of this road, you will arrive on the Caribbean side (N2), follow the direction of Pointe-Noire and Deshaies. Continue straight ahead, the botanical garden is located before the village of the town, you will see a large sign on the side of the road indicating the entrance. Turn right and you will come to a spacious car park.

 

Jardin Botanique de Deshaies

 

Go to the reception to take your tickets. The garden is accessible to all the family and adapted to the disabled people

Deshaies Botanical Garden is open all year from 9:00 to 16:30. Garden entrance costs 15.90 euros per adult (link to site for all prices).

Here you are in the park, you will face “The Pond with Water Lilies“.

 

The direction of the visit is indicated by signs. You will follow this pond and you will observe the first botanical varieties of the garden.

At the end of the road, turn to the left to approach the Aviary Loriquets, you will have a special and privileged moment there with them 

Click on this link to have a first video preview of this moment shared with them on our Facebook page

A little history …. (link to the site)

In 1979, a property of 7 hectares on the commune of Deshaies is bought by the humorist Coluche. Some rare species were already present on the plot.

On June 19, 1985, Coluche asked Michel GAILLARD to maintain his property in exchange he offered him a land use to create his nursery.

A year later, Coluche dies and the property is bought by Michel GAILLARD on October 1st, 1991.

In 1989, the passage of hurricane Hugo will damage and some rare species will disappear fo the property.

In 1998, after a few years of hard work, the park was created.

The realization of the garden will take 14 months, with the participation of people all from the town of Deshaies. The work was done under the direction of Michel GAILLARD, designer, Didier Rousselle, landscape architect, Richard ROUTHIER, and Daniel PUGET.

Today, this place is very popular with locals and visitors who can discover an incredible wealth of flora. It has become a must garden in Guadeloupe.

 

Get out of the aviary and continue your visit to “Le Grand Fromager“. A tree still robust by its appearance and majestic by the curvature of its trunk.

The traveler’s tree

The traveler’s tree is a plant whose base of its hollow stems retains water and allows travelers to drink. A real source of life and knowledge to allow travelers to continue their exploration.

 

The big Fromager 

“The Fromager” is a massive tree with a thorny trunk and can reach disproportionate heights (up to 60 meters). There are many stories of evil spirits around this tree.

 

The walk continues and takes you to the artificial waterfall of the garden. You will walk in the middle of aisles all as flowery as each other. A first stop in front of the cursed fig tree or the fruit of Bakua.

Le figuier maudit

You will often see this tree by the sea in Guadeloupe under the name “Cursed Fig Tree” (which shelters evil spirits according to the tales), also called “Ficus Strangler“.

 

Le fruit du Bakoua

The Baku” tree also called the hat tree. The leaves of this tree are used to make the famous hat “Bakoua hat“.

 

You will have more information about the vegetation around through panels like this one. These panels are also used for discovery workshops. Every month, the garden sets up a botanical initiation for children.

 

Past this area, a frame full of freshness with this artificial waterfall of ten meters. The environment around you is charming, a small wooden bridge, the sound of the waterfall and flamingos to lengthen your moment of contemplation. Put yourself under the “Carbet des Voyages” and arouse your curiosity about the food journey of plants across our world.

 

Continue our walk to another carbet, better known as “Carbet des Curieux“, another eye and point of view on the surrounding vegetation.

 

Go backwards and direction “Carbet Uses“.

 

 

This carbet enhances the use of plants and tree barks from a medicinal point of view. Ancestral but natural medicine that has already proven its effectiveness

The rest of the ride takes you along a new pond and its koi carp.

You will arrive at the Parrot Village. Everyone has their name and their personality. You can admire them and get to know them through their personal sheets.

 

Direction the Palmeraie and its refreshing tunnel. You will have a new point of view on the waterfall and its flamingos.

 

A quick passage with Cacti. Different varieties of cactus will be presented.

 

At the end of the way, you are again next to the “pond water lilies”, take the path on your left.

 

A last sign to indicate the various services available. Go to the Jardin des Simples.

 

A small garden mixing different varieties of medicinal plants and a billboard to raise awareness about the importance of bees for flora and diversity. Next to the beautiful view of the island of Montserrat.

 

Go backwards, and if hunger takes you, a snack and restaurant are available to eat in front of this wonderful view.

 

The end of the visit ends with the souvenir shop of the Deshaies Botanical Garden.

Feel free to browse their website to learn more about this garden and its services (possibility to sleep in particular in the garden).

It is a place to visit in Guadeloupe!

Tips:

Ø  Circulation in Guadeloupe: During the week, you will face traffic jams near the Jarry area, especially in the morning, in the direction of Gosier towards Pointe-à-Pitre, and conversely in the late afternoon. Think about your journey to adapt to this traffic that can be dense and make you lose time easily. Ø  Equipment: Pair of sneakers or open shoes, light clothing, hiking bag (knife, flashlight, k-way, cap, sunglasses, sunscreen, mosquito repellent).

Ø Health:

– Easily accessible: spacious parking and trail suitable for all the family and the disabled people.

– Go at your own rytgl and plan how much time you need depending on your physical condition.

– Most important thing always have a bottle of water per person and a snack in your bag. With the heat, those are precautions of use.

Ø Paid visits:

– Interest: 5 out of 5, the garden is amazing and informative. You will be delighted by the diversity of species all as curious and beautiful by their beauty and usefulness. Possibility to eat on site and sleep (villa). The visit is paying (15.90 euros per adult).

Ø  Ouverture : Open everyday from 9.am to 4.30 pm

Others: You can swim on the beach of Grande Anse or in the basin of Saut d’Acomat or visit the Museum of Cocoa in the neighboring town

 

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Dom Loisirs et Culture at your service.

OLIVIER Damien, your humble guide

The Dom Loisirs and Culture team is committed to raising awareness of the protection of the biodiversity of the overseas departments.