La Soufriere Volcano
La Soufriere Volcano
4.5
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The highest mountain in the lesser Antilles is also a volcano and an important landmark of Guadeloupe's landscape.
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4.5
1,019 reviews
Excellent
649
Very good
292
Average
65
Poor
9
Terrible
4
tanvitsinha
Birmingham, UK3 contributions
Apr 2022
A great hike. Most people go first thing in the morning, which means the paths are busier. I went around 11 am, and the paths were almost clear of other travellers - be wary that this can also be a bit terrifying if you're not a seasoned hiker as there is no one else really around. As it is a rainforest volcano, the clouds do come down and you can be absolutely soaked in rain with very poor visibility. Wear the right shoes (I recommend Grition hiking sandals, which were my absolutely favourite and available on Amazon), and wear light clothes but carry a raincoat and enough water. It does get cold as you hike further up, but your body will be warm from the exercise so shorts are fine.
Written July 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Cheshirewoman
cheshire158 contributions
May 2022
We decided to hike up La Soufriere on a Tuesday in early May. This being low season, we didn’t set off particularly early (7.50 from Deshaies area). Looking at the map, I had expected the drive to take mo more than an hour but how wrong was that. In the event, it took us until 9.30 to get there, trailing a row of traffic behind us. The coastal road is definitely windy!
The exit from the N2 is well marked, as is the rest of the journey partway up the mountain. When we arrived, the car park was full but the next parking bays down had a space. It was definitely worth not getting theretoo late. Looking at the height profile of the day later on, the car seemed to have done the lions share.
The path is very well marked and can be done without a guide. Whilst I would class it as strenuous, it’s doable for any reasonably fit or determined person. We are a couple in our fifties and I have not been able to exercise for half a year due to hip problems but still managed ti get all the way up.
Most people were wearing trainers but then most were a lot younger than us and hence had no inkling of any joint problems 😀. We had packed hiking boots and I was very glad of them. In addition, be aware that your clothes can get dirty as you scramble up and down boulders, sometimes on your bum. We saw a number of girls going up in pristine white clothes and I am sure they didn’t stay that way.
The walk including stops took us appr 4.5 hours return and we were definitely the slowest on the trail.
The weather was overcast but not raining when we went and I only very briefly put on a rain jacket at the top as we were resting. The remaining walk was warm enough for a T-shirt and leggings.
The exit from the N2 is well marked, as is the rest of the journey partway up the mountain. When we arrived, the car park was full but the next parking bays down had a space. It was definitely worth not getting theretoo late. Looking at the height profile of the day later on, the car seemed to have done the lions share.
The path is very well marked and can be done without a guide. Whilst I would class it as strenuous, it’s doable for any reasonably fit or determined person. We are a couple in our fifties and I have not been able to exercise for half a year due to hip problems but still managed ti get all the way up.
Most people were wearing trainers but then most were a lot younger than us and hence had no inkling of any joint problems 😀. We had packed hiking boots and I was very glad of them. In addition, be aware that your clothes can get dirty as you scramble up and down boulders, sometimes on your bum. We saw a number of girls going up in pristine white clothes and I am sure they didn’t stay that way.
The walk including stops took us appr 4.5 hours return and we were definitely the slowest on the trail.
The weather was overcast but not raining when we went and I only very briefly put on a rain jacket at the top as we were resting. The remaining walk was warm enough for a T-shirt and leggings.
Written May 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Srimanth Rudraraju
Greater London, UK306 contributions
Dec 2022
One of the best activities that I have done in the Caribbean. It’s a strenuous hike and you need to be fit. It’s easily a 4 hour hike (2 1/2 hour up and 1 1/2 hour down). At the start of the hike is a hot water spring which is amazing. It is a lot chillier as you climb up. The weather can change instantly without any warning.
It was clear blue skies when we started and then 1 1/2 hour into the hike, started drizzling and in next 10 mins, was thunder storms. We were totally drenched including our undergarments. But the weather was quite and we quickly dried off in an hour except our shoes. The red route was closd at Savane Mulets. So, we took green and then wanted to go on Yellow. 15 mins in and the heavy rain made it too slippery to climb. So, we returned.
The hike was brilliant with clean fresh air. Grab a PVC raincoat, water, Good shoes, and an offline printout of map as there's no signal on top. All sighs are in French which is annoying.
It was clear blue skies when we started and then 1 1/2 hour into the hike, started drizzling and in next 10 mins, was thunder storms. We were totally drenched including our undergarments. But the weather was quite and we quickly dried off in an hour except our shoes. The red route was closd at Savane Mulets. So, we took green and then wanted to go on Yellow. 15 mins in and the heavy rain made it too slippery to climb. So, we returned.
The hike was brilliant with clean fresh air. Grab a PVC raincoat, water, Good shoes, and an offline printout of map as there's no signal on top. All sighs are in French which is annoying.
Written December 30, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Florence B.
Lafayette, CO164 contributions
Dec 2019
We arrived at the parking lot around 9:30am. We got lucky to find a spot at the top of the parking lot, otherwise you have to park along the road and parking can be long, down the road. There is no bathroom at the start of the hike so people piss along the trail (first mile or so) and it smelled piss, plus some paper toilet left behind here and there!!! Not happy about this as it degrades the experience of hiking in vegetation.
We are a family of 4, two kids of age 7 and 9. We hiked it in the suggested time of 1hr45. The trail was well maintained and very lush despite all the traffic of people going up and down. We also lucked out with the weather which was clear and sunny. Arrived at the top, we saw the fumes of the volcano, neat. We went down using the secondary trail which was even more lush and full of vegetation making the trail tight from time to time. Overall, that was super! Oh, and Les Bains Jaunes at the base of the hike were emptied out and maybe cleaned out when we started the hike. At the end of our hike, the Bains Jaunes were available but the water felt cold-ish, so we moved on to having lunch in town.
We are a family of 4, two kids of age 7 and 9. We hiked it in the suggested time of 1hr45. The trail was well maintained and very lush despite all the traffic of people going up and down. We also lucked out with the weather which was clear and sunny. Arrived at the top, we saw the fumes of the volcano, neat. We went down using the secondary trail which was even more lush and full of vegetation making the trail tight from time to time. Overall, that was super! Oh, and Les Bains Jaunes at the base of the hike were emptied out and maybe cleaned out when we started the hike. At the end of our hike, the Bains Jaunes were available but the water felt cold-ish, so we moved on to having lunch in town.
Written January 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Floor v Kempen
The Hague, The Netherlands52 contributions
Nov 2022 • Friends
Nice hike from Bains Jaunes to Savane à Mulets. Unfortunately the rest of the hike to the summit was closed off (due to hazardous trail conditions after storm Fiona). Too bad we only found out when we got there.
Written November 16, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Seb
Paris, France29 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
We climbed the Souffriere under the rain and wind, which is very often the conditions present on the volcano. The path is well maintained, but folk with limited mobility will not be able to climb. The summit is now out of bounds. Combine that with the volcano’s famous near-constant cloud cover, and you don’t really see very much at all while you’re up there!
The beginning of the walk has a pool where warm water from underneath the volcano flows. Though contaminated with amoebas that can cause meningitis, the Bains Jaunes are nonetheless batheable and, provided you do not wet anything above the neck (nor have any open wounds), are perfectly safe and THOSE would have at least a 4-star rating!
A morning at the Souffriere is worth the time, just don’t expect the highlight to be the view from the top (unless you’re lucky!) or an exploration of the dome (the volcano doesn’t have a crater in the common conception of the term).
The beginning of the walk has a pool where warm water from underneath the volcano flows. Though contaminated with amoebas that can cause meningitis, the Bains Jaunes are nonetheless batheable and, provided you do not wet anything above the neck (nor have any open wounds), are perfectly safe and THOSE would have at least a 4-star rating!
A morning at the Souffriere is worth the time, just don’t expect the highlight to be the view from the top (unless you’re lucky!) or an exploration of the dome (the volcano doesn’t have a crater in the common conception of the term).
Written September 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
B C
Winnipeg, Canada25 contributions
Feb 2020 • Friends
I loved this hike. The trail was well marked and it was challenging hike. Be prepared. Wear proper hiking boots; pole(s) recommended; rain jacket. It was very windy/rainy near the summit. 100km winds. Completed hike with a group of 8. Slow steady pace; water breaks; snack at summit. Total time 3:15. Very doable.
Written February 23, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Global20350
New York, NY1 contribution
The volcano hike was a breathtaking experience, but be warned -- it's not as easy as the older posts may suggest. The road leading to the main parking lot was destroyed by a landslide in late 2004, so you have to park in a smaller lot further down, which adds about 30min hike each way on an older colonial road through the forest. In addition, the main trail leading from what used to be the parking lot to the top was also damaged and is now closed. One now has to climb a somewhat longer and rockier trail. We did the round trip in about 3h45 in good weather (and by hurrying up to get back before nightfall) but it could easily take longer. It's also much less crowded than it used to be (we saw less than 10 people the whole time). It's still very doable, but I definitely wouldn't recommed flip-flops!
Written March 24, 2005
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Climbing La Soufriere(Guadeloupe`s live volcano) is one of the things you absolutely should not miss while you're in Guadeloupe [along with hiking to the Chutes du Carbet, snorkeling at Grand Anse and Caravelle Beach (straight out from Club Med), and eating cocoanut icecream made by sidewalk vendors and accras, the Creole fish fritter available everywhere]. When we went, the sulfur mist was pretty intense and the trail was supposedly closed. As far as I could tell, the `Access Interdit` sign was ignored by one and all. You start in 90 degree heat (but the trade winds make it okay) and end up needing a jacket or sweater. The hike is fairly easy but very rocky and, at times, very steep. Wear hiking boots. Bring lots of water.
Written December 23, 2001
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
UWShaun
Verona, WI36 contributions
Jan 2015 • Couples
My wife and I drove from Saint Claude and parked about a half mile from the parking lot (it was busy). There are a lot of companies offering hiking tours if you want, but I find them completely unnecessary. The road to the trail head is up hill, narrow, and windy, but I wouldn't call it stressful or dangerous. It's well-marked and, though you may have to walk a bit, parking is not a problem.
This is not a long hike, but it is pretty tough. The incline is manageable, but there are lots of rocks and branches to negotiate. There are few flat spots to just sort of relax. The trail engages you the entire way.
It was cloudy at the top, but the views out to the ocean on the way up were spectacular. Once at the top, you really get a feel for the volcanic activity. Steam spouts out in several places. The smell of sulfur and the loudness of the steam escaping the volcano made the experience very unique. Spend some time at the top. Clouds form and pass by the minute, and you may find yourself with a few seconds of clarity, which makes for some outstanding views.
We brought our hiking boots, and I'm glad we did. We saw people wearing flip flops, and they did not appear to be enjoying themselves. I would at least make sure you have a hard-soled pair of shoes. The trail often requires you to step on pointed rocks, so having something to smooth out the pressure points will make the journey much more enjoyable.
This is not a long hike, but it is pretty tough. The incline is manageable, but there are lots of rocks and branches to negotiate. There are few flat spots to just sort of relax. The trail engages you the entire way.
It was cloudy at the top, but the views out to the ocean on the way up were spectacular. Once at the top, you really get a feel for the volcanic activity. Steam spouts out in several places. The smell of sulfur and the loudness of the steam escaping the volcano made the experience very unique. Spend some time at the top. Clouds form and pass by the minute, and you may find yourself with a few seconds of clarity, which makes for some outstanding views.
We brought our hiking boots, and I'm glad we did. We saw people wearing flip flops, and they did not appear to be enjoying themselves. I would at least make sure you have a hard-soled pair of shoes. The trail often requires you to step on pointed rocks, so having something to smooth out the pressure points will make the journey much more enjoyable.
Written January 31, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Bonsoir. Nous partons fin novembre en Guadeloupe et nous voulons faire l'ascension de la soufrière. Est-il nécessaire de prendre un guide pour en découvrir un peu plus, puisque pour certaines parties de cette rando il est obligatoire d'avoir un masque a gaz
Does anyone know which trail goes by the old plane wreck? And what the story was behind it? Thank you
Carly N
Toronto, Canada13 contributions
Should we climb in the rain?
Michael Y
New York City, NY152 contributions
I would suggest against doing so. It would be pretty miserable and dangerous.
If you're an experienced climber, and you want to hike in the rain, I would strongly suggest you wear full rain gear and sturdy hiking boots, also make sure you let someone know where you are going.
Mamande6
Sutton, Canada37 contributions
Nous on veut louer à St-Francois.. c est à combien de temps du volcan?
Merci!
MagaliRoumens
Charquemont, France108 contributions
1h45 mais de toute manière il faut louer une voiture afin de faire tout le tour de l île les plus belles plages sont sur grande terre tandis que le tourisme vert est sur basse terre.
We are looking to hike the volcano on the weekend but the park website states they are closed on the weekend. Can you still access the trail on the weekend?
611christophc
Bern, Switzerland3 contributions
Hello,
Did somebody had bad experience with amoeba in the spring water?
611christophc
Bern, Switzerland3 contributions
Hello,
Did somebody had bad experience with amoeba in the spring water?
valeriezouzo
Montpellier, France17 contributions
Bonjour, désolée je n'avais pas vu votre question
En ce qui concerne les amibes aucun problème mais il ne faut surtout pas boire l'eau
Michele C
Kearny, NJ
Is the Yellow Baths (Bains Jaunes) parking closed? Or does this person refer to the other parking higher on the trail that has been closed since 2004 because of the earthquake? I heard that they reopened the trail to the mountain in mid October after the hurricane so I guess the parking too is open. Has anybody climbed the volcano in the last 2 weeks? I am going next week. Thanks.
La Soufriere Volcano (Saint-Claude) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about La Soufriere Volcano
- Hotels near La Soufriere Volcano:
- (2.35 mi) Les Bananes Vertes
- (3.95 mi) Le Jardin Malanga
- (4.76 mi) An Eol Caraibes
- (6.71 mi) Lamateliane
- (5.55 mi) Residence de la Cousiniere
- Restaurants near La Soufriere Volcano:
- (0.71 mi) Restaurant Trésor De La Santé
- (6.60 mi) le ti pic
- (9.28 mi) L'Eddy's Papillon
- (1.25 mi) Boutique Ti Punch
- (8.93 mi) Aux 4 Mondes
- Attractions near La Soufriere Volcano:
- (2.16 mi) Vert Intense
- (1.34 mi) Carbet Falls (Les Chutes du Carbet)
- (3.81 mi) Madatet Fishing
- (5.48 mi) Reve de Nav' Croisiere
- (0.93 mi) Chute du Galion