Bouillante Sea Kayak Rental to the Pigeon Islets Marine Reserve

The Pigeon Islets, jewels of the Caribbean coast

The Pigeon Islets are two small rocky islands that rise from the sea roughly a kilometre off the coast of Bouillante, on the sheltered Caribbean side of Basse-Terre. Covered in dry scrub and cactus, they look modest from the shore, yet the waters around them are among the most famous in the Caribbean for diving and snorkelling. The islets and the sea around them are protected as part of Guadeloupe National Park.

A Pigeon Islets kayak trip is the most personal way to reach them. With your own kayak you can circle the islets, pause in the lee of the rocks and choose the calmest spots to swim, instead of following a busy boat. Is the trip worth it? If you enjoy nature and a little effort, yes: the paddle is short enough for most fit beginners, and arriving under your own power at these rocks in the open sea feels like a real small adventure.

Snorkelling in the marine reserve

Below the surface the marine reserve off Pigeon Islets in Bouillante is a different world. Volcanic rocks drop into clear blue water and are covered in sponges, hard corals and purple sea fans. Shoals of blue chromis and sergeant majors hover over the reef, parrotfish nibble the coral and trumpetfish hide among the sea fans. Sea turtles are often seen along this coast, especially in the shallow water close to the shore.

Your rental includes a mask, a snorkel and a fish identification card, so you can stop near the islets, slip into the water and put names to what you see. Because the area has been protected for years, fish are plentiful and used to swimmers. Please float gently, never stand on coral and never touch the animals. The clearest water usually comes in the morning, which is the best time to visit the Pigeon Islets for snorkelling.

Bouillante, the coast of hot springs

Bouillante takes its name from the hot springs that bubble up along its shore and in its hills, a sign of the volcanic activity beneath Basse-Terre. The town is known for the geothermal power station that uses this underground heat, and in some places along the coast you can feel warm water seeping through the sand at the water's edge. Green mountains covered in rainforest rise right behind the coast.

The kayak base is on the shore facing the islets, near Malendure beach, the dark-sand beach from which most boats to the reserve leave. If you are asking how to get to the Pigeon Islets from Pointe-a-Pitre, the drive across Basse-Terre takes a little over an hour, so most visitors combine the rental with a day on the Caribbean coast. The mountain road across the national park and the town of Basse-Terre to the south make good additions to the day.

How the self-guided kayak rental works

On arrival at the base you receive your equipment and a briefing on the route, safety and the rules of the reserve. Each rental includes a sea kayak, a paddle, a life jacket, a mask and snorkel, a fish identification card, a waterproof container for your phone and keys, a first aid kit and a bottle of water. You then set off for three hours on the water and return to the base to hand back the gear.

There is no guide on this activity, so you should be comfortable swimming in the sea. Children under six are not allowed, and children must share a kayak with an adult. The rental runs through the day from the morning, so you can pick the time that suits you best. The activity depends on the weather: if the sea is too rough the base contacts you to change the date or refund you in full.