La soufrière

Departure/Arrival	Distance	Duration	Season	Difficulty
Les bains jaunes (Yellow Baths)	6km	4h30 - 5h	All year round	Difficult

La Soufrière is an active volcano in Basse-Terre (Guadeloupe) that rises to 1,467 meters.

The hike begins at the les bains jaunes (Yellow Baths), in the town of Saint-Claude. The parking lot is quite small. If there are no spaces left, you have to park further down, about 2 km away, which lengthens the already long hike. We arrived a little before 8:00 a.m., and it was already cutting it close.

The ascent starts off relatively easy up to the old parking lot. It then becomes more difficult, especially the last section before reaching the summit.

The summit is always shrouded in clouds, and rain is frequent. You need to wear appropriate clothing and footwear. It can be cold, yes, even in Guadeloupe.

During the climb, we kept putting on and taking off our ponchos. One moment we're drenched in clouds, the next it's bright sunshine and a splendid view of the sea.

At the summit, it's very windy. We can barely stand, and we're enveloped in fog. We have to wait a while for a chance to glimpse the crater. That's where our hike ends. There are barriers marking the access limits to the volcano. To go closer to the crater, you need to be accompanied by a guide and wear a mask because of the sulfur.

The descent is just as difficult, but the yellow pools at the bottom are a welcome relief (especially for the feet). You can bathe and relax there after all the exertion of this hike.

Spring