{"id":2934,"date":"2026-03-21T16:28:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-21T15:28:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ibo.guide\/carbet-falls-guadeloupe-hike-to-the-waterfalls-swimming-and-practical-tips\/"},"modified":"2026-03-23T08:04:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T07:04:41","slug":"carbet-falls-guadeloupe-hike-to-the-waterfalls-swimming-and-practical-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ibo.guide\/en\/carbet-falls-guadeloupe-hike-to-the-waterfalls-swimming-and-practical-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"Carbet Falls, Guadeloupe: waterfall hike, swimming, and practical tips"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I arrive in Guadeloupe planning to hop aboard my friend Bra\u0148o\u2019s catamaran and try a few days of life at sea in a part of the world that\u2019s new to me\u2014the Caribbean. The original plan leaves me a day or two of free time, so I rent a car to explore the island a bit on my own.<\/p>\n\n

I\u2019m also toying with an optimistic idea\u2014if conditions allow, I\u2019d like to climb La Grande Soufri\u00e8re, the island\u2019s highest point.<\/p>\n\n

But plans shift when Bra\u0148o sails into Guadeloupe a few days earlier than expected. He and his crew join me, and the four of us head out for a hike in the area below La Grande Soufri\u00e8re.<\/p>\n\n

The day ends up reflecting everything\u2014the unhurried pace of people who\u2019ve spent more time at sea than on land lately, the weather, and the fact that we miss the correct trailhead right at the start.<\/p>\n\n

Instead of a volcano ascent, we end up on a shorter jungle hike to Carbet Falls. It wasn\u2019t the original plan, but it turned into a really good day of hiking, views, and swimming by the falls.<\/p>\n\n

A change of plan right at the start<\/h2>\n\n

From the start, it was clear the conditions weren\u2019t ideal. The highest ridges were cloaked in cloud and visibility was poor\u2014pushing for the summit wouldn\u2019t have made much sense in this weather.<\/p>\n\n

We also hit a practical hiccup right at the start.<\/p>\n\n

We missed the turnoff for the road to the upper lot, Parking Chutes du Carbet. Instead, we ended up much lower down at a little-known parking area tucked into the forest\u2014right at the start of the Trace de la Troisi\u00e8me Chute du Carbet.<\/p>\n\n

In hindsight, that was a lucky break.<\/p>\n\n

A lesser-known route<\/h2>\n\n

Because we didn\u2019t start at the main parking lot, we likely also skipped the entrance fee that\u2019s usually collected at the official access point.<\/p>\n\n

The route we took sees far fewer hikers, yet it\u2019s still reasonably well maintained. Right away we were surprised by wooden boardwalks and small bridges clearly built to span sections that turn into mud traps during rain. This side of the island is much wetter, the jungle is dense, and the ground soaks up water quickly\u2014those walkways earn their place.<\/p>\n\n

Troisi\u00e8me Chute du Carbet waterfall<\/h2>\n\n

We sink gradually deeper into tropical forest. The air is heavy with humidity and alive with the sounds of the jungle. This isn\u2019t the kind of hiking we\u2019re used to in Europe.<\/p>\n

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After about half an hour we reach the first junction. The names on the local signs don\u2019t mean much to us\u2014we hadn\u2019t researched this variant at all. We turn left toward the river and carry on without high expectations.<\/p>\n\n

So the surprise is all the greater when the view suddenly opens onto Troisi\u00e8me Chute du Carbet.<\/p>\n\n

The waterfall feels natural and a little wild\u2014untouched by major interventions. The path leads to a viewpoint, but getting right down to the water takes a bit of picking your own way through branches, roots, and rocks. It\u2019s not technical, you just need to tread carefully.<\/p>\n\n

Despite the sign, we can\u2019t resist and scramble down to the pool. The cold water beneath the falls is exactly what you crave after a warm, humid hike. We don\u2019t hesitate\u2014we get in.<\/p>\n\n

We linger longer than planned\u2014helped by the fact that we have the place entirely to ourselves. The first people arrive just as we\u2019re packing up to leave.<\/p>\n\n

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Deuxi\u00e8me Chute du Carbet viewpoint<\/h2>\n\n

From the waterfall we head back to our original path and continue climbing alongside the Rivi\u00e8re du Grand Carbet.<\/p>\n\n

This stretch is the toughest of the whole route\u2014not so much technically, but because of the steeper gradient and a few places where you need to read the terrain. In some sections the path isn\u2019t obvious and you have to choose the right line. If in doubt, check your position on a map\u2014the trail is drawn quite accurately.<\/p>\n

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After a longer climb the terrain gradually eases and joins the official route to the viewpoint of Deuxi\u00e8me Chute du Carbet. The whole hike changes character here. The narrow jungle path gives way to a wider, manicured, well-marked trail with steps, railings, and far more visitors.<\/p>\n\n

A few minutes later we arrive at the viewpoint for Deuxi\u00e8me Chute du Carbet.<\/p>\n\n

The viewpoint offers a good, if slightly limited, look at the falls and the higher slopes, which during our visit stayed wrapped in cloud. It only confirms that trying to go higher wouldn\u2019t have made sense today.<\/p>\n\n

The official trail ends here, so we take a short break, eat something, and head back the same way. Before that, though, we send up the drone to capture the waterfall from better angles than the viewpoint allows. The aerial shots also reveal the first of the trio\u2014Premi\u00e8re Chute du Carbet.<\/p>\n\n

About Carbet Falls<\/h2>\n\n

Carbet Falls (Les Chutes du Carbet) are set within Guadeloupe National Park (Parc national de la Guadeloupe) on the flanks of La Grande Soufri\u00e8re on the island of Basse-Terre.<\/p>\n\n

They\u2019re a trio of waterfalls\u2014Premi\u00e8re, Deuxi\u00e8me, and Troisi\u00e8me Chute du Carbet\u2014among the island\u2019s best-known natural sights. The highest, Premi\u00e8re Chute du Carbet, drops more than 100 meters.<\/p>\n\n

The best time to visit is outside periods of heavy rain, ideally in the drier part of the year. Thanks to frequent rainfall the falls are powerful year-round, but during intense downpours trails can be very slippery and some sections may close.<\/p>\n\n

Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n

By late afternoon we\u2019re pleasantly tired and full of the day\u2019s adventures, heading back to the marina and the catamaran.<\/p>\n\n

It was well worth it\u2014even though the plan morphed as the day went on and, instead of the island\u2019s highest peak, we got to know the local jungle a little better.<\/p>\n\n

Paradoxically, that bit of improvisation made it one of the best days on the island. Less fixation on the goal, more space to react to conditions\u2014and a stronger experience because of it.<\/p>\n\n

A swim beneath the falls, the solitude of the jungle, and views of the higher tiers made it a day we\u2019ll remember for a long time.<\/p>\n\n

Route essentials<\/h2>\n\n

Distance: about 4.5 kmTotal elevation gain: about 360 mTotal time (including return, breaks, and swimming): about 3.5 hoursRecommended gear: plenty of water, sturdy footwear, insect repellent<\/p>\n\n