Key facts
- COVERAGE
- Guadeloupe
- NETWORKS
- Orange
- PLAN TYPE
- Data only
- IP ADDRESS LOCATION
- Hong Kong, Asia
- DELIVERY
- QR code by email
How it works
- 1Choose a plan and pay.
- 2Scan the QR code we email you. You can install it before you fly.
- 3When you land in Guadeloupe, turn on data roaming for the Spidot line.
Questions about the Guadeloupe eSIM
Which networks does it use?
Do I get a local phone number?
Can I use it outside Guadeloupe?
How do I install it?
Will my phone work with an eSIM?
Does my French SIM work in Guadeloupe?
Will my Guadeloupe plan work in Les Saintes and Marie-Galante?
Can I use the eSIM on the ferry to Dominica?
Is mobile data reliable on La Soufrière?
Will WhatsApp keep my usual number?
Can I top up if I run out?
Guadeloupe eSIM guide: mobile data for travellers
Guadeloupe is a French overseas region in the Lesser Antilles, shaped like a butterfly. Its two main islands are joined by a narrow channel: Basse-Terre in the west is mountainous and green, with rainforest, waterfalls and the La Soufrière volcano inside Guadeloupe National Park; Grande-Terre in the east is flatter, with the beaches and lagoons of Le Gosier, Sainte-Anne and Saint-François and the wild headland of Pointe des Châteaux. Around them lie smaller islands that feel like separate worlds: the Îles des Saintes, Marie-Galante and La Désirade.
A Spidot eSIM gives you mobile data in Guadeloupe without buying a local SIM. You install it before you leave, switch it on when you land and keep your own SIM for calls and texts. This guide explains how roaming works for different visitors, how much data to plan for, and what to expect from coverage in the mountains, on the beaches and on the outer islands.
eSIM, roaming or a local SIM in Guadeloupe
Guadeloupe is part of France and of the European Union, even though it lies in the Caribbean. That has consequences for roaming that differ depending on where your SIM comes from.
EU SIMs
Because Guadeloupe is part of the EU, the EU's "Roam like at Home" rules can apply there for many EU SIM holders. In practice, operators handle overseas regions in different ways, and some plans have specific conditions or fair-use limits. Check your operator's terms for Guadeloupe or the French overseas departments before you travel, rather than assuming your mainland allowance carries over unchanged.
Non-EU SIMs
For SIMs from the UK, the US, Canada and other countries, Guadeloupe is a roaming destination like any other, and your operator's terms decide the price. Some include the Caribbean in travel packs; others charge separately. Check before you go.
A local SIM or a Spidot eSIM
Prepaid SIMs are available in Guadeloupe at operator shops and some retailers, and usually require identification. A Spidot eSIM avoids that step: you buy a Guadeloupe plan online, receive the QR code by email straight after payment and install it at home. Plans start from $17.90. Most plans are data-only, without a local number; for local calls, for example to restaurants or boat operators, see our Data + calls plans.
How much data to plan for
A Guadeloupe holiday tends to involve driving, maps and lots of photos, with some time on boats and hiking trails. Rough estimates:
- Maps and navigation: a few megabytes per hour; important because most visitors drive.
- Messaging: light.
- Translation: light if you download French for offline use; French is the language of daily life.
- Photos and social media: moderate to heavy, especially with video.
- Video calls: typically several hundred megabytes per hour.
- Streaming: heavy, often a gigabyte or more per hour in HD.
Typical choices
A week based in one area with good accommodation Wi-Fi fits a small or mid-sized fixed data plan. A two-week road trip around both main islands with day trips to Les Saintes and Marie-Galante is more comfortable with a larger plan.
Remote workers and long-stay visitors may prefer an unlimited plan, keeping in mind that speed may slow after heavy use. A no-expiry plan suits regular Caribbean travellers. You can check how much data is left and add more data during the trip.
Before you go
Install the eSIM at home over Wi-Fi. First check your phone supports eSIM and is carrier-unlocked. Then follow the install guide for iPhone, Samsung or Pixel. Label the line "Guadeloupe", keep your home SIM as default for calls and texts, and set the Spidot line for mobile data.
- Install the eSIM a day or two before departure.
- Download offline maps of Guadeloupe, including Basse-Terre's mountain roads.
- Download French in your translation app for offline use.
- Save hiking route information for La Soufrière and the waterfalls offline.
- Turn off data roaming on your home SIM if you do not want it used.
Arriving in Guadeloupe
Most visitors fly into Pointe-à-Pitre's Pôle Caraïbes airport, on Grande-Terre close to the channel that separates the two main islands. There are long-haul flights from Paris and connections from North America and other Caribbean islands. Cruise ships dock in Pointe-à-Pitre, and ferries connect Guadeloupe with Dominica, Martinique and other nearby islands.
When you land, select the Spidot line for mobile data and turn on data roaming for it; our data roaming guide shows where. It may take a minute or two to connect. If not, toggle flight mode once.
Picking up a hire car
Most visitors rent a car, as public transport is limited for tourists. Having data at the airport makes it easy to navigate to your accommodation, whether that is in Le Gosier, Sainte-Anne, Deshaies or elsewhere. Traffic around Pointe-à-Pitre and Baie-Mahault can be heavy at peak times, so a navigation app with live traffic is helpful.
Arriving by ferry
If you come by ferry from Dominica or Martinique, switch your mobile data line to the Guadeloupe plan when you arrive. Keep your other plans installed for onward or return journeys.
Coverage on the beaches, in the mountains and on the outer islands
In Pointe-à-Pitre, Les Abymes, Baie-Mahault, Basse-Terre town, Le Gosier, Sainte-Anne, Saint-François and Deshaies, mobile data generally works as you would expect. The main roads around both islands are usually covered for most of their length.
Several popular areas can have weaker or patchy signal:
- Guadeloupe National Park: the rainforest, the Route de la Traversée across Basse-Terre and trails to waterfalls such as the Carbet Falls run through valleys where signal can fade.
- La Soufrière: the volcano's upper slopes are often in cloud and exposed to wind; do not rely on mobile data for navigation or safety on the summit trail.
- Pointe des Châteaux: the eastern tip of Grande-Terre is usually covered, but quiet beaches nearby may be weaker.
- The outer islands: Terre-de-Haut in Les Saintes, Marie-Galante and La Désirade generally have coverage in their main settlements, with weaker spots on beaches and hills.
- At sea: on ferries and boat trips, signal fades between islands.
Near Dominica
Les Saintes and the southern tip of Basse-Terre face Dominica across a channel. In rare cases your phone may see a network from across the water. If data stops working unexpectedly, check which network you are connected to.
Orange are among the networks your Spidot plan can use in Guadeloupe.
Data on road trips, buses and ferries
Driving is the most common way for visitors to get around Guadeloupe. Roads are generally good, but the mountain roads of Basse-Terre are steep and winding, and traffic around Pointe-à-Pitre can be heavy. Navigation apps with live traffic help, and offline maps are a sensible backup.
Buses
There are buses between the main towns, but schedules can be irregular, and service is reduced in the evenings and on Sundays. Data helps you check routes and timings, and message your accommodation if you are running late.
Ferries to the outer islands
Ferries run to Les Saintes from Trois-Rivières and Pointe-à-Pitre, to Marie-Galante from Pointe-à-Pitre and Saint-François, and to La Désirade from Saint-François. Departure times vary by season, so check them online before you go. On board, signal usually holds near the coasts and may drop in open water.
Sharing data with a hotspot
Many visitors stay in gîtes, villas and apartments where Wi-Fi quality varies. Your phone's personal hotspot can share your Spidot data with a laptop or tablet. It uses whichever line is selected for mobile data, so make sure that is the Spidot line.
Turn off automatic updates and cloud sync on connected devices, and keep an eye on your remaining data. If you plan to tether every day, consider a larger or unlimited plan.
Using public Wi-Fi safely
Hotels, cafés and restaurants often offer Wi-Fi. It is convenient but not always secure.
- Use your eSIM data for banking, card payments and important logins.
- Ask staff for the exact network name before connecting.
- Turn off automatic joining of open networks.
- Update your phone and apps before you travel.
Practical tips for Guadeloupe
A few details that make your data connection more useful:
- Currency: Guadeloupe uses the euro. Cards are widely accepted in shops, supermarkets and restaurants; keep some cash for markets, beach snack bars and small businesses.
- Language: French is the official language, and Guadeloupean Creole is widely spoken. English is less common outside tourist businesses, so a translation app helps.
- Opening hours: many shops and businesses close in the middle of the day and on Sunday afternoons. Check hours online before making a trip.
- Volcano and waterfalls: weather on Basse-Terre's peaks changes quickly, and some trails can be closed after heavy rain. Check official park information and local advice before hiking.
- Diving: the Pigeon Islands off Malendure on Basse-Terre's west coast are a well-known snorkelling and diving area. Keep your phone in a waterproof pouch on the boat.
- Hurricane season: the Caribbean hurricane season runs roughly from June to November. Keep weather apps installed and follow official advice if a storm is forecast.
Guadeloupe on a multi-country trip
Guadeloupe sits in the middle of the Lesser Antilles. Ferries connect it with Dominica to the south and Martinique beyond, and flights link it with Antigua and Barbuda, St Lucia and other islands. Many visitors arrive from mainland France.
The simplest approach is one eSIM per country or territory. Most eSIM phones store several eSIMs, so install a plan for each place before your trip and switch the mobile data line when you arrive. Only the selected line uses data.