River trekking, known locally as aquarando, means walking up or down a river, swimming and jumping into the pools, without any rope work. Canyoning goes one step further: you descend the river with abseils on a rope, natural slides and jumps, wearing a harness and a helmet. In Guadeloupe, both take place on Basse-Terre, in the tropical rivers of the Soufrière massif.
If you are looking for a family aquarando, our most accessible trips combine the best of both: walking in the river, swimming, natural slides and, when age and confidence allow, a few short abseils supervised by a state-certified guide.
Aquarando or canyoning: what is the difference?
| River trekking (aquarando) | Canyoning | |
|---|---|---|
| How you move | Walking, swimming, jumping | Walking, swimming, jumping, slides and abseils on a rope |
| Equipment | Shoes, sometimes a wetsuit | Wetsuit, helmet, harness, descender |
| For whom | Families, children | From age 8 on the easiest routes |
| Guiding | Recommended | Essential without experience: state-certified guide |
Our trips closest to aquarando
Acomat, Pointe-Noire: the most family-friendly
The Acomat canyon, in northern Basse-Terre, is our gentlest trip: swimming, a natural slide, jumps and walking in the rainforest, Green level. From age 8, 2 h 30, from €50. This is the one to choose if you had a river trek with children in mind.
Bourceau, Bouillante: your first descent
Above Malendure, the Bourceau discovery trip adds a real abseil, an assisted slide and a zip line. Blue level, from age 8, 3 h 30, from €60.
Ravine Chaude, Gourbeyre: down to the Bassin Bleu
In southern Basse-Terre, the Ravine Chaude runs down to the Bassin Bleu, one of the most beautiful pools on the island. Blue level, from age 10, 3 h 30, from €60.
Grande Rivière Ferry, Deshaies
In the north, the Grande Rivière Ferry leads to unspoilt waterfalls and pools. Blue level, from age 10, 4 h, from €70.
Good to know before a river trek in Guadeloupe
- You do not need to be able to swim: what matters is not being afraid of water. The wetsuit helps a lot with buoyancy.
- Footwear must stay on your feet and grip on wet rock: ordinary trainers are fine, flip-flops are not.
- The weather matters more than the season: heavy rain up in the mountains can make a river rise within minutes. With a guide, it is the guide who decides to adapt or postpone the trip.
- Equipment (wetsuit, helmet, harness) is provided on all our trips.
Frequently asked questions
From what age can you go river trekking in Guadeloupe?
With us, from age 8, at Acomat and Bourceau. Children do not need to be able to swim, but they should not be afraid of water; the guide adapts the jumps and slides to each person.
Do you need a guide for aquarando?
It is not compulsory for a simple river walk, but it is strongly recommended if you do not know the route: the guide knows the access points, checks the jumps and keeps an eye on the water level. As soon as there are abseils, a professional guide is essential if you have no experience.
What is the best time of year?
It can be done all year round. The dry season (roughly February to May) is often the driest; during the rainy season, trips still go ahead but depend more on the weather on the day.
How much does a trip cost?
From €50 per person for Acomat to €70 for Deshaies, equipment and guiding included. All prices are on the rates page.
To compare all our trips, from Green to Black level: all our canyoning trips in Guadeloupe.
