🧭 Every country, and the places worth the trip NEW 26,489 places written across 243 countries 🎮 Guess the country As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases
Meridiela.

Gueule Grand Gouffre

A collapsed sea cave on Marie-Galante's northern coast, open to the sea through an arch below.

Saved in this browser only - no account, nothing sent anywhere. See your map

WhereMarie-Galante
Nearest cityGrand-Bourg
Best seasonDecember to April
Time to allowAn hour
Getting thereOn the northern coast of Marie-Galante near Saint-Louis; road and short walk
EntryFree

The Gueule Grand Gouffre is a hole in the limestone of Marie-Galante's northern coast where a sea cave roof collapsed, leaving a shaft down to sea level with an arch at the bottom open to the water, so the swell surges in and out below and the sound comes up the hole. The name means the great chasm's mouth. A short path from the road reaches the rim, which is unfenced.

What you actually see

  • The collapsed shaft - a hole down to sea level in the limestone.
  • The sea arch - the opening at the bottom the swell surges through.
  • The sound - the noise of the water carried up the shaft.
  • The clifftop - the limestone coast the hole is cut into.

When to go

December to April is the driest. Big swell makes the surge most impressive. Mornings are quietest.

Honest expectations

The rim is unfenced with a sheer drop and the rock is undercut; standing near the edge is genuinely dangerous. There is no railing or supervision. The site is small and the visit brief.

Nearby

Saint-Louis is west, and Habitation Murat is south.

What to pack for Gueule Grand Gouffre

Chosen from what this place is for. Tap a kit for the full checklist.

All packing kits →

Opening times, ticket prices and seasonal closures change - check the official source before you go: official site.

← More nature & outdoors in Guadeloupe

One postcard a week.

A short Friday email: one place worth knowing about, the story behind it, and what is in season right now. No noise - leave whenever you like.