Deshaies coastline

Acaia muricata is also known as Tendacayou because of the extreme hardness of the wood. Its small white flowers produce plenty of honey.

Near the summit of Gros Morne, fine views to the south, with la Pointe Batterie and l'Anse de Deshaies below.

On starting your descent, there are splendid views of Grande Anse bay to the north.

A battery of canons was once placed here to protect Grande Anse bay. For almost a whole century, Guadeloupe was a battleground for violent clashes between the French and English. A few years ago, this location was equipped with tables, allowing walkers a chance for a break after climbing Gros Morne.

At the back of Grande Anse beach, some traditional carbet shelters are available for a well-deserved break.

The only endemic bird species to the country, the Guadeloupe woodpecker measures 26-28 cm. Its beak is long and slender and, in the male, is longer than the head, unlike in females. It is adorned with black plumage, has a blood-red throat and belly and blue/black back. It can be seen quite frequently on tree trunks, which it hammers into with its powerful beak (hence its Creole name of "Toto bwa"). It moves over short distances in rippling, gliding movements. The Guadeloupe woodpecker is included on the list of endangered species.

Bursera simaruba is easy to spot, on account of its reddish bark that comes off in scraps. Its bark is green and smooth underneath.

The West Indian Mahogany (Swietenia mahagoni) is a robust species native to Ispagnola. This dry forest tree was initially planted as an ornamental feature for houses, but then spread elsewhere. Despite the wood being of extraordinary quality, it grew too slowly to be used in reforestation. When degraded forests needed to be revived and enriched, foresters turned to this tree for the task.

The trail runs along the coast until Pointe Le Breton. You can still see the remnants of the old colonial road, including wall sections which have fallen into disuse but are still visible on the roadside.

Gossypium is a generic name for all plants that produce cotton, whether in the wild or grown specifically for the purpose. There are different uses for the various parts of cotton plants: the fibrous hairs (cotton), which vary in size depending on the species and variety, the shorter fibres (linters), and the olive and protein-rich seeds. Other species are used as ornamental plants.

From the seafront to "Rifflet", a magnificent view of l'îlet Kahouanne, classified as a central part of the National Park.