At a glance

• Creole roots on center stage: gwoka, zouk, reggae, dancehall, kompa, Afrobeat, blues, jazz, and soul woven into four nights of island magic
• Past lineups have welcomed Caribbean and global icons — think Angélique Kidjo, Tiken Jah Fakoly, Ayo, Admiral T, Malavoi, and reggae greats — alongside fearless young voices from Guadeloupe and beyond
• Main stage at the historic Château (Habitation) Murat in Grand-Bourg, with "off" stages and pop-up sessions in village squares and beachfront bars around the island
• Unique Marie-Galante flavor: gwoka drum circles at dusk, ti’ punch and rhum agricoles from Bielle, Bellevue, and Père Labat, bokits and accras sizzling in the vendor village
• A festival born in 2000 that champions Creole culture and the living blues of the Caribbean — small enough to feel personal, big enough to leave you awestruck

Key dates

• Thursday, June 5, 2025: Warm-up "off" concerts from 17:00 in Grand-Bourg and Saint-Louis; Festival Welcome and box office open at 12:00; evening jam sessions till late.
• Friday, June 6, 2025: Main stage gates at Château Murat open 18:30; opening acts from 19:30; headliners 22:00–00:30; food village and craft market from 18:00.
• Saturday, June 7, 2025: Daytime cultural programming (artist talks, gwoka & dance encounters) around 11:00–15:00; main stage 19:30–00:30; late-night "off" sets in village bars.
• Sunday, June 8, 2025: Island brunch pop-ups and acoustic sessions late morning; closing concert night 19:30–00:30; farewell jam after-hours.
• VIP moments (June 6–8): Fast-track entry from 18:00, lounge access with dedicated bar/service, elevated viewing near the sound tower, and occasional artist meet & greet windows — limited capacity, pre-book early.

How to get there

Fly to Guadeloupe (PTP) from Europe: Paris offers the most direct options. Air France (CDG), Air Caraïbes (ORY), and Corsair (ORY) operate nonstop flights to Pointe-à-Pitre (PTP) in about 8.5–9.5 hours. From London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, and other European hubs, connect via Paris; total travel time is typically 11–14 hours depending on layovers.

From the airport to Marie-Galante: Terre de Blues unfolds on the island of Marie-Galante, a short ferry hop from Guadeloupe’s main island. After landing at Aéroport Guadeloupe Pôle Caraïbes (PTP), take a taxi or pre-booked transfer (25–35 minutes) to the Bergevin ferry terminal in Pointe-à-Pitre.

Ferries to Marie-Galante: L’Express des Îles and Val’Ferry run frequent services to Grand-Bourg (and sometimes Saint-Louis/Capesterre) with a crossing time of ~45–60 minutes. Expect extra sailings around festival weekend. Book seats well in advance — Pentecost week is peak travel on these routes.

Onward to the festival site: From Grand-Bourg harbour, Château Murat (the main stage) is a short drive inland. Taxis are available but limited during peak hours; many travelers pre-book a rental car or scooter for the whole weekend.

Where to stay

Stay close to the music: The main stage sits on the grounds of Château (Habitation) Murat in Grand-Bourg, so basing yourself in or near Grand-Bourg keeps late-night returns simple. Small hotels and gîtes sell out months ahead for festival weekend — lock it in early.

Hotels & guesthouses near the action: In Grand-Bourg, look for beachy stays like Coco Beach or boutique guesthouses a short drive from Murat. In Capesterre (about 15 minutes by car), La Rose du Brésil and Le Soleil Levant pair hillside breezes with quick access to La Feuillère beach. Saint-Louis offers space and calm — the Village de Ménard bungalows (≈20 minutes to Murat) are popular with groups.

Budget-friendly choices: Family-run gîtes, studios, and bungalows dot the island, often with kitchenettes to cut food costs. Book early on mainstream platforms or via the Guadeloupe Islands tourism listings.

Villas for crews: Marie-Galante shines for group villas: split costs, stock the fridge, and designate a sober driver for show nights. Many villas sit 10–25 minutes from the festival site.

Camping? There’s typically no official festival campsite. A few eco-camping spots and rustic bungalows exist, but wild camping on beaches isn’t recommended. If you’re set on sleeping under the stars, confirm amenities and security in advance.

Festival experience

Terre de Blues is a heartbeat you step into. As dusk rolls down the cane fields, you feel the first slap of the tanbou ka, then brass, then voices — Creole harmonies rising like heat from the earth. The main stage at Château Murat turns a historic sugar estate into a natural amphitheatre; you’re standing on living history while the island’s present and future soundtracks wash over you.

Tickets and passes: Early-bird drops tend to arrive in spring. You’ll typically find single-night tickets for the main stage shows, a weekend pass for the full run, and limited VIP packages with fast-track entry, lounge access, and prime sightlines. Festival sales are handled via the official site and Caribbean ticketing partners — book early; island capacity is finite.

Stages and schedule: Nights belong to the big stage at Murat — production is crisp, bass warm, and the stars bright. Expect opening acts from around 19:30, headliners between 22:00 and 00:30, plus encores that keep you floating. Daytime, keep an ear out for artist talks, Creole culture spotlights, and spontaneous gwoka circles in village squares. The "off" program rewards wanderers — you might catch a kompa trio by the sea or a reggae singer trying out a new tune in a café garden.

VIP vs. GA: General Admission gives you that communal shoulder-to-shoulder buzz, with room to dance on the grass and roam the food village. VIP is about ease and comfort: a shaded lounge, dedicated bar, and elevated viewing deck that lets you see (and hear) every nuance — handy if you want to move between sets without the crowd crush.

First-timer wisdom: Arrive on Marie-Galante a day early if you can — ferries fill up and island time is a joy, not a rush. Wear breathable clothes and real shoes (grass + occasional showers = slippery). Bring a reusable water bottle and cash for backup; most vendors accept cards but island connectivity can wobble. Sunset can be strong — hat, sunscreen, and a light rain layer will save you.

Eats & drinks: The vendor village is a masterclass in Creole flavor: freshly fried accras, smoky poulet boucané, bokits stuffed with saltfish or spicy chicken, gratin de Christophine, and sorbet coco churned by hand. Wash it down with a ti’ punch or a local rhum agricole from Bielle, Bellevue, or Père Labat — or keep it cool with fresh cane juice and tamarind sodas between sets.

What to bring: Compact rain poncho, small towel or sarong for the grass, portable phone charger, insect repellent, and earplugs for late-night bass. Keep a light scarf handy — it’s perfect for sun, breeze, or a little sit on the lawn between acts.

By the time the final chords drift into the night, you’ll understand why this festival is called Terre de Blues — it grows from the land, the people, and the stories they carry. And it’ll follow you home.

Budget

Book early, travel smart: Pentecost week is busy across the French Caribbean. Lock flights 2–4 months out, aim for midweek departures, and compare Paris-CDG vs Paris-Orly — Air Caraïbes and Corsair often price competitively from ORY.

Share costs: Villas and car rentals become great value when split among friends. A small scooter for two can cut transport costs sharply if you pack light and stay near Grand-Bourg.

Cash + card strategy: The euro is king in Guadeloupe. Many vendors take cards, but have cash for small bites or if signal dips. If you love rhum, buy at the distillery and pack bottles in checked luggage — it’s usually better priced and a delicious souvenir.

Getting around & connectivity

On Marie-Galante: Distances are short, roads are quiet, and views are cinematic. Renting a small car or scooter is the most flexible option — especially for late-night returns after the headliners. Taxis exist but can be scarce during peak hours; pre-booking is wise.

Festival access and parking: Château Murat sits a few minutes inland from Grand-Bourg. Parking fills quickly on show nights; arrive early, carpool with other festival-goers, or base yourself close enough to keep night drives short. The festival has historically coordinated local shuttles during busy hours — check the official program closer to June for routes and times.

Walking and safety: Streets around Grand-Bourg are pleasant to stroll at dusk, but remember you’re in the countryside — bring a small flashlight or phone torch for after-hours, and stay hydrated in the humidity.

Climate & packing

Weather: Early June in Guadeloupe is warm, breezy, and humid — think 26–31°C by day with the alizés (trade winds) offering relief. Short tropical showers are common, often passing quickly; evenings remain warm in the mid-20s.

What to pack for the groove: Breathable clothes, comfy closed-toe shoes for grassy grounds, a light rain shell or poncho, and reef-safe sunscreen. A hat for sunset sets, insect repellent for still nights, and a compact power bank will keep you dancing and connected. Bring a reusable water bottle — there are opportunities to refill, and staying hydrated is a performance enhancer.

Festival extras: A small towel or sarong for the lawn, earplugs for late bass, and a dry bag or zip pouch for phone and tickets if a shower rolls through. Power is 230V with Type E sockets (European standard), so most EU plugs work without an adapter.

Forgot something? Grand-Bourg and Saint-Louis have supermarkets and pharmacies; beach shops near La Feuillère and Anse Canot carry hats, flip-flops, and last-minute island essentials.

Sample plan

1. Thursday (June 5): Land in PTP by midday, taxi to the Bergevin terminal, and sail to Marie-Galante with the trade winds in your face. Check in, rinse off the travel, and wander Grand-Bourg’s waterfront for a sundowner ti’ punch. From 17:00, "off" stages start to hum — grab a bokit, ease into your island stride, and let a gwoka circle pull you to the first dance of the weekend.
2. Friday (June 6): Morning swim at Anse Canot, lunch on accras and lime, then siesta. Head to Château Murat around 18:30 to explore the vendor village. The opening act hits at 19:30; by 22:00 the headliner lifts the entire lawn. Post-show, drift to a beach bar jam — the bass is softer, the stars louder.
3. Saturday (June 7): Coffee, market, and a late-morning culture stop — think dance or drum encounters and artist conversations. Nap, refuel, then back to Murat for a genre-crossing bill: kompa sway into Afrobeat, blues into zouk. Tonight is the island’s sweet spot — locals in their finest, visitors fully converted. After midnight, toast with a planteur and promise yourself one last song.
4. Sunday (June 8): Take a slow loop to La Feuillère beach and, if time allows, a quick look at the windmill at Distillerie Bellevue. The closing night is a love letter — voices bigger, hugs warmer. Soak it in from the grass or the VIP deck. When the final encore fades, you’ll already be plotting your return.

Official links & useful resources

• Terre de Blues Festival — Official Website
• Bizouk — Caribbean Ticketing Partner
• Guadeloupe Islands — Official Tourism Board
• L’Express des Îles — Ferries to Marie-Galante
• Val’Ferry — Ferries to Marie-Galante
• Aéroport Guadeloupe Pôle Caraïbes (PTP)
• Guadeloupe La 1ère — Local Festival Coverage
• Air France — Flights to PTP
• Air Caraïbes — Flights to PTP
• Corsair — Flights to PTP
• Angélique Kidjo — Artist Site (past headliner)
• Tiken Jah Fakoly — Official Facebook (past headliner)
• Ayo — Artist Site (past performer)