Photo by Grook Da Oger, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
🇫🇷 France · Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe
Photo by Grook Da Oger, via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)
🇫🇷 France · Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe
♨ Temperature
40°C
⛰ Altitude
560 m
⚗ pH
3.8
💧 TDS
880 mg/L
🌊 Flow rate
—
📅 Established
Natural springs; informal bathing tradition pre-colonial
✓ Verified on 2026-07-22
The Bains Jaunes ('Yellow Baths') are acidic volcanic springs in the lush rainforest interior of Basse-Terre, the western wing of Guadeloupe — a French overseas territory in the Lesser Antilles. The springs emerge from the geothermal system of La Soufrière de Guadeloupe, an active stratovolcano that last erupted in 1977 and continues to show geothermal activity through fumaroles, hot springs, and mudpots. The spring water is strongly sulphurous and mildly acidic, depositing sulphur and iron compounds on the surrounding rocks in vivid yellow and ochre bands — giving the site its name. The water temperature varies between 35°C and 45°C depending on proximity to the spring vents and season. The site is accessible via a hiking trail through dense tropical rainforest within the National Park of Guadeloupe (Parc National de la Guadeloupe). The combination of tropical rainforest canopy, volcanic geology, colourful mineral deposits, and the visible power of La Soufrière above creates an experience that is simultaneously scientific and primordially sensory.
| Hydrogen Sulphide | 18 mg/L |
| Sulphate | 385 mg/L |
| Sodium Chloride | 125 mg/L |
| Iron (Fe) | 22 mg/L |
| Calcium | 68 mg/L |
La Soufrière de Guadeloupe is one of the most monitored volcanoes in the Lesser Antilles, with a 1976 eruption threat that prompted the evacuation of 72,000 people from Basse-Terre — the largest volcanic evacuation in Caribbean history. The Bains Jaunes are a surface expression of the same geothermal system that powers the volcano. The Parc National de la Guadeloupe, established in 1989, protects the rainforest and volcanic landscape surrounding the springs, including the La Soufrière summit and its ring of active geothermal features.
The Bains Jaunes are embedded in Guadeloupean Creole culture as a place of local pride and informal tradition — a site that locals know and visitors discover. The trail to the springs passes through montane rainforest of extraordinary density, inhabited by the endemic Guadeloupe woodpecker and by tree ferns, mahogany, and gommier trees whose resin was historically used by Arawak and Carib communities. The yellow mineral deposits around the springs connect the landscape to the pre-colonial Amerindian understanding of volcanic activity as a living geological force.
The Bains Jaunes are within the Parc National de la Guadeloupe, which restricts development within the core zone. The springs flow naturally without intervention; their geochemistry is regularly monitored by the Observatoire Volcanologique et Sismologique de Guadeloupe (OVSG) as part of ongoing volcanic surveillance. The trail system to the site is maintained by the national park to limit erosion while preserving access.
Websitewww.guadeloupetourisme.com
AddressBains Jaunes, Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, France