* A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required by travellers over one year of age arriving from an infected or endemic zone within six days.

Mains water is chlorinated and whilst relatively safe, may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of stay. Drinking water outside main cities and towns may be contaminated and sterilisation is advised. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafoods and fruit are generally considered safe to eat.

Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present; avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. The sap of the manchineel tree is toxic and causes burns to the skin. Travellers should avoid contact with its leaves and fruit, and should not stand under the tree when it is raining. These trees, which look similar to apple trees, are often marked with a red sign on the trunk.

Health care is of a good standard, but health insurance is advisable to cover costs as the reciprocal health agreement between the UK and France may not apply in Guadeloupe. There is a University Hospital Centre in Pointe à Pitre, on Grande-Terre, and a hospital on Basse-Terre as well as a number of clinics. On St-Martin there are four hospitals and several pharmacies and General Practitioners. St-Barthélemy has one small hospital, but is it possible to buy short-term evacuation medical insurance and be flown to a hospital of your choice.