La Soufrière is an active volcano rising to 1,467 metres above Basse-Terre — the highest peak in the Lesser Antilles and one of the most closely monitored volcanoes in the Caribbean. It last had a significant eruption in 1797, but phreatic activity (steam and gas explosions from groundwater) is ongoing, and the summit area is regularly shrouded in sulphurous mist. The Observatoire Volcanologique de Guadeloupe tracks activity continuously and publishes regular updates.
The standard hike to the summit begins from the Savane à Mulets car park, reached by road from the town of Saint-Claude above Basse-Terre, and takes about two hours each way. The trail is well-marked and passes through elfin forest into the summit's bare lava fields. On clear days the views extend across the archipelago; on typical days you are in the cloud. The sulphur vents and hot springs near the summit are dramatic even in poor visibility.