Gueule Grand Gouffre

Trou à Diable

Useful Information

Location:	Saint-Louis 97134, Marie-Galante, Guadeloupe. (16.0023334, -61.2671517)
Open:	no restrictions. [2025]
Fee:	free. [2025]
Classification:	Sea Cave Collapse Doline
Light:	n/a
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Gueule Grand Gouffre, Tel: +33-.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

The Gueule Grand Gouffre (Great Abyss Mouth) is called Djèl Gwan gouf or Gèl Gwan gouf in the local Guadeloupean Creole langauage. But it is also known as Trou à Diable, which is often mixed up with a waterfall of the same name. This site is a place which may be easily visited self-guided as there is a road to the site with parking lot and outlook. On island Marie-Galante from the main city Saint-Louis follow D205 to the north, where it turns inland turn left towards Vieux Fort along the coast. At Belle Plaine turn left a short road which ends at the site.

The islands are volcanic, but actually it makes no difference, the sea with the force of the waves creates cliffs along the coats, and often it creates sea caves in those cliffs. This erosional process works with any kind of rock. In this case, something happened that is rare but still occurs quite frequently: the cave collapsed and formed a sinkhole with almost vertical walls. The seawater, which still flows into the cave, removes the debris, leaving behind a kind of enclosure with a natural bridge, the remains of the cave, leading to the sea.