Beyond the Beach: Hidden Death in Paradise Filming Locations for 2025
Beyond the Beach: Hidden Death in Paradise Filming Locations for 2025
You know how Death in Paradise draws you in with those sunny scenes and clever mysteries. But most people stick to the obvious beaches when thinking about visiting. There's more out there if you look beyond that. Hidden spots add a layer of real interest to the show, places where the cameras caught quieter moments away from the main action. These lesser-known locations matter because they show the depth of the series, pulling from real landscapes that make the stories feel grounded. For fans planning trips in 2025, discovering hidden Death in Paradise locations means getting closer to the show's world without the crowds. Think about how the series has boosted tourism in Guadeloupe since it started filming there over a decade ago. Visitor numbers jumped after the first seasons, with searches for holidays in the area spiking by up to 40 percent in some years, based on travel data. Or take a recent example from 2025: when season 14 aired, social media buzz around filming spots led to more bookings for guided tours in Deshaies. This guide lays out those secret areas in Guadeloupe and connects them to Beyond Paradise in Cornwall. You'll get practical advice on visiting, plus ways to travel without harming the environment. It's all about seeing the places that shaped the episodes you remember, like the inland spots where key murders happened. No need for vague promises here. Just straightforward details to help you plan.
Hidden Gems in Guadeloupe
Lesser-Known Filming Spots
Guadeloupe has been the stand-in for the fictional Saint Marie since the show began in 2011. Most fans head straight to Deshaies, which plays Honoré, the main town with its colorful buildings and harbor. But go beyond the beach, and you find spots like the Deshaies Botanical Garden. This place is inland, about a mile south of town, full of tropical plants and birds. In the show, it's where DI Richard Poole got killed with an ice pick in season 3, episode 1. Also popped up in the 2023 Christmas special for a party scene. It's not as crowded as the coastal areas, so you can wander the paths and spot the villa used in filming—it's a private rental now, sleeping 10 for around €2000 a week. Visiting? Drive or join a tour; entry is affordable, and it's open daily.
Another quiet one is the Zoo de Guadeloupe au Parc des Mamelles, 30 minutes south. This four-acre jungle spot has 85 species, including big cats, and a treetop walkway 50 feet up. Show used it in season 8, episode 2, for a zookeeper murder with a tranquilizer gun. It's off the beaten path, inland in the hills, so rent a car to get there. Common mistake: assuming everything's walkable from Deshaies—it's not, and public transport is spotty. If you skip planning transport, you might miss out or end up frustrated. Why does it matter? These spots show how the show mixes paradise with plot twists, using real nature to build tension. For 2025, with season 15 filming wrapped, expect more interest; recent updates from August 2025 note no major changes, but tours are busier. Pointe-Noire's town hall stands in as Government House, 20 minutes drive south. It's an inland village with the Mairie building featured in recent seasons, like the 2024 Christmas special market. Quiet coves like Anse de la Perle, three miles north, host the detective's shack—dismantled off-season, but the beach is serene. Explore these on your trip to feel the show's vibe without the tourist rush. Pack light, wear good shoes for uneven paths. If you ignore weather checks—hurricane season June to November—you could face closures or storms, ruining the visit.
Connecting to Beyond Paradise
Beyond Paradise spins off to Cornwall, shifting from tropical heat to UK coasts. Filming there started for the 2023 series, using spots that echo the original's charm but with a British twist. Looe is the main hub, standing in for Shipton Abbott, with its harbor and East Beach. But hidden ones stand out. Take Mothecombe Beach, secluded and foot-access only. Cast mentioned filming there at night; it's a quiet cove with a bathing house used as a green room. Inland, Port Eliot House and Gardens in St Germans features extensively—grand estate for scenes like Martha's restaurant. Allotments near Saltash's Churchtown Farm are tucked away, used in the new series per 2025 updates.
Compare to Guadeloupe: both use real places to ground stories, but Cornwall's rugged cliffs versus Guadeloupe's jungles. In Beyond Paradise, Buckfastleigh transformed into Shipton Abbott last year, with its station and houses. Common error: thinking all spots are open year-round—some like allotments are private, so check access. Why compare? It shows how the franchise adapts locations to fit narratives, from Caribbean murders to Devon crimes. For fans, visiting both highlights contrasts. In 2025, with season 3 airing, trends show more searches for Cornwall spots, up since March. Plan a trip: start in Looe, hike to Mothecombe. If you don't research tides, you might get stuck—beaches like that flood. These connections enrich viewing, seeing how hidden areas in both shows build the world.
Eco-Friendly Travel Tips
Sustainable Exploration
Traveling to these spots in 2025? Go easy on the environment. In Guadeloupe, choose eco-certified places like ecolodges in Basse-Terre or Marie-Galante. Reduce water use, stick to trails, skip products from protected species. Support local eateries and guides—helps preserve sites like the botanical garden. For Cornwall, stay local: B Corp businesses for gear or food, since tourism is 15% of the economy. Bike or walk; National Trust routes cut emissions. Why? Over-tourism strains fragile areas—beaches erode, wildlife disturbs. Common mistake: single-use plastics on beaches—leave no trace, or it harms turtles in Guadeloupe. Use eco-tour operators: in Guadeloupe, kayak mangroves with naturalists; in Cornwall, join wildlife watches mindfully. Consequences if ignored: sites close, like some coves from overuse. In 2025, with more visitors post-season 14, sustainable choices keep spots open.
Planning Your Visit
Checklist for 2025: Book eco-accommodations early—hurricane season in Guadeloupe means June-November checks. Pack reusables: water bottles, bags, sunscreen without oxybenzone to protect coral. For Cornwall, off-season visits ease crowds—autumn walks, fewer people. Transport: public buses in both, or electric cars. Observe wildlife from afar—dogs on leads in Cornwall parks. Donate to locals, like Truro Foodbank. Why plan? Avoid mistakes like forgetting reusables, leading to waste. If not, you contribute to pollution—beaches in Guadeloupe have seen cleanup needs rise. This keeps trips enjoyable and sites intact.
[Internal Links: Cornwall in Beyond Paradise, Top 10 Death in Paradise Filming Locations.]
[External Links: https://www.responsibletravel.com for eco-tips, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1888075/ for show details, https://www.thehollywoodreporter.com for entertainment news, https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer for streaming, https://www.britbox.com for more episodes.]
Those hidden Death in Paradise locations pull together adventure and show nostalgia. From Guadeloupe's inland gardens to Cornwall's secluded beaches, they offer real escapes. Remember the botanical murder scene or Cornwall's night shoots—they stick because of these spots. For 2025, with the franchise growing, these areas stay relevant. Share your travel tips or subscribe for more location guides!
FAQ Section
What are hidden Death in Paradise filming locations? Hidden ones go past beaches: Deshaies Botanical Garden (Poole's murder, season 3), Zoo de Guadeloupe (season 8 zookeeper case), Pointe-Noire town hall (Government House). Inland, less crowded. Visit by car; tours from Deshaies. Matter because they add mystery depth. Mistake: no transport plan—spots spread out. Ignore, miss key areas; tourism up in 2025 post-season 14.
How does Cornwall feature in Beyond Paradise? Cornwall stands for Shipton Abbott: Looe harbor, Mothecombe Beach (secluded, night scenes), Port Eliot Gardens (Martha's spots), Saltash allotments. Rugged vs. tropical original. Visit on foot; hidden like Rame Head's cove. Why? Adapts show to UK setting. Error: assuming public access—some private. Not checking leads to trespass; trends show more visitors since 2025 series.
How can I travel eco-friendly to Guadeloupe? Choose ecolodges, reduce water, trail-stick, no protected products. Kayak mangroves, support locals. Pack reusables, avoid oxybenzone sunscreen. Why? Protects turtles, mangroves. Mistake: waste leaving—harms beaches. Ignore: site damage, closures. 2025: year-round, but dry season best for hikes.
Where can I find lesser-known filming spots? Guadeloupe: inland like Observatoire Volcanologique (season 6 volcano), Notre-Dame church in Port Louis (season 12 wedding). Cornwall: Buckfastleigh station, Calstock Viaduct. Use maps, tours. Matter for full show immersion. Common issue: weather ignore—storms close paths. Not preparing means missed visits; recent 2025 filming boosts interest.