The island is fascinating for its diversity and the beauty of its landscapes. The north is divided between tropical forest and black sandy beaches. In contrast, the south has golden sandy beaches and a series of peaceful coves and bays dotted with islets here and there to the delight of water sports enthusiasts.
Summer lasts all year and the trade winds pleasantly refresh the air, stirring up the palette of colours created by the bougainvilleas, the ginger torches, alamandas and other tropical flowers. If you get off the beaten track and follow the course of the rivers, either canyoning, or canoeing, or if you ride through the dense forest on a mountain bike, then you will discover the island's true nature.
Mount Pelée, 1,397 m high, is the highest point in Martinique. The magnificent landscape of the middle range mountain is worth exploring. The fauna and flora and the history of the most famous volcano in the Caribbean make this a truly unique volcanic structure.
Also take the time to visit the various museums which will show you the diversity and wealth of the history of Martinique.
In the Baie des Flamands, see the Martinique golf course. It was designed by the great architect Robert Trent Jones Sr. and is one of his finest creations. Located in the village of Trois-Ilets, it blends in with the composition of this natural site made of river banks, trees, lakes, bunkers and other obstacles covering 63 hectares. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful 18-hole courses in the Caribbean!
For a complete change of scenery, stop in one of the villages with "pits" to watch the cockfights or mongoose fights. The ritual that precedes them is one of richly coloured folklore. Then, come nightfall, to the rhythm of a biguine, a mazurka or a zouk, you can sip an "old-rum", the elixir of the island, and perfect accompaniment to a goat colombo, stuffed crab, accras and all the other delicious specialities of Creole cuisine.
Don't miss
L’Habitation Clément
La Baignoire de Joséphine
La Pagerie aux Trois-Ilets
La Trace des Jésuites
Mount Pelée
Useful information
Main town:
Fort-de-France.
Entry formalities:
No visa required, an ID card is sufficient. You will need a passport if you wish to visit other Caribbean islands. For nationals from other countries and for stays of three months or less in Martinique, an ordinary valid passport is sufficient.
Time difference with Paris:
- 5 hours in winter, - 6 hours in summer.
Currency:
Euro.
Climate:
Mild tropical.
Average temperature:
26°C.
Getting there:
There are daily flights between Martinique Aimé Césaire airport and Paris, which take about 8 hours.
The companies operating services to Martinique are Air France, Air Caraïbes and Corsair.
There are also regular links with the other Caribbean Islands.
There are three flights a week to Miami, and charter flights are planned for Canada.
By sea, you can reach Martinique every day from Guadeloupe, Dominican Republic and Sainte-Lucie.
Find out more:
www.martiniquetourisme.com