14 Things to do in the Heavenly Island of Martinique

The island of Martinique is part of a chain of French islands in the Caribbean Sea. It is part of the Windward Islands, including Martinique, Saint Park, Saint Marin, Guadeloupe, and Marie Galante. It is also considered one of the external regions of France and one of the 26 regions in France. It is part of the European Union, so the Euro is its annual currency.

It is bordered on the northwest by the island of Martinique, about 35 km from the Dominican Republic, 35 km from the south is Saint Lucia, about 120 km is French Guadeloupe and 54 km from the coast of South America. The island’s area is about 1,128 square kilometres, and its inhabitants are of African origin.

The first people to live on the land of the island of Martinique were the Arawaks, who were from South America, and most of them died due to the eruption of Mount Pelee volcano in 295 AD. In 1502, Columbus arrived on the island during his fourth voyage, and in 1815, the French took control of the island. It was declared the French foreign office in 1964 until today.

Weather on the island of Martinique

Martinique has a hot and humid tropical climate, with temperatures ranging from about 28 degrees in January to about 31 degrees in September. There are two types of seasons: dry and rainy. The dry season lasts from December to May, the rainy season lasts from June to November, and the peak rain occurs in September.

The Best Time to Visit the Island of Martinique

The best time to visit the island is during the dry season from December to May when the weather is sunny and dry, and also to avoid bad weather for the rest of the year. The best time to visit Martinique is especially in December and January during the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Things to do in Martinique

Tourism constitutes the primary source of income on the island, as many tourism companies provide tourist-related services. The island contains many picturesque and charming views, and there are also resorts and luxury hotels.

All those lovely things make it a destination for many tourists from all over the world. You can practice many activities such as swimming, diving, and much more there, and enjoy the beautiful landscape.

In the coming part, we will learn more about Martinique, its top attractions, and many other things, so let’s start the tour. I hope you will enjoy learning about the beautiful island.

Balata Botanical Garden

Balata Botanical Garden is one of the finest botanical gardens in the world. It is located near Fort de la France and is famous for its great diversity of plants and animals.

The garden includes more than 3000 species of tropical plants and flowers, and the ponds interspersed with water lilies and lotus flowers. There are many benches amid the foliage to relax and admire the beautiful mountain views. This beautiful garden is one of the most popular things to do in Martinique.

Fort de France

Fort de France is Martinique’s capital and the country’s principal port. From there, you can start your journey to most tourist attractions. In the city centre, you can find Savanna Square, which has a beautiful statue of Napoleon’s Empress Josephine.

You can also find the Schoelcher Library, named after Victor Schoelcher, an activist for the abolition of slavery in the French colonies. Another attraction you can visit is Saint Louis Fort, which was built in 1638, and the Saint Louis Cathedral.

To learn more about the island’s history, visit the Museum of Archeology and the History Museum, where you can find clothing, jewellery, and many other things.

Saint-Pierre

Saint-Pierre is another city in Martinique with a lovely view of the volcanic Mount Pelee. It was once the central city in the country and was known as the Pearl of the West Indies until Mount Pelee erupted in 1902. When it erupted, Saint-Pierre was destroyed and killed about 30,000 residents, and the strange thing is that there was a prisoner who survived and was protected by his thick cell wall.

If you visit the city, you will see stone ruins, including the survivor’s prison cell, theatre, and the ruins of Le Figuier. Then, you can reach the hillside and go to the Volcanological Museum, which has one room and displays old items from the old town and the harbour.

La Pagerie Museum

La Pagerie Museum is the place where Marie Joseph Rose Tascher de la Pagerie was born in a stone cottage, and later she became Napoleon’s Empress Josephine. The museum includes some of Josephine’s items, such as the love letters from Napoleon. 

When you visit the museum, you will learn more about Josephine’s childhood and marriage to the French emperor Napoleon.

Route de la Trace to Morne Rouge

Route de la Trace runs north of Fort de France, the capital city of Martinique, through a rainforest to L’Ajoupea-Bouillon, on the side of Mount Pelee. To the north, you will pass through Morne Rouge while walking on the route. It is considered the highest town in Martinique, near Mount Pelee, and it was buried after the volcano’s eruption, killing about 1,500 people.

Martinique Zoo and Le Carbet

Le Carbet is a town located near the Martinique Zoo. It is where Christopher Columbus landed for the first time in June 1502, and it became a parish in 1645. This town can be visited after going to the Martinique Zoo, and it is about 10 minutes away from each other.

The zoo is a lovely family attraction. It is located among botanical gardens and the ruins of an old sugar plantation. The zoo contains monkeys, raccoons, jaguars, and many other animals.

Les Trois-llets

Les Lets is a famous tourist area located south of Fort de France. It includes restaurants, hotels, and other attractions related to Martinique’s history and culture. The Village de la Poterie des Lets is a large complex housed in a former pottery yard.

The buildings now house shops, restaurants, and a sports centre where you can kayak. Small boutiques also sell art, clothing, local crafts, and other items. 

Chateau Dubuc and the Caravella Peninsula

The Chateau Dubuc is now ruined. It was the former home of a well-known wealthy Dubuc family that owned the peninsula during the 18th century. You can take a tour that explains everything about the Chateau and what happens there, from the grinding of raw cane to the shipment of molasses from the plantation’s dock.

Also, there is the La Caravella Nature Trail, which is a perfect place for nature lovers. It is located in eastern Martinique and near the entrance to Chateau Dubuc. You can hike for about one hour through a mangrove forest with a beautiful view of the east coastline.

Hiking on Mount Pelee

Mount Pelee is a well-known volcano that erupted on 8 May 1902 and destroyed the city of Saint-Pierre. But don’t worry—the volcano is now in a quiet phase, and you can hike to the summit. 

When you reach the top, you can see a spectacular view of the Atlantic Ocean, the mountains, and the island of Dominica. Challenging trails begin from Morne Rouge, Ajoupa-Bouillion, Grand Riviere, Le Precheur, and Macouba. Make sure to go on the trails in good weather and wear suitable hiking boots.

Diamond Rock and Le Memorial de l’Anse Caffard

Diamond Rock is located above the sea, about 3 km south of Martinique, and is considered a part of the island’s history. In 1804, the British dropped sailors on the volcanic island and registered the rock as a ship. After about 17 months, the French took back the rock. Now, it is considered one of the best diving sites in the Caribbean Sea, and you can learn more about that rock in the nearby town of Le Diamant.

Also, you can visit the Anse Cafard Slave Memorial, which was made for the victims of the tragic shipwreck on the southwest coast of Martinique that killed many passengers and slaves.

Sainte-Anne

Sainte-Anne is considered one of the loveliest villages in Martinique. With palm-fringed coves, it is full of shops, restaurants, many markets, and, most importantly, beaches. To the south of Sainte-Anne, you can explore the landscapes of Savane Des Petrications on the trails from Anse a Prunes.

Boat Tours

One of the best things to do in Martinique is go on a cruise. You can start your tour from Fort de France and Trois-IIets on the south shore. Dolphin-watch cruises are one of the most famous activities, as are kayak tours of the mangrove forests from Pointe du Bout.

Gorges de la Falaise

Gorges de la Falaise is located near the village of Ajoupa-Bouillon. A small gorge along the Falaise River leads to a waterfall. You can start hiking and then descend into the gorge, where you can swim under the pelting water.

Les Salines

Les Salines is one of the best and most impressive beaches in Martinique. It is located near Sainte Anne, is called Salt Pond, and is famous for its calm waters and soft white sand. The beach stretches one kilometre off the coast at the southern tip of Martinique.

Les Salines is used as a postcard picture of classic Caribbean scenery. It is crowded with families on weekends but a little more tranquil during the week. 

Places to stay in when you arrive in Martinique

After or even while visiting the famous attractions in Martinique, you would like to find a place to stay and rest from the tour you will take on the beautiful island. So here are some of the famous resorts and hotels you would like to stay in and have a good time.

• Hotel Bakoua is one of the famous hotels in Trois IIets. It is a 4-star hotel with 138 rooms decorated in colonial style and an open-air lobby. There is also a pool with a fantastic view of the bay and an excellent restaurant for a lovely dinner for couples with a view of Fort de France.
• Hotel French Coco: This luxury boutique hotel is near the Atlantic Ocean. It includes 17 rooms with elevated rustic décor and a lovely pool.
• Le Cap Est Lagoon Resort and Spa is another famous luxury resort in Martinique. It is surrounded by nature, and the buildings are designed in an Asian style, giving anyone who visits the place the feeling that he has come to an oasis.

 The resort includes about 50 suites, each with a private terrace and a pool. In addition, the resort has a dock where you can book a boat for a tour to explore the surrounding areas.

• Carayou Hotel and Spa is located on a peninsula in Pointe du Bout. It has 132 rooms decorated in French Creole style. All rooms have a terrace with beautiful views, and two pools and a beach are also available.

Club Med Les Boucaniers: The resort has 300 rooms, from deluxe rooms to suites. All have a private terrace, and the resort has two restaurants, a spa, and a gym.