Turquoise and crystal clear seas, enjoy a cocktail while you’re sunbathing, escape the daily slurry by relaxing days on the beach surrounded by coconut trees… Yes, we all deserve it to go on holidays to a paradise – and what is a better place than the Antilles? Exactly… none! But what island do I have to choose? In order to help you a little by choosing the right island, we invite you for a trip to the Caribbean French island: Martinique. Are you coming with us?
Maybe you have heard about this island before, but you have no idea where it’s located; don’t worry the topography classes are a long time ago for all of us. There are many spectacular islands in the Caribbean. Especially this French island, located between the islands of Santa Lucía and Dominica (not to be confused with the Dominican Republic) which is part of the Archipelago of the Little Antilles. If you visit the east coast you can swim in the waters of the Atlantic Ocean and on the west coast you will find beautiful beaches on the Caribbean Sea. The best of everything? The peace and tranquillity of this island unlike the other Caribbean countries where tourism destroyed its beauty.
Martinique is much more than just tourism
What to discover on Martinique?
Fort-de-France, the capital of Martinique
As in almost all countries, the capital of the country is one of the most important cities during the travel, and in this case it also applies to the island Martinique. The capital of Martinique is called Fort-de-France where you can visit many important cultural attractions: Fort Saint-Louis, the cathedral and the Schoelcher library. Next to the capital, the port is located in the village of Le Marin in the most southern area of the island, also a very important place to visit: it is one of the most important ports in the Caribbean and worldwide known for its special charm. If you are in the south, we recommend visiting Sainte Anne, especially when you came to the island to see the paradise beaches. Here you will find the best resorts of the island and – as we may say so – of the whole of the Caribbean, including the Salines beach which is one of the most important tourist places.
Another city we would like to show you, because we love the combination of history, culture and nature, is Le Diamant. “The Businessman’s House” and “Anse Cafard Slave Memorial” is located in this area. Two places you should not miss if you want to discover the history of the island. When you want to go deeper into nature, you need to visit the Morne-Rouge region, a tourist destination where you will find the Volcano House, the Pelée Gardens and a number of plantations reminding us that not that long ago this paradise island was covered by bananas and sugar plantations where slaves had to work every day.
And finally, we should not forget to mention the city Saint-Pierre, the former capital of the island. In the beginning of the twentieth century, the volcano “Montagne Pelée” erupted, destroying this nearby city. More than 30,000 people were killed, and therefore, this place is also known as the “Pompeii of the Caribbean”. After more than 100 years, the area came back to life, and while Fort-de-France is currently the capital, the old capital is one of the most beautiful cities to visit because of its history.
The nature on the island
The volcano Montagne Pelée
If you love a natural environment then you will definitely fall in love with the beautiful landscape Martinique has. Like the green lung of the island called Montage Peléé, a mountain with a height of 1400 metres where you can follow several hiking trails, enjoy the flora and fauna and the spectacular views. To get here you must first explore one of the most touristic routes: Route de la Trace. Two other places you should not miss are the Balata Gardens and the Butterfly Gardens. The Butterfly gardens can be found between Saint-Pierre and the Le Carbet tunnel. If you are going for a walk through the Balata Gardens, you can immerse yourself in the impressive tropical nature of Martinique for a few hours, a journey you will never forget.
What to do on Martinique?
Windsurfing is one of the most popular water sports on the island
Kayaking, wakeboarding, windsurfing, diving, sailing… There are many water sports you can practise on the island because of the long and varied coastline with perfect water for all these activities. If you are looking for a peaceful holiday combined with the best recreation in the Caribbean, Martinique will offer you many options to make this happen, while enjoying its most beautiful beaches.
And to save power for every day you are discovering the island, there are enough opportunities to enjoy the gastronomy of Martinique. You will of course find Caribbean influences here, but also African and European. As in many parts of the Caribbean, rum is one of the most important local products. On Martinique, it’s the famous agricultural rum which is considered to be one of the best in the world.
Are you planning to go to Martinique? Then use your time by enjoying this paradise island because your holiday will be over before you know. So let’s go to this Caribbean French island and make the unforgettable trip you’ve always dreamed of!