Visit Martinique in 10 Activities
Visit Martinique in 10 Activities
Are you leaving soon but you don't know what to do in Martinique? Do not panic ! You are in the right place 🙂
In this article, I will give you the 10 essential activities not to be missed when you come to visit Martinique.
If you don't know yet if you prefer to go to Martinique or Guadeloupe, I wrote a complete article on the subject.
1. Enjoy the sun and the beaches
Martinique is a place that makes you dream. Dream for its exotic side, but also and above all for its magnificent beaches.
If you come to visit Martinique during your holidays, head for the most beautiful beaches on the island.
Personally, my favorite beach is Anse Noire. It is located in the south of Martinique, not far from the village of Anse-Arlet.
It is a totally atypical beach, since you will find black sand there! It is a small cove that allows you to discover with the help of a mask and a snorkel, truly incredible seabed!
There are even coconut trees along the beach. It really feels like being on a beach in the middle of the jungle!
It's also a fairly quiet beach, if you go there early enough and during the week, there won't be many of you!
It's a real open-air aquarium. For me this place is magical and it's my favorite if you don't know what to do in Martinique!
There are of course other incredible beaches to discover in Martinique, but this one is my favorite for its authentic and preserved side.
2. A hike around Mount Pelée
Did you know there was an active volcano in Martinique? It is a very wild and preserved place.
This volcano is (unfortunately) known for its eruption of May 8, 1902 which totally destroyed the town of Saint-Pierre, located just down the mountain. Thousands of people perished that day (almost 28,000 people, there were only 3 survivors that day...) and the city was totally destroyed by the lava flows.
The volcano is currently in a calm phase, there are no eruptions and so you can climb it to walk to the top of the volcano (1395 meters) to experience incredible views.
The starting point for the hike is usually the Aileron car park. Easily accessible by car (moreover, to get around Martinique, the best thing is still to rent a car to be free of your movements), the hike begins directly with a big climb of about one kilometer. Then the hike is more pleasant in terms of elevation. It will take about 4h30 to climb to the top and come back down.
3. Discover the history of slavery
If you come to visit Martinique, it is unthinkable not to learn more about the tragic history of slavery on the island.
The best place for this is to visit the Slave Savannah.
This place, created by a passionate local, will allow you to learn more about the history of slavery in Martinique, but also learn more about the knowledge and traditions of the inhabitants of the countryside after the abolition of slavery.
It's an exciting visit, a real open-air museum with a reconstruction of an entire village, but also a Creole garden, a "Memory of our ancestors" museum.
There is also a medicinal garden where you will discover the plants used by slaves at the time to heal themselves.
It's a place full of emotions and a great discovery if you don't know what to do in Martinique.
4. On the way to the Caravelle Peninsula
It is undoubtedly the wildest and most preserved place in Martinique. For those who love nature and wild places, this is an essential activity not to be missed during your vacation in Martinique.
With more than 388 hectares of protected areas, the landscapes are breathtaking. Cliffs, tropical forests, savannah, mangroves... It's all there!
It is a beautiful hike to do in Martinique, starting from La Trinité. It takes about 3.5 hours to do the 7 km and there is a shorter hike of about 1 hour if you don't want to do the full hike.
5. Photograph the Anses d'Arlet pontoon
For those who love photos or Instagrammable spots, the Anses d'Arlet pontoon is the perfect place to take a great photo.
Turquoise sea, white sand and a beautiful church, this is one of the most famous photos of Martinique.
Besides, beyond taking a nice picture, the village is very nice to discover and especially the beaches are perfect for sunbathing.
6. Do the distillery tour (or at least one ahaha)
Martinique is known for its... rum of course! If you come to visit Martinique for a few days, a short visit to one of the island's distilleries is a must!
There are several distilleries that offer guided tours to learn more about the importance of rum in Martinique, but also the manufacturing process. The Saint James distillery is.
7. Admire Diamond Rock
Located opposite Pointe du Diamant, Diamond Rock is a small island about two kilometers from the coast. It's a totally natural, uninhabited island and it's not possible to get there (it's even strictly forbidden!), except... for diving enthusiasts.
The Diamond Rock is home to many species of protected birds and it is a nice spot to take a picture also from the viewpoint of the road that leads to Trois ÃŽlets.
8. Swim with turtles
We return to my favorite in Martinique, the beach of Anse Noire. This is where you can swim with turtles with a simple mask and snorkel. Of course we do not touch the turtles, we are content to see them evolve and swim in this turquoise water. A feast for the eyes and above all it is an activity accessible to all (no need to dive with bottles).
9. Discover Saint-Pierre
The city of Saint-Pierre is built on the remains of the old one, destroyed by the eruption of 1902. It is a city to discover, because you will have a superb view of Mount Pelée, but you can also discover vestiges of the eruption such as the old theater, the cell of the surviving prisoner, but also the dungeon of Cyparis and the ruins of the Figuier district.
It is also a good diving spot, as the boats in the harbor all sank during the eruption as well. There are therefore several wrecks to discover.
