Welcome to this new blog post! Here I will give you some information about an amazing island in the Caribbean: Martinique.
Overview
Martinique is a small french island in the Caribbean. This island has a unique culture with a mix of french and west-indian influences. The capital is Fort-de-France and the currency is the Euro. The official language is french, but english is also spoken in some cities. Martinique is often called „the Flower Island“, because of the many different types of plants that can be found there. The best time to visit Martinique is in the winter months to spring, as the temperatures are warmer during this period. From June to November, however, the island has a stormy, rainy season, when most hotels are closed. Martinique is a very safe destination to travel to.
Our route on Martinique: 10 days on the island
During our time in Martinique we saw and experienced a lot. I would like to share the highlights of the trip with you below.
Le Diamant
Le Diamant is a town in the south of Martinique. There are many hotels, restaurants and shops there. Directly in front of the town there is a long beach („Plage du Diamant“) with a view of the Diamand Rock. The town got its name from this rock in the ocean, only a few kilometers from the beach.
Monument Cap 110
The Cap 110 memorial consists of 15 white statues. It is a memorial to slavery and brotherhood. Next to the sculptures there are also signs where you can read about the history. Here is a brief summary of the background story: In 1830 an illegal trading ship carrying slaves entered the bay, but the ship sank. It was the last slave ship in the history of Martinique and the memorial is meant to commemorate this event.
Les Anses d’Arlet
A highly recommended town is Les Anses d’Arlet in the southwest. The town is also right on the beach. The colorful houses create a happy atmosphere. In the center of the town there is a small church that you can enter at any time. There are also several accommodation and dining options in the town.
Jungle Expedition
Large parts of Martinique are covered by jungle. There are many hiking opportunities, especially in the interior. There are numerous hiking routes and also waterfalls and small rivers that you can see along the way. If you want a little adventure on this unique tropical island, you should not miss a hike to explore the jungle. By the way, when you drive on the roads through the jungle areas, it can happen that the road leads through a river.
Saint Pierre
Saint Pierre is a small coastal town in the northwest of the island. The town used to be the capital of Martinique. In 1902, however, large parts of Saint Pierre were destroyed by the eruption of the volcano „Montagne Pelée“. Even today, some old remains can be found in the middle of the town. In the „Musée Franck A. Perrret“ museum, you can learn more about the volcano and the finds from the destroyed town. Saint Pierre is an interesting and fateful place where you can find out more about the island’s past.
Jardin de Balata
„Jardin de Balata“ is a botanical garden with around 3000 tropical plants. This attraction is about a 20-minute drive from the capital Fort-de-France. A visit is definitely worth it. In addition to the colorful tropical plants, you can enjoy a great view of the ocean. You can also watch many hummingbirds. There is also a long suspension bridge from which you have a wide view.
Savane des Pétrifications
The „Savane des Pétrifications“ is located in the southeast of the island. This part of Martinique forms a strong contrast to the rest of the island. The landscape here is almost desert-like, with cacti and sandy ground. There are several hiking trails and they offer wonderful views the whole time. The „Pointe des Salines“ (a little further west) is a good starting point for the hike. The further east you go from this point, the more the green, tropical landscape turns into a dry desert scenery.
Grand’Rivière and Plage de Sinai
Grand’Rivière is a small town in the north. There are also some good places to eat, highly recommended is „Le Grill Riverain“, where the food is freshly grilled. WHile eating you can enjoy a beautiful view of the ocean. A few minutes walk from the town there is a beach with black sand. It is one of the most beautiful beaches (and a hidden spot) on the island: „Plage de Sinai“. Surrounded by water, palm trees and black sand you can take some great photos. With a little luck you can also find some coconuts on the beach.
Sainte-Marie
Another recommended town is Sainte-Marie. This town is a larger than Grand’Rivière. A special feature can be found on the beach. Not too far from the coast is the island of Sainte-Marie. At low tide you can walk from the beach to the small island. Alternatively you can also take a boat to the island at high tide.
Rum J.M.
Rum J.M. is a rum factory that has existed since 1790. It is hidden between palm trees and jungle plants, but also has something magical about it. You can book guided tours or visit it yourself. There are also tastings offered and a shop where you can buy different types of rum and souvenirs. It is worth a visit because you can learn a lot about the production of rum and, in connection with this, about the history of Martinique.
Balade de la mangrove
Near the beach „Grande Anse des Salines“ there is a board walk that leads over a small part of the lake „Étang des Salines“. You can discover many different species of animals and you can also learn a lot from the signs. The board walk is not that long either, so you can relax on the beach afterwards.
Habitation Clément
Habitation Clément is a rum distellery and was founded in 1887. All around there are sugar cane plantations and a large park with tropical plants. There are many works of art in the park. You can also enter the manor house and the distillery. Guided tours are offered, but you can also explore everything yourself.
Some more beaches
There are many beautiful beaches in Martinique, but two that I can highly recommend are Anse Dufour and Plage du Diamant. Anse Dufour is a smaller beach in a bay. But it is definitely worth a visit at sunset. The „Plage du Diamant“ beach is larger, but just as impressive. From this beach you have a good view of the Diamond Rock in the ocean.
Map
As a little additional overview, I have made a map with the most beautiful beaches, cities and the best activities on Martinique. Feel free to take a look:
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Thank you for reading this blog post! I wish you a nice day and see you soon!
Zsofia
Alpinia Travel 
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