sales guide martinique

The essentials
1/ What is the best season to go to
Martinique ?
Martinique is known as the island of « eternal summer. »
It is blessed with mild temperatures all year long. Even
the sea water is constantly mild, staying between 75
to 85 degrees. The famous « rainy season,» from June
to November, has nothing in common with the Asian
monsoons. You just have to wait for the brief heavy
showers to pass. Hikers during the rainy season may
want to take a guide with them, as some of the trails in
the north can become slippery. Those who love sailing,
or other water spots that require wind or waves, prefer
to come to Martinique from mid-December to June,
simply because it’s breezier then. You may have your
own favorite time for visiting, but there is never a bad
time to be in Martinique.
old. » Actually, there are two ways of experiencing
Martinique: One is to stay cosseted within the
island’s ample tourist infrastructure—luxurious hotels,
restaurants, golf clubs, yacht clubs—never venturing
out except on the rare group excursion. The other way
is to leave all that behind and really explore the island,
with its charming fishing villages perched on the green
hills that dot the island, or its northern mountains
crisscrossed with gorges, streams and waterfalls, or
the banana fields stretching along the coast.
5/ What are the major areas of interest to
tourists ?
Hikers love to go everywhere in Martinique. The same
is true for those interested in history and culture. But
visitors interested in swimming and other water sports
generally head for the southern Caribbean coast. Most
of the resorts are there, near the island’s most beautiful
beaches. Here are the major swimming destinations:
- Les Trois-Ilets and Pointe du Bout
- Le Diamant and Sainte-Luce
- Sainte-Anne and Le Marin.
- Trinité and Tartane (an exception to the rule,
located on the Caravelle Peninsula, farther north
on the Atlantic coast)
6/ Is it preferable to rent a car ?
2/ Where are the most beautiful
beaches ?
If you love idyllic beaches, you will be very happy in
the southern part of the island. The entire southern
coast is dotted with one sublime beach after another.
The southeast coast is protected by barriers of coral
reefs, so it has calm gentle waters worthy of the most
secluded lagoon. In the north, you can enjoy the blacksand
beaches of Anse Turin, near Le Carbet, and
especially Anse Couleuvre, near Prêcheur.
If you really want to strike out on your own to explore
the island, a car is a must. And it’s also a pleasure,
given that the roads in Martinique are safe and wellmaintained.
Those who can’t or won’t drive can always
hire a professional guide.
7/ Is there a varied selection of
accommodations ?
Lodging in Martinique is diverse, from Deluxe Relais et
Chateaux to quaint affordable B&B.
On the southern coast and in Tartane, there are hotels
of classic good quality, usually two- or three-star
properties, as well as the occasional four-star.
3/ Is the landscape a varied one ?
In fact, one of the principal assets of Martinique is
the amazing diversity of its landscape. Don’t think
that Martinique is only about sand and surf. The wild,
mountainous north is as much worth a visit as any
of the island’s beaches. Swathed in thick, verdant
vegetation, the northern interior is capped by the
towering peaks of Mount Pelée ( 4,483 feet) and the
Pitons du Carbet. This stunning alpine landscape has
been classified as a « regional natural park , » and it’s
a veritable paradise for hikers, nature lovers and those
who simply love beauty...
4/ Is Martinique a true escape, a real
change of scenery ?
The exuberant vegetation and sunshine suffice to
make Martinique an escape from the « same old, same
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