Known as the “island of flowers,” Martinique offers travelers an experience like none other in the Caribbean. An overseas department of France in the Lesser Antilles, the island is famous for its colorful flora, lush mountains, tropical forests, and stunning coastline—but what really sets it apart from its neighbors is the distinct mix of Creole and French cultures that can be felt everywhere from the warmth of its people to its cuisine, music, and monuments.
Spend a day or two exploring Fort-de-France, Martinique’s capital city, home to the Grand Marché, a vibrant, friendly market in the heart of town. Here, you’ll find rows of fragrant spices, medicinal herbs, exotic fruit, and local crafts such as wooden bowls, fruity homemade liqueurs, and traditional straw hats known as bakoua.
From the Grand Marché, it’s a short walk to some of Fort-de-France’s most impressive cultural landmarks: the exquisite 19th-century Schoelcher Library, the seaside fortress Fort Saint-Louis, and the imposing Saint-Louis Cathedral. Another essential stop is the Aimé Césaire Museum, set up in the former office of the celebrated Martinican poet, playwright, and politician.
If you visit during the summer, you might catch a festival dedicated to bèlè, a traditional dance of Martinique, or the Biguine Jazz Festival, a showcase for some of the world’s brightest talents in Creole jazz. And from January to March, the island’s African heritage is on full display during the parties and parades of Carnival, in which the streets come alive with costumes, masks, music, and dancing.
About an hour south of Fort-de-France is La Savane des Esclaves, an open-air museum dedicated to the history of Martinique, winner of a 2018 Travelers’ Choice award from TripAdvisor. Located in a sprawling park in Trois-Ilets, the site features reconstructed indigenous and Creole villages, Creole and medicinal gardens, and profoundly moving exhibits detailing what life was like on the island during and after the slavery era.
No visit to southern Martinique would be complete without seeing the spectacular Diamond Rock, a 574-foot-high basalt island off the shore of the Grande Anse du Diamant, an idyllic sandy beach that extends nearly two miles long. Opposite Diamond Rock, the Anse Cafard Slave Memorial is made up of twenty colossal white statues commemorating the slave ship that sank there in 1830.
Head up north to admire the island’s other famous natural landmark: Mount Pelée, an active volcano with an elevation of more than 4,500 feet. The nearby city of Saint-Pierre, formerly Martinique’s commercial centre, was destroyed when Mount Pelée erupted in 1902; although it was partially rebuilt, many fascinating ruins remain, including those of an eighteenth-century theater.
Another highlight of the north—and one that also boasts a breathtaking view of Mount Pelée—is the 60-acre nature park Domaine d’Emeraude, a must-visit if you’re looking to immerse yourself in Martinique’s exceptional biodiversity. Take a leisurely stroll along more than two miles of footpaths in the landscaped forest, home to over 100 indigenous species, then check out the interactive exhibits at the pavilion to learn about Martinique’s natural history.
As you make your way around the island, you may wish to follow La Route des Grands Rhums to one or more of the eleven rum distilleries, the only ones in the world to have been awarded the prestigious AOC (appellation d’origine contrôlée), the same designation that recognizes certain exceptional wines of France. The results of the unique rhum agricole production method range from white rum—excellent in a Ti-Punch cocktail, a national favorite that mixes the spirit with sugar cane syrup and lime juice—to aged dark rum, comparable to a fine cognac and best enjoyed neat.
At each distillery, you can tour the facilities, sample the goods, and stroll the beautiful grounds. A few highlights along a north-to-south itinerary include the exceptional aged rum at Distillerie J.M, the spectacular gardens at Habitation Saint-Étienne, and the cultural exhibits at Habitation Clément.
And of course, all over the island you’ll have the opportunity to sample Martinique’s distinctive cuisine, which draws on African, Indian, and French traditions. Experience the famous mix of warm hospitality and French savoir-faire as you indulge in Creole specialties, fresh seafood, spicy curries, baguette sandwiches, artisanal sorbets and ice creams. For an authentic Martinican experience, order a plate of accras—crispy, tender codfish fritters—and a Ti-Punch cocktail.
No matter where your journey takes you on this French Caribbean island, you’ll discover why Martinique, c’est magnifique!
No matter where your journey takes you on this French Caribbean island, you’ll discover why Martinique, c’est magnifique!
Travel to Martinique on a direct or connecting flight departing from Miami or Montreal.
