Martinique Travel Guide

Located in the eastern part of the Caribbean Sea, Martinique is an overseas French country who has wonderfully mixed exotic with the chic. With a neighboring country like Trinidad and Tobago and Puerto Rico, Martinique is more than just a pretty girl's name. Most remarkably, it is a pretty country's name.

Peak season is during december to april and the prices for accommodation usually soar up. If want to visit at a time when temperature is still pleasant but will not leave your pockets empty, then plan your vacation during may and june. Climate for the said period is still dry with a bit of humidity and the prices are still at very much affordable.

Martinique has three major cities. First is La Trinite City which stretches out to the Caravelle peninsula. Second is Fort de France which is the country's business center and administrative capital. Third is the city of Saint Pierre which is often referred to as the 'Paris of the Lesser Antilles' (meaning 'Breezy Islands'). Saint Pierre is famously known for the volcanic eruption of Mont Pelée in 1902 where more than 30,000 inhabitants were unfortunately killed.

To start your tour of Martinique, you can start up north, where you can visit Case Pilote which is a 17th century Jesuit church in rococo style, Le Carbet where you see the Gauguin Museum and the Bally distillery in the outskirts of the town and Bellefontaine which is a quaint fishing village hanging onto the cliff's edge. The village of Morne Vert also provides a splendid view of the Carbet and Mont Pelée, while Le Marigot is a charming village which faces the sea and is built like an amphitheater that is bursting with flowers.

At the heart of Fort de France, there are a lot of tourist attractions grouped with the city's La Savane (Savannah) - a pure five hectare green haven overflowing with marvelous tropical plants. There is La Baie de Fort de France which is touted as one of the most beautiful bays in the world and La Cathedrale Saint Louis with a Roman style bell tower. If that is not enough, you can make a quick stop at the Schoelcher Library, the Floral Park which has a botanical and geological gallery and of course, you can discover Fort de France by spending time in the fruit and vegetable market and fish market.

The south of Martinique can keep you equally busy with a lot of bewitching fishing villages coupled with unspoiled beaches. These are Les Anses d'Arlet, Sainte Luce, Le Robert and Le Vauclin. There are also agricultural villages of Riviere Pilote, Le Francois and Le Saint Esprit.

Despite all these mentioned, take note that you also have the option to join promotional tours provided by many travel agencies in the country. You can take the classic routes of Botanical Region of the North, Seaquarium, "The Great South" and White Sandy Sea Beds. If you prefer the road less traveled but filled with still jam packed with adventures, try the Cross Country Cycling Circuits, Four Wheel Drive Adventures, Guided Tour of Fort de France and Sailing, Hiking, Canoeing (Basalt) tour.

In Martinique, you have a couple of options on where you can stay. You can have your pick of reserving at large resorts, staying at more affordable country guesthouses or even renting private villas for your utmost privacy.