Saint-Pierre and the North Caribbean Coast Tour
A small-group half-day drive up the Caribbean coast to Saint-Pierre, the town Mount Pelée destroyed in 1902, with a waterfall stop and a black-sand beach swim on the way.
France
Martinique
Martinique is the French Caribbean at its most varied: a green, mountainous island where a volcano, rum estates, rainforest gardens and white-sand beaches sit within a couple of hours of one another.
The capital Fort-de-France wraps around a busy bay, Mount Pelée rises 1,397 metres in the north above the ruins of Saint-Pierre, and the south holds Les Salines, Diamond Rock and the turtle bays of Les Anses d'Arlet. On the Atlantic side, Habitation Clément pairs rum with gardens and art, and the Baignoire de Joséphine is a turquoise shallow you reach by boat. This guide picks the best of it: a Saint-Pierre tour, tickets for Jardin de Balata and Habitation Clément, a southern tour, a catamaran snorkel day, the Baignoire boat day, a full-day sail and a dolphin outing, plus the free hikes, reserves and rum estates worth your time. It is built for cruise-port days as much as for longer stays, then matches you with a hotel, from a boutique suite hotel on the Caravelle peninsula to beachfront resorts at Les Trois-Îlets and Sainte-Luce.
Don't miss
Saint-Pierre and the North Caribbean Coast Tour
A small-group half-day drive up the Caribbean coast to Saint-Pierre, the town Mount Pelée destroyed in 1902, with a waterfall stop and a black-sand beach swim on the way.
Jardin de Balata
A flower-filled botanical garden in the hills above Fort-de-France, with palms, ginger, hummingbirds and a short walkway through the canopy.
La Baignoire de Joséphine and Fonds Blancs Boat Day
A full-day boat trip from Le François to the shallow white-sand pools of the Atlantic coast, with a swim at the Baignoire de Joséphine and a Creole lunch on board.
Habitation Clément
A restored plantation house, botanical garden, contemporary art space and century-old rum distillery in Le François, the island's best-known rum visit.
Things to do in Martinique
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Mount Pelée Hike
Martinique's volcano, 1,397 metres high, with the classic L'Aileron trail to the summit and the caldera. A big, rewarding walk if the cloud holds off.
3 to 5.5 hoursDetails →
Jardin de Balata
A flower-filled botanical garden in the hills above Fort-de-France, with palms, ginger, hummingbirds and a short walkway through the canopy.
Habitation Clément
A restored plantation house, botanical garden, contemporary art space and century-old rum distillery in Le François, the island's best-known rum visit.
FreeGrande Anse des Salines
Martinique's best-known beach: fine white sand, coconut palms and calm blue water, about five kilometres south of Sainte-Anne.
Half a dayDetails →
Southern Martinique Tour: Diamond Rock and Les Anses d'Arlet
A half-day small-group drive through the south with a viewpoint on Diamond Rock, a memorial, a spice shop and time in the fishing village of Les Anses d'Arlet.
Catamaran Snorkel Day from Grande Anse d'Arlet
A small-group full-day catamaran trip along the south-west coast to snorkel coral reefs and look for sea turtles, with optional diving extras.
La Baignoire de Joséphine and Fonds Blancs Boat Day
A full-day boat trip from Le François to the shallow white-sand pools of the Atlantic coast, with a swim at the Baignoire de Joséphine and a Creole lunch on board.
Fort-de-France: Cathedral, Library and Market
Martinique's capital, a walkable harbour town with a cathedral, the Schoelcher Library, a covered market and a fort, and a beach within walking distance of the cruise port.
2 to 4 hoursDetails →
Sailing Discovery Day Tour
A full-day sailing trip around Martinique's coast, among the island's highest-rated excursions, with free cancellation and an English-speaking crew.
La Caravelle Nature Reserve
A protected peninsula on the Atlantic coast with dry forest, mangroves, sheltered coves and walking loops, the island's wildest easy-to-reach landscape.
Half a dayDetails →
Savane des Pétrifications
A strange, arid stretch of the south-east coast where rocks look frozen in time, reached on a walk from Anse à Prune beach.
1.5 to 3 hoursDetails →
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Hotel French Coco
Tartane, Caravelle Peninsula
A small suite-only boutique hotel on the Caravelle peninsula near Tartane, with a pool, a short walk to a sandy beach and free breakfast. Martinique's quiet, high-end hideaway.
Check rates →Simon Hotel
Central Fort-de-France
A 95-room 4-star hotel in central Fort-de-France, a short walk from the Savane park and the cruise terminal, with bay-view rooms and three restaurants.
Check rates →Hotel La Pagerie
Pointe du Bout, Les Trois-Îlets
A 97-room 4-star hotel at the Pointe du Bout marina in Les Trois-Îlets, with a swim-up pool bar, a short walk to the beach and a golf course next door.
Check rates →Diamant les Bains Résidence Hôtelière
Le Diamant, South Coast
A 4-star aparthotel in Le Diamant with studios and beach bungalows that sleep four, an outdoor pool and a short walk to Diamond Beach.
Check rates →Karibea Sainte Luce Hotel
Sainte-Luce, South Coast
A 284-room 3-star resort hotel on the south coast with three pools, a children's pool, a spa and a tennis court. The budget-friendly family pick.
Check rates →Hotel Bakoua
Pointe du Bout, Les Trois-Îlets
A 138-room 4-star beachfront resort at Pointe du Bout in Les Trois-Îlets, with a pool, two restaurants, a beach bar, tennis and a golf course next door.
Check rates →Pierre & Vacances Premium Les Ilets
Gros Raisins, Sainte-Luce
A 72-unit beachfront family hotel in Sainte-Luce with studios and apartments, two pools, a spa, tennis and a children's playground.
Check rates →Martinique guides
First-Timer's Guide to Martinique: What to Book, How to Get Around and How Many Days
What to reserve ahead in Martinique, how to get around, how many days you need and how the volcano, rum, beaches and boat trips fit together.
Where to Stay in Martinique: Fort-de-France, Les Trois-Îlets, the South and the Atlantic Coast
Compare the main places to stay in Martinique, from Fort-de-France and Les Trois-Îlets to Le Diamant, Sainte-Luce and the Caravelle peninsula, matched to seven hotels.
Martinique in Three Days: A Simple Itinerary for the North, the South and the Capital
A three-day plan for Martinique that balances Fort-de-France, Saint-Pierre and Mount Pelée, and the beaches and viewpoints of the south, with notes on getting around.
Eating and Drinking in Martinique: Creole Dishes, Rhum Agricole and Where to Taste Them
A guide to Martinique's food and drink: Creole classics, market stops, rhum agricole and ti' punch, and the distilleries and beaches where you can enjoy them.
Best Time to Visit Martinique: Seasons, Weather, Carnival and the Rum Harvest
When to go to Martinique: the dry and wet seasons, hurricane season, Carnival, the rum harvest and how the time of year affects hiking, beaches and boat trips.
Hiking and Nature in Martinique: Volcano Trails, Coastal Walks and Viewpoints
A guide to the best hikes in Martinique, from Mount Pelée and the Caravelle peninsula to Morne Larcher and the Savane des Pétrifications, with tips on timing and safety.
