The island of Martinique provides a little slice of French sophistication in the crystal-clear Caribbean. Sail into Les Anses-d’Arlet, a charming string of villages framed by lush green hills and some of the island’s best beaches. Soak in the rich history at the Fort Saint-Louis or the Saint-Louis Cathédrale. Pull up a chair and watch the colorful boats bob in the bay as you dine on a delicious blend of French and Creole-inspired cuisine.
The resort town of Les Trois-Îlets sits on Le Diamant Peninsula. With gorgeous views of the capital and the Mont Pelee volcano across the waters of Fort-de-France Bay, this port offers easy access to southern Martinique’s gorgeous beaches. Napoleon Bonaparte’s first wife, Josephine, was born here and her family’s former sugar estate and gardens are now the Pagerie Museum. The museum Maison de la Canne, set in an old distillery, offers insights into the economy of sugar, while the Savannah of Slaves, an open-air museum and park, highlights the human impact.
France’s “Isle of Flowers,” Martinique enticingly combines tropical beauty, distinctive Creole culture and Gallic sophistication. Its mountainous north is volcanic – where gray and black sands separate blue seas from the lush greens of the rainforest – and dominated by Mont Pelée. The towering volcano last exploded in 1902, prompting the move of the capital to the scenic port on Martinique’s deepest natural anchorage.
The yachting capital of Martinique, Le Marin sits at the head of a deep bay and has one of the largest marinas in the Caribbean. At the center of town is one of the area’s few historic sights, the 18th-century stone church of Église Saint-Étienne, whose design suggests an overturned ship’s hull. Businesses in Le Marin are oriented to sailors and yachtsmen, who enjoy the lively ambience in the waterfront bars and clubs. The nearby peninsula of Sainte-Anne is home to the island’s best beaches, the celebrated Grande Anse des Salines among them.
