Balata Botanical Gardens

Owned by a passionate horticulturist, these beautiful and colourful gardens attract tourists like bees to honey! Near Fort-de-France, these gardens feature more than 3,000 species of tropical plants and flowers as well as ponds punctuated with water lilies and lotus blossoms. Walk along the wooden rope bridges where you can get a panoramic view of the beautiful lush gardens while hummingbirds sing sweetly in the fragrant air. So come on down and relax on the benches tucked amid the foliage and admire the beautiful mountain and garden views.

Caravelle Peninsula

Nature lovers, this one is for you! There are many things to see and do at the Caravelle Peninsula in Eastern Martinique. La Caravelle Nature Trail is a one-hour hike through mangrove forest with views over the rugged Eastern coastline. Near the entrance to the hike are the ruins of Dubuc Castle, the former home of the wealthy Dubuc family who owned the peninsula during the 18th century. After the hike, stroll down to Tartane beach for a refreshing swim and even a surf in some of Martinique’s best swells nearby.

Diamond Beach

Take stroll along the 10km stretch of Diamond Rock to unwind and appreciate this natural paradise. Here you can get the best views of Diamond Rock amidst the rough Atlantic waters. Grab your surf board and catch the waves as they roll in, or maybe find a comfortable sport along the 10 km for a nice picnic. Be sure to stop here while in Martinique.

Grand-Riviere

Charming Grand-Riviére is a small fishing village on the northern tip of Martinique. At the waterfront, visitors will find a fish market and a black sandy beach, while to the North; Dominica is visible in the distance. Also stop by the creole restaurants in town and eat the fresh seafood, or even arrange trips such as hiking and water sports.

Habitation Clement

Explore Martinique’s colonial past to learn about the evolution of the creole life in a plantation house between the 18th and 20th century. Grab an audio headset to learn about the tour highlights before being exposed to the rum-making methods. Other antique exhibits and photographs are also on display, including a crank-up telephone, and decades-old photos of the Cléments and Hayots (béké families). Once your tour is completed head over to the gift shop where you can engage in free rum tasting or purchase a souvenir to always remember this trip.

Jardin de Balata

Calling all flora and fauna enthusiast! Witness the natural beauty of Jardin de Balata as you stroll along the pathways to see the beautiful botany found there. The garden was created around Jean-Philippe Thoze’s family home with the distinctive Creole Architecture. The tour lasts an hour and audio guides are provided to help you along the way. Be sure to visit when in Matinique.

La Savane des Esclaves

Located in the heart of La Savane Esclaves sits La Savane Esclaves. This museum displays 15 traditional huts, 18 bilingual panels, a creole garden and a medicinal garden teaching you about the history of slavery in the West Indies. There is also an open land where there is enough space for you and your family to sit and relax after you have visited the many restaurants and bars along the park’s western side.

Musée de la Pagerie

For all you old-time romance lovers, this attraction is definitely for you! A former sugar estate, the Musée de la Pagerie was the birthplace of Marie Joseph Rose Tascher de la Pagerie who would later become Napoleon’s Empress Josephine. Come and visit this quaint stone cottage and see some of Josephine’s personal items including a marriage certificate and love letters from Napoleon. The guides speak both French and English and tells fascinating stories about Josephine’s childhood and her arranged marriage to the famous French Emperor.

Saint-Pierre

With dramatic views of volcanic Mount Pelée, Saint-Pierre is built among the ruins of old Saint-Pierre. The town was once Martinique’s main city and port until Mount Pelée erupted in 1902 killing about 30,000 persons. One can take a tour of the ruins including the survivor’s prison cell, the old theatre, “cachot de Cyparis”, and the ruins of Le Figuier – a group of single story houses. On the hillside above Le Figuier, lies all of the remains salvaged from the old town and harbor and provides a tangible reminder of the tragedy. Visitors can also scuba dive and see the miraculous sea life that swim around all of the boats that sank during the tidal wave that struck minutes after the eruption.

Zoo de Martinique

Why not explore the wonders of Martinique’s Zoo. Here you can see a number of animals including monkeys, parrots, loriquets, tall anteater, raccoons and even more exotic animals such as leopards, a boa constrictor, an enormous anteater, iguanas, jaguars and cougars. Be sure to bring your cameras and get ready to have a nice family evening exploring the zoo together.