There are so many amazing things to do in Martinique, that an epic one week road trip on this Caribbean island must be added to your bucket list! Martinique is also known as Madinina, meaning flower island in the local Creole language. The island is home to a wide variety of exotic flowers, lush forests, waterfalls, paradise beaches, mountains and an active volcano.
There are countless places to explore. Therefore, renting a car is the perfect way to travel around the island and creating an itinerary to help planning your road trip will be very useful. Those who love exploring the island’s natural treasures and culture (read: rum), will surely love this travel guide!
WONDERING WHERE TO RELAX AND SWIM IN MARTINIQUE?
DISCOVER THE MOST BEAUTIFUL BEACHES IN MARTINiQUE I EXPLORED MYSELF!
TABLE OF CONTENT
- Best things to do in Martinique, an epic one week road trip itinerary
- DAY 2 – Sea turtles & a distillery
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Best things to do in Martinique, an epic one week road trip itinerary
Depending on the weather, one week might be either too short or just perfect to explore the most amazing things to do in Martinique! Especially the North of the island can be very cloudy and rainy, which is the reason why it is also more lush than the southside of Martinique. If the weather is too rainy, you won’t be able to do all the hikes, since a lot of waterfall hikes lead through rivers. These become too dangerous on rainy days. Because the water level rises and the current becomes too strong. So always check the weather before you decide to go hiking! Rainy season in Martinique is between June and November, but due to climate change also this is tending to change. I was there at the end of April and already experienced a lot of rain.
Also take into account there is no highway on the island. So driving from one place to another easily takes over 30 minutes to an hour. It is recommended to depart before 7 am to avoid traffic, especially if you are staying in the South of the island. People in Martinique start leaving for work really early, so you don’t want to be stuck in traffic and waste precious time!
So let this itinerary be your guide to experience the highlights of the Caribbean island of flowers and you will not regret it! Now let’s see what are the most amazing things to see and do in Martinique!
DAY 1 – A desert hike & the most beautiful beach of Martinique
Savane des Pétrifications, Anse à Prunes, Plage de Grande Anse des Salines
Savane des Pétrifications & Anse à Prunes
After a first good night’s sleep, it is time for your first adventure; hiking to the Savane des Pétrifications! Even though it will be an easy rather flat hike, make sure to pack at least 2 liters of water and a snack. Trust me, you will need it! Drive to the southernmost point of the island. The last part is very bumpy on a sandy, rocky road. So take it easy to not ruin your tires or car and park near the beach of Grand Terre under the trees.
Make sure to take everything you need like your water and food, apply sunscreen (and take it with you to reapply regularly), a towel, your camera, your phone to use the GPS/map and I also advise to wear swimwear under your clothes and sneakers or hiking boots.
Once you are ready it is time to head East! The first part you will walk below the trees. Right before you need to cross the bridge, make sure to take a look at the beach at your right called Anse à Prunes, which is one of the most beautiful beaches I encountered in Martinique! Keep this place in mind for the way back!
Before crossing the bridge, I had to take off my shoes, to wade through the water to be able to reach the bridge. The safest part was the right side of the rocks, since the left side seemed to want to suck my feet and legs into the sand. A lot of people seemed a bit worried at this part. Especially because you could not see the bottom of the water. Everyone was helping each other out.
From there on; no more shade! You will walk a dusty path along cacti, small mangrove trees and a fantastic rough rocky coastline formed by lava. I was grateful for the wind, because it gets smoking hot in the blistering sun! The hike takes about 2 to 3 hours, depending on how many photos you take along the way.
If you want, you can go for a swim at Anse à Prunes, but keep in mind it is a rather secluded beach. So do not venture too far off the coast, because no one is there to save you!
Plage de Grande Anse des Salines
I had lunch after the hike at Délices de la Mer, a nice fish restaurant with a big terrace overlooking Plage de Grande Anse des Salines, one of Martinique’s most beautiful beaches. After lunch you deserve some time off so you can enjoy laying under the palm trees and swim at this gorgeous beach! After all, you are also probably still a bit jetlagged as well!
DAY 2 – Sea turtles & a distillery
Les Anses d’Arlet, Le Diamant, Plantation Trois Rivières
Anses d’Arlet
The second day of your Martinique road trip starts early to drive to les Anses d’Arlet. If you are early enough you are lucky to spot some sea turtles at Anse d’Arlet, but I have read that you will have most chance to see them at Anse Dufour and Anse Noire. So next time I will definitely check those small beaches out and take my snorkeling gear there!
I only explored the colorful fishing village of les Anses d’Arlet. Its adorable tiny church, Creole homes, sandy beach, and pontoon over the azure sea make a really picturesque setting. Also its beach has a very tranquil vibe and is ideal if you want to relax.
Le Diamant
I also wanted to enjoy the beach of Le Diamant. But unfortunately when I was there, the beach was completely covered with sargassum. As a result of climate change, more and more sargassum is washing ashore in Martinique and it is becoming a threat to the sea turtles and us, due to the toxic fumes they produce. So hopefully, when you are there, the beach will be cleared! Because it is one of the most famous and beautiful beaches of Martinique! Another option is to hike to the viewpoint of Morne Larcher. You can start the hike near Villa Madinina on Route de l’Anse Caffard/D37. From the villa to the top is only 1.5 km, but you will have to conquer a height difference of 389 meters, so count at least one hour of hiking.
Plantation Trois Rivières
Another fun thing to do, which is an absolute must when you are in Martinique, is visiting a distillery! Martinique is known for its superb rum, which is recognized all over the world. The majority of the rum produced on the island is Rhum Agricole, which is generated by distilling sugar cane juice. This rum has a stronger aroma. Approximately 100 kilograms of sugar cane must be processed in order to make 10 liters of rum!
In the south of Martinique you can visit Plantation Trois Rivières. It is one of the oldest distilleries of Martinique, founded in 1660. It is called Trois Rivières (meaning three rivers) because its sugar cane fields are bordered by three rivers. La Maison Trois Rivières is especially known for its old and rare vintage rums. The distillery is not active anymore, since the current production of its rum is done at the La Mauny distillery in Rivière Pilote. But you can still visit the old factory with a guide and do a rum tasting!
DAY 3 – Top things to do in Martinique: waterfalls & a botanical garden
Cascade Absalon, Jardin de Balata, Le Saut du Gendarme, Habitation Saint Etienne
Day three of this one week itinerary is full of jungle vibes! Today it is extremely important to make sure to wake up before sunrise so you can skip the early morning traffic lines! (unless you are staying somewhere in the north of Martinique) Why? Because you will need to drive through Fort-de-France to reach the north of Martinique and the locals are early birds. Traffic can already get pretty heavy near the capital around 6 am!
The first time driving the busy winding roads near Fort-de-France can be pretty intense. It goes up and down and there are a lot of exits. You really need to pay attention the whole time to make sure you are driving on the right lane and taking the correct exits, while cars are acting crazy around you (driving behavior in Martinique is also pretty insane at times).
But once you leave the chaos behind and you arrive in the more mountaneous area, it gets really fun! The vegetation becomes very lush and you will get those island vibes back immediately!
Cascade Absalon
First stop of the day is a hidden waterfall called Cascade Absalon, which is located near Jardin de Balata. After you passed the parking lot of the famous botanical garden, you need to take the road on your left and park your car on the side of the road, right after you crossed the bridge. Once I left the car, all I could hear were jungle sounds; the fast flowing river, rain drops of an earlier rain shower dripping on leaves, tropical bird sounds and who knows what other animals…
I knew next to the bridge there should be a stairs that leads to the river and the waterfall. Never did I expect to already spot the waterfall from the stairs! That was easy! It truly is a beautiful place and I loved to have it all to myself the entire time! Which is another reason why I always wake up early; you get to enjoy gems like this with their authentic vibes!
No one to disturb the nature sounds and peace. I could take photos and videos without disruption or annoying someone else. I could just sit there and take it all in as if it was only me and nature in this world. Sometimes that is just the best feeling! But I have to be honest; I was always checking for snakes or matoutous (Antilles pinktoe tarantulas). Because chances are you can encounter them in the jungle of Martinique!
Cascade du Saut du Gendarme
Then it depends on what time it is, what your next stop will be.
Jardin de Balata opens at 9 am and I advise to be there at 8.30 am to make sure to get a parking spot. It is also best to purchase your ticket online in advance to avoid the long waiting line.
If it is still quite early (before 7 am) you can choose to go to le Cascade du Saut du Gendarme first for a swim. This is a 20 min drive from Cascade Absalon.
Le Cascade du Saut du Gendarme is a famous waterfall in Martinique. It is an excellent place to cool yourself in the refreshing water of the waterfall and its pool. To reach the waterfall you need to hike down a stairs that will guide you deeper into the tropical forest. The waterfall is surrounded by hills covered with exotic plants and trees. You will feel as if you entered another world. I swear at a certain moment I thought a dinosaur would pop up!
Jardin de Balata
Jardin de Balata is probably the island’s most famous attraction. Which is why, like I mentioned earlier, I advise to be there early and to get tickets in advance. This is definitely a botanical garden of another level! You will find over 3000 species of tropical plants from all around the world, including hundreds types of palm trees! According to their website the route takes about 1.5 hours, but I walked around for about 2.5 hours taking photos and trying to spot hummingbirds!
Especially the treetop canopy walk is fun to do! But be careful when it has rained, then it becomes very slippery! Also keep in mind only two people at a time are allowed on the bridges for safety reasons and that everyone wants to take photos. The couple in front of me and the guys after me; we were all on the same level. Enjoying our time and taking photos, respecting each other and waiting until the other one was finished. But there was a lady behind the guys pushing and complaing as if she needed to catch a bus or something. So at a certain point, we just told her to move forward. Because we did not want to rush.
If you did not bring your own food, you can have lunch at the restaurant at the entrance of Jardin de Balata, called La Luciole. I loved the food there!
Habitation Saint Etienne
The next stop is another distillery; Habitation Saint Etienne. This was my absolute favorite distillery! When I arrived I met a guy working there, who gave me a map of the property and who kindly took his time to explain the layout of the property. I learned that the distillery was no longer active and that the domain did not only consist of the old factory, but that there was also a cacao plantation and a huge garden. This place was stunning! The old factory with its arched windows still looked so beautiful. The old barrels were thoughtfully placed in the window frames.
I loved walking around and it was the first time I actually saw cacao beans. Now I know where Belgian chocolate is made from! I do advise to spray a lot of insect repellent before visiting the cacao plantation though! It is situated next to a river and it was packed with mosquitoes! In the garden you can also find art installations and various Strangler Fig Trees! There is also a shop where you can buy rum, chocolate and other souvenirs.
DAY 4 – A paradise beach, a hike through the mangroves & a huge distillery
Anse Michel, Boucle du Vauclin – Trou Cochon, Habitation Clément
Anse Michel
Let’s start this new day of a fantastic week in Martinique with exploring one of Martiniques most beautiful beaches; Anse Michel. Wake up before sunrise and drive again to the southernmost point of the island, but instead of going all the way south to Plage des Salines, drive east direction Anse Michel / Cap Chevalier. Park the car at the big parking lot near the path leading to the beach (northeast of the parking lot). This will save you time.
The hike to the beach begins with a wooden boardwalk crossing a dark damp sand region densely packed with tiny small sand fiddler crabs racing around like mad, characterized by their one large claw and one normal. It was rather funny to see all of these small crabs crawling about and attempting to hide in the sand.
Once you arrive at the more densely forested part, there is a ridiculous amount of red crabs fleeing and hiding. Occasionally they froze, holding only one leaf over their heads, as if that way I couldn’t see them anymore. Which made me laugh so hard, because it nearly looked like human behavior! So the least you can say is that the trek to the beach was a lot of fun!
After passing the very impressive strangler fig tree you finally can take the stairs down to the beach. There the sight of a real paradise beach with large graceful palm trees, white sand, and a shimmering turquoise blue sea greets you immediately.
Sadly, I also saw a pile of sargassum that had been taken from the shore. So this horrible algae has impacted this beach as well. But don’t let it deter you from visiting Anse Michel! Because it is such a lovely sight to behold! And who knows, perhaps there won’t even be a sargassum issue when you are there! It is a great place to have all to yourself!
Boucle du Vauclin
After enjoying the early morning light it is time to continue. Drive to Le Vauclin and park your car near UCPA Le Vauclin. The hike Boucle du Vauclin officially starts at its parking lot. This hike is best done counterclockwise. The first part before arriving at Trou Cochon is more tough and longer in this direction. You will pass several beaches, a small fishing village, mangrove forests… There are several climbs and descents to be done before arriving at this magical mangrove situated in a bay with crystal clear turquoise water called Trou Cochon. Swimming here is pure bliss and the perfect reward after hiking in the hot temperatures! It was one of my favorite things to do in Martinique!
Remember that mangrove ecosystems are quite delicate, so please treat the area with care. Be quiet, pick up after yourself, and watch your step. I also recommend arriving early to beat the crowds! So you may experience the actual atmosphere of this area. From Trou Cochon back to the parking lot it only takes a flat hike of 2.8km.
But if you are not into hiking, you can start the hike from the other direction (clockwise) and park your car somewhere near the T-junction of Anse Simon and Petite Grenade, where the path to Trou Cochon starts and return the same way.
After the hike I drove to the center of Le Vauclin to have lunch at Chez Marie-Alice, a small family run restaurant with local food and extremely friendly owners.
Habitation Clément
In the afternoon you can visit the island’s most famous distillery; Habitation Clément. Habitation Clément is a 160-hectare agricultural estate nestled in the municipality of Le François. Visiting this place is quite an experience. Since the estate is quite big they introduced an app to help you guide around the domain.
Its landscaped garden decorated with contemporary sculptures is the first thing you explore. After that you will discover the old distillery, now serving as a rum interpretation center to show how rum is produced, and the 18th century Creole mansion, which is absolutely beautiful! Although rum is no longer distilled at this site, it still goes through the ageing phase here. The sight of hundreds of barrels stacked on top of each other is pretty impressive. I wish I could share the scent with you as well! So good! There is also a modern art center you can visit with art pieces of local artists. All of this is surrounded by massive sugar cane fields.
DAY 5 – More amazing things to do in Martinique: hidden waterfalls
Anse Couleuvre, Cascade des Rois, Cascade Ancien Jardin Botanique
Those who followed my Martinique adventures via Instagram, know that I was very unfortunate with the weather. Resulting in me not being able all the waterfall hikes I had planned to do. Still I want to mention some of them in this blog post.
Anse Couleuvre
The most famous waterfall of Martinique is probably Anse Couleuvre all the way in the north of Martinique. You guessed it; you need to wake up really early to get here, since it is quite a long drive to get here and it is a very popular hike. So if you want to beat both traffic and the crowds; leave at 5.00 am when staying in the south! The last part of the road to the parking lot is quite steep and winding so be careful driving here! The hike of about 4 km is quite easy and takes about 2 hours, round trip. Make sure to wear comfortable shoes. At the end of the hike you will encounter the 120 m high waterfall.
The next two other waterfalls are hidden gems and unoffical hikes. I do not recommend doing them on your own, since this can be quite dangerous. (I was not planning doing them on my own either, contacting locals to join me) Hiking in Martinique is quite different from hiking in, let’s say, Europe. This is raw jungle and there are certain species you have to take into account like venomous snakes. Also the hikes to these waterfalls lead through rivers and often it is not always easy to climb over rocks by yourself, especially when you are not used to it.
Cascade des Rois
The first one is Cascade des Rois. This hike starts near the Depaz distillery, where you need to park the car on the side of the road at a bridge (location pinned on map). Next to the bridge should be the start of the path. Once you reached the river, you need to follow it upstream. Once you reach the intersection of two rivers, you will see a bridge at your left side. Do not walk below the bridge, but follow the river to the right. A little bit further you will find the waterfall! Count 2 hours round trip.
Cascade Ancien Jardin Botanique
Another gorgeous off the beaten track waterfall is the Cascade Ancien Jardin Botanique. It is perfectly combinable with the previous one, since it is not that far from each other. I also pinned the starting point on the map above. Also this time you need to park near a bridge. Then take the maintained path that runs along the river. This trail takes you to cultivated land. At the end of the path, you must cross the Rivière du Jardin des Plantes, to walk along the other side of the bank.
After a while you will have to continue in the bed of the river. When you arrive at an intersection with a large wall of vegetation and coconut tree trunk, you need to turn left of this wall to follow the Fond Sablon ravine. This part is pretty wild and you wil have to climb over rocks. After a few minutes you will finally see the waterfall in the distance!
DAY 6 – Exploring a volcano & waterfall & a mysterious sand tongue
Cascade Misorée, Le tombolo de Sainte-Marie
Cascade Misorée
Another unofficlal hike leads to Cascade Misorée. But it is getting more popular by the day. This waterfall is situated on Montagne Pelée, Martinique’s active volcano. To start this hike you need to park the car on the parking lot near Restaurant Le Refuge De L’aileron. After parking go down the road for about ten meters and go around the construction on your left to find the beginning of the trail (it is actually the path used to reach the water capture of Morne Rouge). Follow the trail and cross the wooden bridges.
You will bump into a large wooden ladder leading to a small dry ravine. Descend this ravine wit the help of a rope. After about 30 minutes you will reach a river on your left. Then continue for another half hour until your reach another river on your left. This one is the Falaise river. You need to follow it upstream for about 10 minutes until you reach the picturesque waterfall.
There are a lot of other official hiking trails at Montagne Pelée if you would like to combine this hike with another one.
Le Tombolo de Sainte-Marie
One of the island’s most magical and mysterious places that you absolutely need to add to your road trip itinerary is Îlet Sainte-Marie. Or better said; when the island turns into Le Tombolo de Sainte-Marie from January to May, when a thin sandbar rises from the sea, linking the island to Martinique’s mainland. According to folklore Manman Dlo, a Creole version a mermaid, is believed to visit this location often. The legend’s aim is to warn you to cross with caution. During the early and late tombolo periods, the currents can be severe and the footing can be like quicksand. Next time I definitely want to visit here! Kalash, a rapper from Martinique even wrote a song about it! Check the music video here with images of the tombolo!
DAY 7 – A last relaxing day of your one week Martinique road trip
Sainte-Luce, Anse Mar-ti
After a whole week of road tripping and exploring all the best things to do in Martinique, you deserve some relaxing! The second part of my trip I stayed near Sainte-Luce in a hotel that was situated along the path that leads from Sainte Luce to Trois Rivières, linking several smaller beaches. So I enjoyed a nice coastal walk from the hotel to the center of Sainte-Luce. Sainte-Luce is a small town with not that much to see, but I loved the street by the sea with all the fish restaurants called Boulevard Kennedy. It was the perfect place to have lunch.
There was also a nice tranquil beach called Anse Mar-Ti. I loved the relaxed vibe and there are a few small restaurants and bars along its shore, where you can relax under the palm trees. There is also a cute swing I could not resist of course!
More things to do in Martinique
- Black sand beaches in the north like Anse Couleuvre, Anse Lévrier and Anse Ceron
- Presqu’île de la Caravelle: nature reserve of more than 400 hectares containing everything Martinique has to offer like banana plantations, dry forest, tropical forest, mangroves, cliffs and sheltered beaches
- Distillery Depaz: from March to June, you can watch the machines in operation and see rum being made
- Fort-de-France: the island’s capital
- Les Gorges de la Falaise: a guided hike to a waterfall which requires climbing, sliding and jumping. A waterproof camera or a GoPro are more than recommended!
- Banana Museum: a museum where you will learn everything about the banana! Because it does not only get eaten, it also produces alcohol, medicines, paper, rope, string, various handicrafts, umbrellas, organic plates, soap and glue!
- Guided Panoramic Shore-Excursion Tour; you will visit a traditional distillery, explore the historical ruins of Saint Pierre; the Pompeii of the Caribbean and see the famous imitation Church of Balata.
Plan your Martinique road trip
Rent a car
I booked a car via Sunny Cars to explore the island’s meandering roads and lush jungle, since they are really transparent and affordable. Everything you need is already included in the price, including third-party insurance worth at least €7.5 million, damage insurance, theft insurance, damage to glass, tires, floor, or roof, as well as towing and vandalism. There is also unlimited miles included. There will be no more haggling at the counter about additional insurances because everything has already been settled. Unlike many other rental vehicle businesses, which frequently try to charge you extra fees.
I advise to rent a small car, since the roads can be narrow with a lot of turns. Also parking alongside the road will be a lot easier with a smaller car. I drove a manual because I am already used to drive in the mountains, but if you are not comfortable driving steep roads, take an automatic.
Book a hotel
I stayed in two hotels. The first one I absolutely loved; Le Panoramic is situated in Les Trois-Îlets near the beach of Anse à l’Ane. The rooms are studios with a seating area, a bathroom, kitchen and terrace. There is a nice swimming pool and they offer breakfast, which you can eat in your room. The room gets cleaned every other day. The hotel is situated on top of a hill offering great views and is only 300 m away from the town center, where you can find a small supermarket to get food, in case you want to cook dinner yourself, and the beach. In town there are also a few restaurants. The staff working here was extremely friendly and helpful.
The second hotel I stayed at was Village Pierre & Vacances Sainte Luce. Which was less my cup of tea, but when I booked this trip, it was one of the few affordable hotels left that was still available (traveling solo is more expensive). It is the perfect place for families since it is a big resort including giant swimming pool, animation team and restaurants on site etc (you get the picture).
The room was spacious and I loved the outside kitchen! But I really disliked that cleaning was not included and linnen not changed if you are not staying a minimum of 7 nights. I even needed to take my own trash out. Luckily I travel solo, so I had a lot of towels. I can’t imagine staying here with kids entering the room after a day at the beach, all sandy… knowing that the room will never get cleaned. The area was nice though! Close to Sainte-Luce and the supermarket was a short beach walk away.
Find more amazing hotels in Martinique to plan your road trip here!
Learn more about the things to do in Martinique
- Your Ultimate Guide to Martinique
- Martinique: Discover the gorgeous Caribbean “Flower island” with a French touch!
What to pack?
I always made sure to bring this with me in the car or in my backpack:
Watch my road trip adventures in Martinique on YouTube!
Pin this one week road trip itinerary with all the best things to do in Martinique for later!
So that is it! I hope you enjoyed this “Best things to do in Martinique, an epic one week road trip itinerary” blog post and that it will help to plan your own trip! I really tried to cover everything you need to know. Do not hesitate to leave your comments or questions down below! That way I can add more information if necessary!
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