Things to do in Martinique

Trek through fern-filled rainforest to the caldera of this still-active volcano, where you can peer into its steaming vents and enjoy sweeping views of both the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

Spread your towel on Martinique’s most iconic palm‑fringed stretch of white sand, where the turquoise water stays shallow and calm enough for a long, lazy swim.

Enter a tiny, sheltered cove where green turtles and colourful reef fish glide right up to the shore, making it an effortless snorkelling spot for all ages.

Peruse thousands of tropical plants and flowers in a hillside garden laced with rope bridges that dangle high above the treetops, offering a bird’s‑eye view of exotic blooms and hummingbirds.

Walk amid sugar‑cane fields on the slopes of Mount Pelée and learn how volcanic‑enriched soil produces the estate’s full‑bodied rum, then taste the velvety results in the ageing cellars.

Roam the tragic town that was wiped out in 1902 by the Mount Pelée eruption; see the theatre steps, the prison cell of lone survivor Cyparis, and the Volcanological Museum that tells the story.

Step inside a still‑active French naval base that guards the bay of Fort‑de‑France; a guided tour reveals ramparts, cannons, and panoramic harbour views you can only get from the fort.

Get lost in the colourful aisles of the covered market, inhaling the aromas of spices, vanilla, and tropical fruit while hunting for madras fabrics and local hot‑sauce souvenirs.

Descend around a dramatic volcanic rock that rises sheer from the sea; the submerged walls team with barracuda, turtles, and corals, making it one of the Caribbean’s most spectacular dives.

Follow a short canyon trail that squeezes between moss‑covered walls, then plunge into emerald‑green pools fed by waterfalls – a cool, hidden reward deep in the rainforest.

Jump, slide, and abseil down a succession of waterfalls in a river canyon carved out of the lush Pitons du Carbet foothills, guided by experts who provide all the gear.

Walk an easy interpretive loop through a tropical garden and nature reserve where dozens of hummingbird species zip between the flowers, and learn about the island’s endemic flora.

Wander a re‑created Creole village and the former plantation grounds, where traditional huts, gardens, and exhibits tell the story of enslaved Africans and their descendants.

Sink your feet into the black sand of Le Carbet while tasting spicy accras, grilled lobster, and inventive rum cocktails from celebrated chef Guy Ferdinand at his beachfront shack.

Tour the stone‑built Pagerie museum, the childhood home of Napoleon’s first wife, set in a former sugar estate with period furniture, love letters, and a lush tropical garden.

Follow this cliff‑hugging route past windswept savannah, hidden coves, and dramatic rock formations along the wild south‑east coast, with waves crashing at your feet.

Pull up a stool at this tiny, atmospheric bar where you can sample dozens of rare rums from the French West Indies, accompanied by expert advice and Creole‑inspired tapas.

Glide silently into a maze of mangroves and tiny islets, including Ilet Chancel with its colony of shy iguanas and the ruins of an old sugar plantation, all reachable only by kayak.

Roam a beautifully preserved 18th‑century rum distillery, then wander the estate’s contemporary sculpture park where artworks are set among formal gardens and ancient ceiba trees.

Drive to the end of the road near Le Prêcheur for a wild, dark‑sand beach framed by soaring cliffs, where the only soundtrack is the roll of the surf and the rustle of coconut palms.

Grab a board and join local surfers at this consistent reef break on the Caravelle Peninsula, where the Atlantic swell delivers fun waves for all levels against a backdrop of rugged cliffs.

Duck into a 19th‑century townhouse in the capital to see Creole costumes, mahogany furniture, and old photographs that reveal the island’s social history and cultural roots.

Enter a cave perched above the crashing waves that houses a statue of the Virgin Mary amid stalactites and natural light openings, with a viewing platform overlooking the northeast coast.

Launch from a long, sandy beach into a vast, waist‑deep lagoon where steady trade winds make it one of the best spots in the Caribbean for beginners and freestyle kitesurfing.

Visit a small‑batch chocolate workshop in the hills of Morne‑Vert to see how local cocoa is transformed into silky dark bars and sip a cup of freshly made cocoa tea.