The island of Martinique is part of the Lesser Antilles. Its coasts are bathed in the East by the Atlantic Ocean and in the West by the Caribbean Sea. It is 440 km from the South American coast. The volcanic massifs, in particular that of the Pelee Mountain which points to 1400 meters occupy a large part of the territory, leaving some plains near the coasts. The coastline consists of alternating cliffs and beaches, some surrounded by coral reefs.

The climate is tropical with temperatures always above 20° and two seasons: summer, wet summer and winter drier. The east coast, exposed to winds, records more abundant precipitations than the west coast, sheltered by mountains. Leeward is Fort-de-France, the administrative capital. Take a tour of the Schoelcher Library, a listed historical monument with its original and beautifully decorated colonial architecture. If you want to understand the origins of the settlement of Martinique, visit the Museum of History and Ethnography as well as the Museum of Pre-Columbian Archaeology which traces the history of the Arawak peoples and Amerindians in the Caribbean. To discover the products of the land or the sea, nothing beats a tour in the early morning to see the lively fish market. Other stalls are devoted to vegetables and spices. To see: Fort Saint Louis (17th) built to stand up to the English. Plan an excursion to the gardens of Balata to marvel at thousands of species, shapes and colours of flowers, trees and tropical plants. To the south, from Fort de France, in the commune of Trois-Ilets, is the Pagerie estate where Empress Josephine spent her childhood. It was a cocoa, cotton and sugar cane farm. Of the estate, damaged by a cyclone in the 18th century, only the restored kitchens and a museum dedicated to the memory of the empress remain. Further on, the diamond rock is a wild islet of volcanic origin that seems to have been carved like a precious stone. It is an ideal protected area for scuba divers. From the beach, the spectacle of this rock on the water is splendid. Continuing north along the coast is Carbet Beach, where Christopher Columbus landed in 1502. Today it is a small friendly fishing port. A visit to Saint-Pierre, a city of art and history, is a must. At the beginning of the 20th century, this commune was the economic and cultural capital of the island until the eruption of Mount Pelée in 1902 destroyed it in large part. One can see the old theatre, the ruins of the church of the Fort and some facades still standing in the districts of the city centre. In Prêcheur, you can visit an old sugar factory called habitation Céron (17th). It preserves ruins of the huts where the slaves stood, and production buildings (mill). The north coast of the island as far as Macouba is wild and beautiful. To get there, take the tourist road of the Trace drawn by the Jesuits to bypass the peaks of the carbet. It is an ideal route to cross the tropical forest. To the north-east of the island, you can visit the Leyritz Plantation with its old buildings. On the east coast, exposed to the winds, the ruins of the Dubuc castle (18th century) on the Caravelle peninsula dominate the bay and offer a magnificent panorama at the same time as a pleasant walk in this former coffee and sugar cane farm. Nearby, visit the Mangrove of Galion Bay and its mangroves. Another old farm transformed into a museum is in François, on the east coast: the habitation Clément (18th) and its park. Apart from all these natural and historical heritage, Martinique has very beautiful sandy beaches to discover. At the end of the day, walk along the west facing ones to admire the sunsets, spraying yourself with mosquito repellents beforehand!

The island is sometimes subjected at the end of summer to the passage of formidable tropical storms or cyclones which cause serious damage. The best time for a stay in Martinique is winter, between December and the end of March because the climate is drier and the temperature remains close to 30 degrees, which is more than enough!

Art and culture in Martinique
All the villages have their patron saint that they celebrate every year with great reinforcement of races, dances and parades. The religious holidays of Christmas, Holy Week and All Saints' Day give rise to great celebrations. There is also the carnival and its parades. On Sundays, you can watch cockfights and traditional pulling carriage races. Le Léwoz is a cultural evening made of songs and dances performed to the sound of ka drums: boula (basses) and makè.