What to do in the south of Martinique?

Cliquez ici pour la Version Française

Martinique, also known as Flower Island, is a French territorial collectivity in the Caribbean. It’s a picture-postcard landscape, with its turquoise beaches and tropical forests, but it’s also a very rich island with a troubled history. In this article, I take you on a tour of the must-see sites in southern Martinique. Contrary to what you might think, it’s not all about beaches, but there are plenty of things to do and a wide variety of landscapes to discover!

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

What to do in the southern part of Martinique?

1 | Discover the Savane des esclaves (Trois îlets)

• Access: La Ferme district, 2km south of the town, signposted from the Trois-Îlets roundabout.

• Website : https://www.lasavanedesesclaves.fr/

• Times and prices: €12 (adults), €8 (teenagers/students) €5 (3-12 year-olds).
  Open daily from 9h-12h to 14h-17h, Sun 9h-12h

• Visiting time: guided tour (1h15) then self-guided tour (30min)

On this vast site, visitors can discover 400 years of Martinican history through reconstructions of homes, traditional huts, a Creole and medicinal garden…

A large section is devoted to the history of slavery, particularly in Martinique, through a film, informative panels and reconstructions. It looks like a very interesting place, but we didn’t have the time to visit it.

2 | Swimming with the turtles at Anse Dufour

It’s a superb cove of golden sand, lined with colorful fishermen’s huts. Don’t forget your mask and snorkel for snorkeling: you can easily spot turtles. I recommend getting up early to catch the sunrise, so you can swim with the turtles without anyone on the beach!

What we also loved about this beach was the magical sunset!

Don’t forget that the turtles are in their natural environment, so don’t touch them or disturb them when they come to the surface to breathe!

To get to Anse Dufour, you’ll need to park along the road, as there’s no parking available.

3 | Take a Dolphin Tour

We were tempted by the idea of discovering dolphins. The boat departs from Plage de l’Anse à l’Ane in Les Trois-Îlets. We chose the company Dolphins Emotion (60€/personne) and we were delighted. The tour is done with a small group and the guide is passionate. We recommend this company without hesitation.

4 | Photograph the famous Anses d’Arlet pier

This small fishing village is very picturesque, with its church and Creole houses facing the sea. The view from the end of the pontoon is superb: the sea, the little church of Saint-Henri, the beach and the mountain in the background – a real postcard landscape! We really enjoyed this beach, even if it is still touristy.

When you’re facing the sea, on the right of the pontoon there are rocks sticking out, and here you have a fabulous snorkeling spot. We spent hours swimming with all kinds of colorful fish. And if you’re lucky (like us!), you might even come across some turtles!

5 | Paying tribute to Cap 110

Below the D37 road, in a bend in the road, you’ll find a memorial (just a few metres from the Morne Larcher trailhead) with 15 2.5-metre statues facing the sea. In 1830, a mysterious ship ran aground during a violent storm, carrying Africans destined for slavery. Many perished in the wreck, though some were saved. In tribute to them, these statues were erected and aligned in a triangle, a reference to the triangular trade between Europe, Africa and America.

6 | Admire the Diamant rock and visit the small Diamant market

The town of Le Diamant takes its name from the diamond-shaped rock on its shores. With its 3 kilometers of beach, coconut palms and golden sand, Le Diamant looks like a picture-postcard setting in itself. On the other hand, there are plenty of waves and strong currents. Swimming is not recommended. We really enjoyed this beach, which is a great place to walk with your feet in the sand. The sunset is also superb.

The Diamant Beach swing by the Valorisation Martinique association. It’s the “Instagrammable” spot on the beach! For direct access to the swing, park at exit number 3. The swing will be on the beach directly to your left.

Don’t hesitate to go to the market in Le Diamant, where you’ll find fresh produce and a very pleasant atmosphere. As we were staying at Le Diamant throughout our stay, we went there several times. The place isn’t overly touristy, and the shop assistants are adorable, even taking the time to recommend Creole recipes. Colorful stalls sell fruit, vegetables, rhum arrangé, handicrafts and takeaways.

7 | Visit a rum distillery: La Mauny

The island is famous for its rum, and visiting a distillery is one of the must-do things to do in Martinique! There are several on the island, and in this area I recommend the La Mauny distillery.

It’s less impressive than others, but more authentic. We enjoyed the guided tour and the guide’s detailed explanations. And especially the tasting at the end!

Find out more in my article Rhum de Martinique : 5 distilleries à visiter.

8 | Swimming in Sainte-Luce and enjoying a good restaurant

Located in the south of Martinique, Sainte-Luce is a charming fishing village. We’ve been there several times for the swimming, the atmosphere and the restaurants.

Free parking is available at the entrance to the village (just after the bridge on the right).

We recommend the following restaurants Case Coco Restaurant, a real treat (remember to book)!

9 | Admire the sunset from Grande Anse des Salines

The magnificent Grande Anse des Salines is the island’s most famous beach! A large beach of white sand, lined with coconut palms and turquoise water. We went there at the end of the day to watch the sunset as everyone else deserted the beach, and we weren’t disappointed! Unfortunately, this beach is a victim of its own success, and on weekends it’s very busy. I’ve heard that parking and finding a shady spot to put your towel down can be difficult.

10 | Petrification Savannah hike

Just a stone’s throw from the beach at Les Salines lies an astonishing landscape: the Savane des Petrifications. A sort of small desert on this tropical island. Make sure you get there early, as the hike is in direct sunlight! So don’t forget your sun cream and take plenty of water!

This 4km hike (2h walking time) starts from Anse à Prunes, an almost deserted and wild beach. At the start, you cross a pontoon, but also rocks that can be slippery depending on the tide. Then the path is not difficult to follow. On the outward journey, we followed the coast to Anse Trabaud, and on the return journey we passed through the plain. The desert landscapes are fabulous!

Anse Trabaud is not very touristy. We didn’t go swimming because unfortunately there was a lot of sargassum…

Parking: When you reach Grande Anse des Salines beach, turn left along the sea towards Grande Terre des Salines. Park at the end of the parking lot, at the barrier. The trail begins in the undergrowth.

11 | Spend a day at Ilet Chevalier, a must!

Our favorite of the trip! A little gem accessible by boat via Taxi-Cap (€4/adult and €2/child under 12). You disembark on this little island paradise via the pontoon, where the sand is white and the water turquoise. We spent the day on the island, picnic included. Don’t forget your sneakers for the 1-hour walk around the island. It’s well worth the effort, and the hike presents no difficulties apart from the fact that it’s partly in direct sunlight (so bring water too)!

12 | Take a photo of the Anse Michel nest

Thanks to the Valorisation Martinique association, you’ll find a nest high up on the beach at Anse Michel.

Access: when you drive up to Anse Michel, you’ll come to a “crow’s-foot”. Signs indicate parking lots for Anse Michel on the left and right. Turn right and park in the parking lot. At the end, walk along a path, including a short passage over a wooden footbridge through the mangroves. At the end of the walkway, you’ll come to another “crow’s foot”. On the left, you’ll head for the beach. On the right, uphill, you’ll head for the “nest” photo spot.

13 | Kayak through the mangroves

We went kayaking with Bernard (a contact recommended by a friend who lived in Martinique, and we were delighted!) to discover the mangroves. Bernard is passionate about his work and passed on all his knowledge to us. He doesn’t do the same excursion every day, so don’t hesitate to contact him to ask what he proposes depending on the day of the week.

Contact Bernard: 06 96 92 17 34

We took a kayak out from Pointe Faula, and it was superb!

14 | Sailing to the Robert Islands and Josephine’s Bathtub

I recommend a boat trip to discover the islands and Fonds-Blancs! We rented a small boat that allowed us to discover the îlets du robert, la Baignoire de Joséphine, l’îlet Madame… The scenery is heavenly, with wide beaches and stretches of white sand and clear water. Unfortunately, at weekends and in high season, this area is a victim of its own success.

---

Where to sleep on the island of Martinique?

• “Villa Cocon Bleu, plage à pied Sainte Luce” which you can find on Booking (Sainte Luce – 8 people): charming, well-equipped villa. Featuring a swimming pool and Jacuzzi, it has pleasant rooms with air conditioning. The living room is spacious. The house is ideally located for visiting the south of the island. It is true to the photos, open to the outside.

• “Villa Patio Azur Les Trois îlets” which you can find on Booking (Les Trois-Îlets – 6 people): charming duplex house located in the peaceful Anse à l’Âne. It features an indoor patio with a large dining table, a living room and a private 4-seater Jacuzzi, providing the ideal setting for relaxation and conviviality.

• “Appartement pleine mer, face à la plage Saint Luce” which you can find on Booking (Sainte Luce – sleeps 4): Located on the top floor (only one floor to climb), this spacious apartment offers a breathtaking view of the Caribbean Sea. Enjoy direct access to a sandy beach! The residence, with its secure parking lot, also features a carbet and a communal green space.

• “Logement Pierre & Vacances Sainte Luce” which you can find on Booking (Saint-Anne): a lot of travel blogs recommend staying at the Pierre & Vacances village in Saint-Anne. It’s true that the location is superb, but the nights are quite expensive. It’s a budget to plan for.

• Little Joy House (Diamant – 2 people): I can wholeheartedly recommend this rental in Le Diamant, which is managed by Clarisse. The apartment is top-notch, very well equipped and laid out, clean and well located. You have access to a swimming pool which is part of the communal areas. Our favorite feature is the very pleasant terrace. In short, we really liked this apartment. Clarisse is a lovely host who welcomed us very well and was very accommodating. Many thanks again to her. (booking link) !

---

Thanks for reading!

Mylène

This article includes affiliate links. If my tips have helped you plan your trip, or if you’d just like to support me, please feel free to book using my links. This will allow me to earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you in advance for your support!