Car Hire Martinique - Mini guide to Martinique
The jewel of the French West Indies, charming Martinique lures visitors with its idyllic resorts, intriguing history, dramatic volcanic peaks, spectacular coastal scenery and endless range of recreational activities. It is also the most developed, prosperous and cosmopolitan of the Windward Caribbean islands.
The highlight of a tour of the island is the former capital of St Pierre, destroyed by Mount Pelee’s eruption in 1902. The most impressive of blackened ruins of ‘Little Pompeii’ include the theatre, the Quartier du Figuier, and the town jail where the lone survivor of the disaster was imprisoned at the time. Also in the town is the excellent Musee Vulcanologique, which contains various artifacts recovered from the devastation, while the surrounding mountains and lush valleys are ideal for hiking and cycling. The remainder of the northern section of the island is relatively untouched by developers, and the beaches at Anse Couleuvre and Presqu’Ile Caravelle, as well as the fishing villages of Grand ’Riviere and Tartane, are great places to escape the crowds of the south.
The beautifully situated new capital of Fort-de-France is the ideal base for exploring the island, and has a pleasant waterfront quarter wrapped around the scenic Baie des Flamands. The town resembles a run down version of Nice, and has fortified remains and parkland along its waterfront.
To the south lie Martinique’s renowned beach resorts of Pointe-du-Bout, Anse-a-L’Ane, Diamant, St Anne and Les Salines, all of which boast white sandy beaches, warm waters and an assortment of watersport activities, such as swimming, snorkeling, diving and boating.
Fort-de-France and the towns in the south of the island all feature a range of quality accommodation and excellent restaurants. Nightlife is varied, with numerous cafes, bars, pubs and clubs catering to a variety of tastes.
The east coast of Martinique is perfect for exploring and relatively unvisited by tourists. Discover the quaint coastal towns and villages of St Marie, Le Robert and Le Francois, or venture onto the picturesque Caravelle Peninsula for stunning views of the Atlantic.
Martinique’s international airport serves frequent and regular flights from Europe (particularly Paris) and the US, with Miami being the main transit hub. From the airport, there are a variety of transportation options to Fort-de-France and other destinations.
