Best Things To Do in Martinique

Jardin De Balata is an Eden-like botanical garden that has been curated for decades by its owner, poet and horticulturalist Jean-Philippe Thoze. This garden is one of the prettiest you may ever see! There are hundreds of different plants and flowers. Kids will love the treetop walkway. The gardens are located 10 km north of Fort-de-France.

One of the staples of Martinican life is the annual carnival. Everyone on the island partakes in some way or another and the preparation takes the best part of a year to get all the intricate costumes made from scratch. This four-day festival starts just before Lent and the first day has a costumed parade with an effigy of ‘King Vaval’ (Carnival King), who is carried by paradors. The next days consist of mock weddings in drag, Red Devils Day and finally the day of mourning for King Vaval on day four. This is one of the biggest and best parties you'll see, and it can't be missed

There is a wondrous choice of hiking opportunities in Martinique. One of our favourites is hiking the active volcano that dominates the skyline of northern Martinique - Mount Pelee. The steep incline is best for expert hikers and is a 4.5 hour round trip.

Another recommended hike is Les Gorges de la Falaise, a gorge in the rainforest along the Flaise River that ends with multiple rock pools and waterfalls.

It would be criminal to visit the Caribbean and not try the rum. What better way to experience the best rum the Caribbean has to offer than by doing a rum distillery tour. There are multiple distilleries on the island and many of them offer tours with tastings alongside. Our favourites are Distillerie J.M, Distillerie Depaz (pictured), Rhum Saint James and Distillerie la Favourite.

Fort-de-France is a jewel in Martinique's crown. Not only is it the capital city but it has a variety of tour and excursion opportunities right from its centre. There are many great hotels here and you'll never be short of places to eat or shops to visit. Amazing architecture can be found throughout the city, including the Schoelcher Library, which was built in France then deconstructed and shipped piece by piece to Martinique.

The Yole Boat Race has been called a 'Carnival on the water' as the festivities are so joyous. Competitors race traditional Yole Boats that are highly decorated to make each one stand out. Thousands of spectators watch and cheer on the race, then each day after the race there's live music and parties. It's one of the most loved events in the Matinique calendar.

One of the best things about the Caribbean is the thriving sea life you can see in its tropical waters. Martinique's coasts are full of coral reefs, turtles and dolphins. Book a dolphin cruise to see them frolic in their natural habitat up close. You can also do glass-bottom boat tours to see the colourful coral reefs up close!

Musée de la Pagerie is the childhood home of Josephine Beaumaris - Napoleon Bonaparte's first wife. This museum showcases the history of their love story through all their letters and gives you a real sense of stepping into history.

You can't visit Martinique without taking advantage of their fantastic beaches and one of the best ways to do this is by indulging in some watersports. Scubadiving is a once in a lifetime experience in Martinique as there are multiple shipwrecks to explore from the Mount Pelee eruption of 1902. You can see many of these wrecks on scuba excursions. Kayak around Le Robert Islets, taking in the picturesque white sandbank and magestic mangroves.

In Les Trois-Îlets there is a traditional village full of artisans who make clay pottery on a daily basis. You can come and watch them make their creations and purchase all kinds of pieces from the souvenir shops. There are bars and restaurants here to enjoy during your visit.