Martinique has one of the safest and most beautiful bays in the Caribbean, which makes it a popular area for sailors and yachtsmen to take to the sea. Because the island has become a paradise for those who love spending time on the water, the sailing and yachting industry is growing at a rapid pace and more marinas have opened on the island.
An emerald gem of the Lesser Antilles island chain, Martinique features lush rain forests and pristine shorelines. The northern area is blanketed in mountainous terrain, including the highest point at Mount Pelee, but the flatter, more hilly landscapes of the south are more easily navigated, attracting most of the tourist activity. Departs and Returns from Martinique F.d.F. two times a week check-in at 9:30 A.M. on Friday to Sunday or Saturday to Saturday for the Sailing Weeks. Check-out 03.30 P.M
Les Trois-Îlets is a town on the Caribbean island of Martinique. It’s known as the birthplace of Joséphine, Napoléon Bonaparte’s first wife. Her family’s sugar plantation is now the Pagerie Museum, with childhood mementos and a love letter from Napoléon. Nearby, exhibits at the Maison de la Canne detail how sugar cane shaped Martinique’s history. North, Pointe du Bout is a water-sports hub with boutiques and cafes.
Day 2 will begin by exploring the wonderful Sainte Anne. If you’re lucky to be here around the Christmas period, you will be welcomed by Creole carols, roast suckling pig and a live nativity. Have a delicious breakfast at Basilic Beach and spend a few hours enjoying the glorious view whilst you listen to the waves crash amongst the rocks. Next, we highly recommend a visit to the world-famous Sainte Anne Bird Sanctuary.
This sanctuary is the most important in the Caribbean for native nesting birds. Here you will also notice fascinating mangroves amongst you. Sainte Anne itself is in fact a designated national park filled with wonderful hikes both inland and along the coast with spectacular views. After a long or short hike, have a walk into the extraordinarily pretty town of Sainte Anne. Let your eyes drift from its tall steepled church to the colourful.
Les Anses d’Arlet is without a doubt the most charming corner of southern Martinique, retaining as it does an undiscovered feel, some gorgeous scenery and wonderful beaches. The commune of Les Anses d’Arlet contains a string of villages, each named descriptively after its respective anse (cove): Grande Anse, Anse Noire, Anse Dufour and – confusingly – Anse d’Arlet Bourg, the administrative center of Les Anses d’Arlet. The villages are connected by a steep and winding coastal road from where there are superb glimpses down to the waves below.
Packed full of Caribbean charm, St-Pierre is undoubtedly one of Martinique’s loveliest towns, with a tranquil azure bay backed by steamy rainforest on the mountainside behind it. Full of colonial-era buildings, StPierre also boasts an attractive darkgray sand beach and the perfect location for superb sunsets.
What’s hard to believe amid all this tranquility is that St-Pierre was once Martinique’s capital and at one point perhaps the most cosmopolitan city in the entire Caribbean. That all ended abruptly on May 8, 1902, when Mont Pelée erupted and wiped out the town (and some 30,000 of its inhabitants) in just 10 minutes, leaving just three survivors. Unsurprisingly St-Pierre has never recovered from the tragedy. The capital was moved to Fort-de-France and St-Pierre became the sleepy seaside village you see today.
A large percentage of the local population here like to fish, and therefore the French influence in Sainte Anne means that you can have high expectations of the seafood here, perfect for a late lunch! We highly recommend the Acras de Morue (spicy cod balls) which are a Creole menu staple. For those of you who live on the adventurous side of cuisine, you may want to sample the local specialities of lambis (conch) and Creole boudin made from pig’s blood.
After a lovely day in Sainte Anne, head back to your boat and head into the tradewinds for the East Coast of Martinique. Moor at an attractive cove called the Baie des Anglais, which is just a short hop sail of 2 hours. This particular bay is what you may call ‘out-of-the-way.’ It is mainly sheltered due to a coral reef, classed as a natural reserve. You will find that the local fishermen here are wonderfully accommodating and only too happy to set up a lobster barbecue on the beach for visitors. Spend your evening here enjoying the atmosphere and absorb the true Caribbean vibes.
