Five months in Martinique
I was in Martinique for work in February-June 2009. On weekends we rented a car and explored the island for five months.
Of course, Martinique is first and foremost a beach resort.
There are a variety of beaches. In the north, the sand is volcanic, dark, behind the mountains, not crowded.
The rest is classic: white sand, clear water, palm trees, mangroves. There may be a lot of people, there are places where there is no one at all. There is a beach for kitesurfers, there is a lot of wind.
Locals also like to swim with families and large companies.
We traveled all over at first, and in the end decided that the best for us was the PLage du PLM beach near the Bateliè re hotel.
Not only because it's very close (on the other side of Fort de France from us). It has the best snorkeling on the island.
At the small beach there is a ridge of stones with corals, and further there are smaller, but numerous accumulations of stones. Depth 4-7 meters, ideal for snorkeling. There is a diving club near the beach, at this place beginners are taught (or dives are made for amateurs). The beach is not closed, everyone can swim, the entrance is from the parking lot.
We also did not ignore diving)))). Signed up for courses at the Plongé e Bateliere diving club, got certified, and did about 20 dives in total. Great kind of vacation! All dives were made by the same club.
This club is more for locals, tourists rarely get there, mostly from a nearby hotel. The atmosphere is homely, after the dive, those who wish are treated to rum or local liquor. With English - not very much, as, indeed, in all the French Caribbean. We dived on the western side of the island. In Sharm, of course, there is more, but....And there was something to see.
In addition to beaches, there are natural attractions, the main ones are Mont Pele volcano and path in the north of the island are already described by me.
There is also a small Cascade Сouleuvre waterfall near Anse Couleuvre beach.
When I was there for the second time, there was a small incident, be careful! To the waterfall about one and a half km, the path along the stream.
On the way, you need to go from shore to shore 20 times. The first time, in April, we crossed dry pebbles without getting our feet wet. The second time I came (already with other people) in June and was a guide. It was already rainy season. By the time we got to the start of the trail, it was already starting to rain.
As we moved towards the waterfall, the rain turned into a full-fledged tropical downpour. On the way there, we already crossed in ankle-deep water. And now back knee-deep in seething water. And the stream already looked like a mountain river. It was dark, a little knocked down. And one comrade from a timid dozen had to be transferred by hand in a couple of places))))). As soon as we got back, the rain stopped. And we finally noticed a sign that in the rain "don't go there. " That's why we didn't meet anyone on the route.
Capital, Fort de France. Nothing special. Mostly buildings of an ephemeral kind, as if made of painted cardboard.
There are some more monumental buildings.
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And a military fortress.
In general, compared to nearby Guadeloupe.
Martinique has slightly better beaches, and Guadeloupe has better nature.
