Getting wild on Caribbean water
Anses d'Arlet
Wind surfing near Le Kalenda Hotel
Sports
Martinique - Caribbean Scuba Diving, Caribbean Golf, Caribbean Yachting, Caribbean Sailing, and Much More...
Canoeing
Family Vacations - Adventure for All Ages
If you’ve never described any of your family vacations as “paradise,” it might be time to treat them to a real tropical paradise.
Martinique is not only breathtakingly beautiful, the island also offers many activities that will delight every member of your family. Besides the endless beautiful beaches, plus the incredible boating, swimming and fishing opportunities, there is all sorts of fun in the sun for the whole family¬––water and adventure parks, horseback riding, even paintball.
Tennis
Among the hotels with tennis courts, most lighted for night play, are:
- Albarena (1 court)
Diamant-Novotel (1 court)
Les Amandiers (2 courts)
Habitation Lagrange (1 court)
La Baie du Galion (1 court)
Leyritz Plantation (1 court)
Bakoua Sofitel (2 courts)
Marine (2 courts)
Carayou Hotel (2 courts)
Caribian (1 court)
Primerêve (2 courts)
Club Med (2 courts)
Ultramarine (1 court)
In addition, there are three lighted courts at Golf de l'Impératrice.
Also, many private clubs welcome guests as temporary members when courts are available.
Contact the Tourist Office,
or La Ligue Régionale de Tennis, Petit Manoir, Lamentin
Tel: (596) 596 51 08 00
Caribbean Golf
A magnificent 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Sr. course, the Golf de l'Impératrice Joséphine, is at Trois Ilets, one mile from the Pointe du Bout resort, 20 miles from Fort-de-France.
This excellent course has English-speaking pros, a fully equipped pro shop, bar/restaurant, as well as 3 lighted tennis courts. A David Leadbetter Golf Academy operates onsite to provide personalized training. Special greens fees accorded for hotel guests and cruise passengers.
Tel: (596) 596 68 32 81
Fax: (596) 596 63 38 97
www.golfmartinique.com
Caribbean Sailing
Martinique is a paradise for sailing, whether on boats rented at hotels by the hour or aboard yachts - either bareboat or crewed - chartered by the day, week or month at the marinas of Le Marin, Le François, Pointe du Bout, Le Robert or Ste-Anne.
For full day outings around the island
- the Micaline
Tel/Fax: (596) 596 66 09 10
Leaves from Pointe du Bout daily on picnic excursions.
Le Toumelin
Tel: (596) 596 49 35 01
Fax: (596) 596 74 88 12
Leaves from Le Kalenda hotel.
The price: 75 € pp
Caribbean Yachting
Martinique's capital, Fort-de-France, one of the safest, most beautiful bays in the Caribbean, has long been a favored port of call with yachtsmen. Over the years, as Martinique's popularity in the yachting world has grown, marinas have opened in other parts of the island - at Pointe du Bout across from the capital, in Le Robert and Le François on the Atlantic coast, in Sainte-Anne down south, and, most notably, in Le Marin, also in the south, where "Port de Plaisance" is now the island's largest and best-equipped marina.
Usually from May to June, the "Club Nautique du Marin" is organizing its annual yachting festival, the June Regattas, a week of exciting day races and entertaining evening events.
Tel: (596) 596 74 92 48
Fax: (596) 596 74 62 02
To contact the Capitainerie of Le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 83 83
Fax: (596) 596 74 92 02
For yacht charters and boat rentals, which are plentiful, contact:
- Delphis, Sainte-Luce
Tel: (596) 696 90 90 36
Fax: (596) 596 62 20 19
www.catadelphis.com - Agi Cat Club, Trois-Ilets
Tel: (596) 596 66 03 01
Fax: (596) 596 66 03 24 - Aqua Location, Le Robert
Tel: (596) 596 65 46 40
Fax:(596) 596 75 04 37 - Bambou Yachting, Le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 78 05
Fax: (596) 596 74 82 77 - Caraïbe Boat Services, Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 70 30 - Caraïbe Boat Services, Fort-de-France
Tel: (596) 596 71 73 91 - Caraïbe Yachting/Grand Large Antilles, Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 95 76
Fax: (596) 596 74 95 60 - Catana Antilles, Le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 88 87
Fax: (596) 596 74 70 09 - CBS-Caraïbes Boat Services, Le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 70 30
Fax: (596) 596 74 70 31 - Chimère Yachting, Le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 78 56
Fax: (596) 596 74 78 57 - Corail Martinique, Le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 10 76
Fax: (596) 596 74 67 91 - Dufour Yachting, Le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 70 10
Fax: (596) 596 74 70 10 - France Caraïbe Charter, Ponton du Bakoua
Tel: (596) 596 66 16 87
Fax: (596) 596 66 15 46 - Jennifer Evasion, Le Robert
Tel: (596) 596 65 38 74
Fax: (596) 596 74 78 19 - Kermoal Charter Yachting, Le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 92 67
Fax: (596) 596 74 73 83 - Kiriacoulis, Le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 86 51
Fax: (596) 596 74 73 41 - Locaboat, Pointe du Bout
Tel: (596) 596 66 07 57
Fax: (596) 596 66 07 49 - Localize, Anses d'Arlet
Tel: (596) 596 68 64 78
Fax: (596) 596 68 68 88 - Moorings, Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 75 39
Fax: (596) 596 74 76 44
Email: costserv@moorings.mq - Petit Breton Overseas, Le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 74 37
Fax: (596) 596 74 74 43
Email: pba@outremer.com - Punch Croisière, Le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 89 18
Fax: (596) 596 74 88 85 - Racing Sailing Services
Tel.(596) 596 51 56 61 or (596) 596 25 27 41
Fax. (596) 596 42 38 56 - Seabemol Croisières, Le François
Tel/Fax: (596) 596 54 25 26 - Seawind, Sainte-Luce
Tel/Fax: (596) 596 62 29 92
Email seawind@wanadoo.fr - Star Voyage, Pointe du Bout
Tel: (596) 596 66 00 72
Fax: (596) 596 66 02 11 - Star Voyage at Le François
Tel: (596) 596 54 68 01
Fax.(596) 596 54 68 03 - Stardust, Le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 98 17
Fax: (596) 596 74 88 12 - SunSail, Le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 77 61
Fax: (596) 596 74 77 80 - 3S Organisation, Le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 88 08
Fax: (596) 596 74 88 85 - Tropical Yacht Service, Le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 82 22
Fax: (596) 596 77 78 19 - VPM Antilles, Le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 70 10
Fax: (596) 596 74 70 20 - Windward Island Cruising Cie, Le Marin
Tel: (596) 596 74 89 18
Fax: (596) 596 74 88 85
www.caribbean-adventure.com
A comprehensive bilingual yachting manual, the 140-page "Guide Trois Rivières: A Cruising Guide to Martinique" sells at local bookstores and ship chandlers for $35, as does the 14th edition of the Annuaire Nautique de la Martinique, which costs $5.
For detailed information, call 212 838.7800 ext 228 or fax 212 838 7855
Tropical Adventure In The Rain Forest
You only need a few hours to travel hundreds, even thousands of years back in time with a 4-wheel drive excursion through Mt. Pelee's tropical rainforest. The unspoiled natural beauty of Martinique's rain forest will give you visions of the lush Caribbean landscape from centuries ago. If you think the Garden of Eden is gone forever, you haven't seen the wondrous plants and wildlife in a perfectly preserved tropical rain forest.
Caribbean Hiking
Of all the sports on Martinique, one of the best organized and most popular is hiking. With so many natural treasures - a tropical rain forest, a world-famous volcano, alpine peaks (or pitons) and rocky hills (or mornes), as well as wide stretches of virgin beach, especially in the southeast - hiking is by far the best means of discovering the true beauty of the island.
- Parc Naturel Régional
Tel: (596) 596 64 42 59 or (596) 596 73 19 30 - Office National des Forêts
Tel:(596) 596 71 34 50, - Hiking club, Le Club des Randonneurs,
These three outdoor organizations have developed a network of more than 30 trails, all well marked and maintained, designed for hikers to use on their own. The trails are described in two excellent guidebooks published in French: 31 Sentiers Balisés, available at local bookstores for about 10 €, and Belles Balades de la Martinique, that sells locally for about 28 €.
These three outdoor organizations have developed a network of more than 30 trails, all well marked and maintained, designed for hikers to use on their own. The trails are described in two excellent guidebooks published in French: 31 Sentiers Balisés, available at local bookstores for about 10 €, and Belles Balades de la Martinique, that sells locally for about 28 €.
Inexpensive hikes costing about $15 a person are conducted for local citizens year round by Parc Naturel guides, but visitors also are welcome to participate. Commentary is in French.
Among serious hiking tours is a two-hour climb, with guide, up Mont Pelée Volcano through thick foliage and overgrown trails.
Less difficult, but still requiring skill, is the trek through a dense coastal rain forest between Grand Rivière and Le Prêcheur.
Fairly easy are hikes at Les Ombrages, a nature trail at Ajoupa-Bouillon, or along the Gorges de la Falaise, a ravine leading to a waterfall where guided canyoning is the local sport.
Presqu'île de la Caravelle, a peninsula jutting into the Atlantic near the town of Trinité, has safe beaches and well-marked paths to historic Château Dubuc's ruins.
- Caribtours in Lamentin
Tel: (596) 596 50 93 52
Offers half-day hikes of the tropical forest and volcano
for about 30 €
and half-day canyoning
for about 34 €. - Basalt in Bellefontaine
Tel: (596) 596 52 57 82 - Madinina Tours in Fort-de France
Tel: (596) 596 70 65 25 - Caraïb Aventure, in Fort-de-France
Tel: (596) 596 79 68 70 - Village des Z'Amandines in Sainte-Marie
Tel: (596) 596 69 89 49
Offers a one-week packages that includes four days of hiking.
Level 0
Walking: Caravelle, Piton Creve-Coeur at Sainte-Anne, Montagne du Vauclin, Gorges de la Falaise.
Level 1
For all: Trace des Jesuites (Morne-Rouge), Hot Springs (Prêcheur), Morne Larcher (Diamant.)
Level 2
Hikers: Mont Pelée par Nord (departure from Aileron), Prêcheur in Grand-Rivière, Canal des Esclaves (Carbet.)
Level 3
Difficult: Path of the Pitons du Carbet.
Caribbean Scuba Diving
Caribbean Scuba Diving
Fascinating dive sites, ideal water temperatures, abundant marine life, and incredible shipwrecks make scuba diving an ideal island sport in the waters off Martinique.
In the resort area of Trois-Ilets, among many fine facilities with licensed instructors are:
- Lychee Plongée at the Pointe du Bout Marina
Tel: (596) 596 66 05 26
Fax: (596) 596 66 14 98 - Planète Bleue, a boat, also in the Pointe du Bout Marina
Tel: (596) 596 66 08 79
Fax: (596) 596 66 10 01 - Espace Plongée operates from the Sofitel Bakoua
Tel/Fax: (596) 596 66 01 79
- Philippe Deniau's Balaou Club around the cove, at Anse Mitan, likes working with Americans, lists a variety of packages offered with the nearby L'Impératrice Village. Tel: (596) 596 66 07 61
- Corail Club Caraïbes at the Hotel Frantour at Anse-à-l'Ane, another good bet in the area
Tel: (596) 596 68 31 67
Fax: (596) 596 68 37 65
On the southwest coast are Anses d'Arlet and Cap Salomon, while further south are Diamond Rock and Ste-Anne. There are scuba operations at:
- Plongée Passion in Anses d'Arlet
Tel. (596) 596 68 72 52 - Ti Bleu in Anses d'Arlet
Tel: (596) 596 68 64 78
Fax: (596) 596 68 68 88 - Buccaneer's Creek/Club Med in Ste-Anne
Tel: (596) 596 76 76 14
Fax: (596) 596 76 72 02 - Anse Caritan Nautisme at Anse Caritan Hotel
Tel: (596) 596 76 81 31 - Pointe la Chery Mondia Sub SARL in Diamant
Tel: (596) 596 76 25 80 - Bleu Marine from the Marine Hotel
Tel: (596) 596 76 46 00
Fax: (596) 596 75 25 99 - Sub Diamond Rock from the Novotel
Tel: (596) 596 76 21 76
Fax: (596) 596 76 22 87
All offer dive trips around the Diamond Rock
- Okeanos Club operates from Sainte-Luce
Tel: (596) 596 62 52 36
Fax: (596) 596 62 24 64
In the North
- Tropicasub operates on the beach south of St-Pierre
Tel:(596) 596 78 38 03
Fax: (596) 596 52 46 82
Memorable dive spots in the north include Ilet la Perle and the shipwrecks off St-Pierre. Solo dives average 31-34 €, but most places offer full scuba packages.
- On the outskirts of Fort-de-France, in Schoelcher
- Tropica Sub Idc operates from La Batelière hotel
Tel: (596) 596 61 65 57
Fax: (596) 596 61 70 57 - and Atout Plongée
Tel: (596) 596 70 29 33
Fax: (596) 596 61 21 42 - Submaroubase operates from Carbet's Marouba Club hotel
Tel: (596) 596 78 40 04
Fax: (596) 596 55 58 71) - UCPA
Tel: (596) 596 78 21 03
Fax: (596) 596 78 19 42 - Bulle Passion from St. Pierre.
Tel: (596) 596 78 26 22
Fax: (596) 596 78 26 33
Snorkeling
Fish, coral and ferns thrive in the waters near Pointe du Bout and Anse Mitan, plus the small bays around Anses d'Arlet and Ste-Anne offer snorkeling of a truly superior quality and variety. Some hotels have glass-bottom boats for snorkeling trips; most have fins and masks to rent.
Caribbean Mountain Biking
In cooperation with local bike clubs, the Parc Naturel Régional, has designed several unusual itineraries 9 Blvd Général de Gaulle, Fort de France 97206.
Tel: (596) 596 64 42 59
Flying and Ultra Light Aircraft
Flying
ATIS (Air Tourism Instruction Service)
Tel: (596) 596 51 66 88
Fax: (596) 596 51 33 03
Caters to reporters, cameramen, etc., but also takes tourists.
A 3-seat Cessna 172 costs 205 €/hr, with pilot, and has removable panels to permit aerial photography.
To fly solo, a French equivalent of your back-home pilot’s license is needed. Present it to the CAB at International Airport Aimé Césaire, then contact local plane owners through the Aéro-Club de la Martinique for aircraft rentals.
Sightseeing by airplane or helicopter
Sightseeing trips by plane are available through
Caribbean Horseback Riding
Martinique offers many equestrian itineraries, some for riding 
along scenic beach routes, others through tropical hillsides.
For excursions and/or riding lessons
A one-hour lesson on a horse is 23 €, on a pony 15 €. A pony ride: 5 €.