10 Days in Martinique: Ultimate 9 or 10 Days Itinerary

Camille L.

10 days in Martinique: What to do and see?

Have you chosen to go on a trip to Martinique?

In order to help you plan your stay, we have prepared a 9, 10 or 11 day itinerary that will allow you to discover all the must-see places of interest in Martinique.

So, what to do and see in Martinique in 10 days?

On the program: the capital of Fort-de-France, the Route de la Trace, the ascent of the peeled mountain, the most beautiful beaches and much more.

All accompanied by our advice and tips to make the most of it and our selection of the best accommodation on the island.

Visiting Martinique in 10 days has never been easier!

Day 1: Fort-de-France

To start your 10-day trip to Martinique, you will arrive directly in Fort-de-France, the island’s capital, since the only international airport is located here. Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport is more precisely located in Le Lamentin, a neighboring town of Fort-de-France.

If possible, I advise you to take a plane that arrives early in the morning. This way you can better enjoy your first day on the island.

Before leaving, I recommend that you reserve a car in advance.

Martinique’s public transport network is very disorganized and if you want to be independent to fully enjoy your stay, the easiest way is to visit Martinique by car. 

After picking up your rental car, head to Fort-de-France. It takes you about 10 minutes by car (when there are no traffic jams) to reach the capital from the airport.

First thing to do, once you arrive in Fort-de-France: go see the markets. These are only open in the morning, so they should be visited first.

Fort-de-France has several markets but I advise you to focus on  the Fish Market and the Grand Market, located in a large hall.

Also called Spice Market, the latter offers a lot of products, and not just spices: souvenirs, local gastronomic products or objects made from Madras fabric, typical of the West Indies.

Continue your visit to the capital with Fort Saint-Louis: this military fort, where the Naval Base of the French Navy is now established, is classified as a Historic Monument and offers you a magnificent view of the Bay of Fort-de-France . 

After your visit to Fort Saint-Louis, I advise you to stroll through the streets of Fort-de-France and admire the architecture of the colonial era.

At the end of the day, rest in the city’s central park, called “La Savane”. You can taste a cinnamon apple, an excellent butter brioche typical of the West Indies.

Spend the night in Fort-de-France.

Tips:
There are quite a few speed cameras, so on your 10-day Martinique road trip, be sure to obey the speed limits.

Accommodation in Fort-de-France

Fort of France

Day 2: Les Trois-Ilets

For the second leg of your 10-day tour in Martinique, I advise you to visit Trois-Îlets, a seaside resort located on the other side of the bay of Fort-de-France.

You can get there by car ( 40 minutes drive) or by boat.

If you choose the boat, the connection between Fort-de-France and Trois-Îlets is provided by the Vedettes Tropicales. Boats depart daily regularly between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. Count 7 € for the round trip.

Once you have arrived at Trois-Îlets, I suggest you visit the  Slave Savannah, a very well done eco-museum which reconstructs a village at the time of slavery. The €12 guided tour is mandatory to visit the museum.

The circuit takes you through 15 traditional huts spread over a 3-hectare garden. It is very enriching and the best way to learn more about this period in the history of the island.

For lunch, you can take a break in one of the many seaside restaurants in Trois-Îlets, before going to visit the town.

Then rest at Le Méridien beach, one of the quietest in the city and especially the one where you can observe the most fish.

Before taking the boat back to Fort-de-France, take a trip to Anse Mitan, the liveliest beach in Trois-Îlets , to immerse yourself in the local atmosphere.

Tips:

Did you know that Trois-Îlets is the birthplace of the first wife of Napoleon I , Joséphine de Beauharnais?

It is possible to visit the property in which she was born, the Domaine de la Pagerie, which has been transformed into a museum in her honor.

The Savannah of Slaves

Day 3: La Route de la Trace / Saint Pierre

For this new day of this 10-day stay in Martinique: I suggest you take the Route de la Trace, the most beautiful road in Martinique, to Saint-Pierre, the former capital of the island destroyed by the eruption. of Mount Pelee in 1902.

The Route de la Trace is the nickname given to the RN3: 28 km long, it passes through magnificent landscapes, in the middle of the tropical forest, with many viewpoints, small waterfalls and hiking trails.

A tip: leave early in the morning because the day will be busy. Along the way, do not hesitate to stop at points of interest (often indicated by signs), such as the Basilica of the Sacred Heart which offers a magnificent view of the entire bay of Fort-de-France.

On the Route de la Trace, don’t miss the Jardin de Balata. It is a botanical garden (created by an artist) where you can discover the West Indian fauna and flora, from hummingbirds to alpinias, the famous tropical red flowers.

The visit costs 14 € and lasts approximately 1h30. The garden opens at 9am and closes at 6pm: try to arrive early to have a better chance of seeing hummingbirds.

Once your visit is over, continue your journey to Morne-Rouge, where the Route de la Trace ends.

I advise you to stop at Le Bambou restaurant , to taste delicious Creole specialities, from cod fritters (those with coconut milk are excellent!) to flambéed bananas and red tuna.

Once your stomach is well filled, go back down south, towards Saint-Pierre.

The visit of Saint-Pierre is very interesting: you can see the ruins of an old theater there , but also the dungeon of Cyparis which was the only survivor of the eruption of 1902.

Take the time to stroll through the streets, along the seaside, along the black sand beaches, and soak up the special atmosphere that reigns there.

If you’re leaving around sunset, stop at one of the many high vantage points along the way, from where you can watch the sun go down on the horizon. A magical moment of your 10-day vacation in Martinique.

Balata’s garden

Day 4: Climbing Mount Pelée

For your 4th day in Martinique, I suggest you stay in the same area and undertake the ascent of Mount Pelée.

This hike is one of the most famous on the island and if you are in good physical condition, it is a must to do during a 10 day road trip in Martinique.

The ascent of Mount Pelée takes you up to 1,395 meters above sea level, at the top of the still active volcano. Thrills guaranteed! I advise you in any case to leave well rested because it climbs a lot. Also remember to take water and cereal bars for slack.

To change from the day before, I suggest you take the road that runs along the west coast of the island to get to Morne-Rouge and the start of the trail. It will take you 50 minutes to reach Morne-Rouge from the capital.

There are several paths to climb Mount Pelee, but I recommend you opt for the Sentier de l’Aileron, the one that starts from Morne-Rouge, not only because it is the shortest and most accessible, but also because Morne-Rouge is relatively close to Fort-de-France (other trails leave from towns in the far north of the island).

From a distance of 7 km, allow about 4 hours to make the round trip.

Tips:
Leave early, because from 10 a.m., Mount Pelée is covered in mist and you will have a less clear view of the Atlantic from the top of the volcano.

Mount Peel Volcano

Day 5: Les Anses d’Arlet / Le Diamant

After the thrills of the day before, I suggest you keep cool for the 5th stage of your 9-10-11 day itinerary in Martinique, and go visit the south-west of the island.

For example, you can go to the village of Anses d’Arlet. Bypass the bay of Fort-de-France and the trip will take you about 40 minutes.

The village is very nice and worth it for its church, but also its beaches (Grande Anse and Petite Anse) with their picturesque pontoons. They are very popular with locals.

Rather than stopping at one of these beaches, I suggest you continue to Anse Noire, a small quiet black sand beach where you can observe many fish and swim with turtles. You should go in the morning, that’s when the water is the most beautiful.

Once your swim is over, head to Le Diamant along the coast. Along the way, stop to buy boucané chicken, smoke-cooked meat, a staple of Caribbean cuisine.

Before arriving at Le Diamant, pass by Cap 110, the slavery memorial located at Anse Caffard.

It was built on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the abolition of slavery, on the very spot where an illegal slave ship ran aground in 1830, causing the death of hundreds of slaves.

The 15 statues arranged in a triangle, looking out to sea, symbolize the victims of the triangular trade and the slave trade.

After Cap 110, head towards the town of Le Diamant. You will not fail to see, from the seaside, the imposing Rocher du Diamant.

After visiting the city of Diamant, you can land on the beach of Grande Anse du Diamant and admire the sunset on this rock that the French and the English fought over for a long time.

It is then time to return to Fort-de-France, and rest for the day that awaits you the next day.

Diamond Rock Diving

Day 6: The Caravelle Peninsula

We continue your 10-day trip to Martinique with one of my favorite places on the island: the Presqu’île de la Caravelle.

This peninsula in the east of the island is magnificent, and offers many activities, including several very nice hiking trails. The best hike in the area is the one that goes completely around the peninsula. 

In the morning, take the road to La Trinité (about a 40-minute drive). Leave early so you can start the hike before it gets too hot. Bring plenty of water and a few snacks: the tour of the Presqu’île de la Caravelle is quite long and will take you half a day.

You will be able to see many different landscapes (mangrove, tropical forest, meadow, clear views of the Atlantic, etc.) but also visit the ruins of an old castle, Château Dubuc.

Once the hike is over, you have deserved a little rest: go to the family restaurant La Table de Mamy Nounou, in Tartane, where you can taste typical dishes of Creole cuisine with a touch of modernity and enjoy their magnificent terrace with panoramic view.

Then visit Tartane, a very charming fishing village, and enjoy its beaches.

Then return to Fort-de-France for your last night in the capital before heading south of the island.

Caravelle Peninsula, Martinique

Day 7-10: The South of the island

A 10-day trip of Martinique is not complete without visiting the South , where the most beautiful beaches are found .

The best way to make the most of it is to stay in one of the southern towns (Sainte-Luce, Sainte-Anne, Le Vauclin, Le François). I give you my selection of the best hotels right after.

First take the road to Sainte-Luce, the neighboring town of Le Diamant. It will take you about 30 minutes to travel from Fort-de-France if you are not driving along the coast.

In Sainte-Luce, take a trip to Anse Figuier, one of Martiniqu e’s most famous beaches, before visiting the Trois-Rivières distillery, which produces the rum of the same name (one of the best rums from Martinique). The price of the visit is 3 €.

After the visit and the tasting, head to Sainte-Anne, where you can visit the village, which is very nice with its magnificent Notre-Dame de Sainte-Anne Church.

Then spend the afternoon on Martinique’s most famous beach: Plage des Salines (you’ll quickly understand why!). You can buy picnic supplies on the beach en route. All you have to do is find a quiet corner under a coconut tree and relax all afternoon.

Return to your accommodation for the night.

The next day, I advise you to start the day with your third hike of the stay.

The Savane des Pétrifications hike , in Sainte-Anne, is very different from what you have seen so far: in this part of the island, the mangroves and the tropical forest give way to swamps and desert plains.

The hike is 4 km long and goes from Anse à Prunes to Anse Trabaud. So you can end up with a little swim before the way back.

In the afternoon, if you have time to explore the southeast of the island, head to Le Vauclin to see Pointe Faula.

The beach allows you to walk on the white bottoms for 300 meters (with water up to your knees). You will be able to refresh yourself after your morning hike.

Spend another night in the South.

Petrification savannah hike, in Sainte-Anne

The next day, devote your day to one of the best excursions to do in Martinique during a 9-10 day stay: a boat trip!

Last night of your stay.

You have reached the end of this 10-day itinerary in Martinique.

It’s time to enjoy the magnificent beaches of Martinique one last time depending on the departure time of your flight.

I advise you, for your last day, to spend the morning at Cap Macré Beach, in Le Marin : this beach on the Atlantic coast is totally different from the others, and it is quite hidden. You will therefore be quiet there to enjoy the calm and the sun one last time.

Tips:

If you only have 9 days in Martinique, I advise you to devote only one day to discovering Sainte-Anne and its surroundings.

If, on the contrary, you stay one more day in Martinique and your vacation lasts 11 days, you can add a day to the far north of the island at the start of your tour.

From Fort-de-France, follow the coast to the north and stop at Anse Couleuvre, at Le Prêcheur. A magnificent hiking trail starts from this black sand beach and joins Grand Rivière, crossing the virgin forest along the Caribbean coast.

The hike is 18 km long: plan about 6 hours of walking, lots of water, and enough to fill the small hollows. Once you arrive at Grand Rivière, you can return to Anse Couleuvre by boat.

Please note: remember to book your boat trip at least 48 hours in advance so as not to have to do everything in reverse. Count around 15 € per person.

Accommodation in the south of the island

The seaside resort of Trois-Ilets also offers a few options:

Other activities for 10 days in Martinique

If you want to add  other activities to do during your 10-day stay in Martinique, I have selected some really nice ones for you.

Tips:

With this itinerary of 9, 10 or 11 days, you are ready to discover Martinique, its beaches, its landscapes, its culture and its gastronomy.

If you are staying for less time, we have also prepared a 6, 7 or 8 day itinerary for you in Martinique. Similarly, if your stay lasts two weeks, see our itinerary for a 15-day tour in Martinique.

FAQ – Questions about these 10 days in Martinique

Where to stay in Martinique for 10 days?

To visit Martinique in 10 days, I recommend that you do as in my itinerary:

This will allow you to avoid too long travel times and too many North/South round trips.

What budget for 10 days in Martinique?

As an indication (costs vary depending on the season and how far in advance you book), here is the average budget for a 10-day stay in Martinique:

Is renting a car in Martinique essential?

Yes, car rental is really necessary to get around during these 10 days in Martinique. The public transport network is not at all developed enough to get to the 4 corners of the island.

What is the best season to go to Martinique?

The dry season is the best time to go for 10 days (or more!) in Martinique. It extends from December to April.

Avoid the months of August to October which correspond to the cyclone season.

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