Martinique

Introduction

Full View Waterfall

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East meets west in Martinique, where French sovereignty since the 17th century has helped form the island's Creole culture. What has emerged is a unique French styling of Creole tradition. Early 20th century Parisian-style architecture, a dominance of sophisticated French fashion, and French patriotic pride intersect with the sounds of Afro-Caribbean dance, zouk and the flavours of Creole cuisine.

This fascinating culture is laid out against a backdrop of graceful Caribbean beauty. The elegant Parisian-tinted capital, Fort-de-France is nestled comfortably between the Baie des Flamands and the volcanic peaks of the Pitons du Carbet. Further inland, lush unspoilt rainforests make for excellent hiking opportunities.

Brief History

The island was originally inhabited by Arawak and Carib peoples. Circa 130 AD, the first Arawaks are believed to have arrived from South America. In 295 AD, an eruption of Mount Pelée resulted in the decimation of the island's population. Around 400 AD, the Arawaks returned and repopulated the island. Around 600 AD, the Caribs arrived. They exterminated the Arawaks and proceeded to settle the island over the next few centuries.

Christopher Columbus sighted the island in 1493, making the region known to European interests, but it was not until June 15, 1502, on his fourth voyage, that he actually landed, leaving several pigs and goats on the island. However, the Spaniards ignored the island as other parts of the New World were of greater interest to them.
During the 17th century, the French took over control of the island. Britain captured the island during the Seven Years' War, holding it from 1762 to 1763. Following Britain's victory in the war there was a strong possibility the island would be annexed by them. However, the sugar trade made the island so valuable to the royal French government that at the Treaty of Paris (1763), which ended the Seven Years War, they gave up all of Canada in order to regain Martinique as well as the neighboring island of Guadeloupe.
During much of its history, Martinique has been hit by severe hurricanes, earthquakes and volcanic eruption, the major one being the 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée, killing almost 30,000 people!

In 1946, the French National Assembly voted unanimously to transform Martinique from a colony of France into a department, known in French as a Département d'Outre-Mer or DOM. Along with its fellow DOMs of Guadeloupe, Reunion, and French Guiana, Martinique was intended to be legally identical to any department in the metropole. However, in reality, several key differences remained, particularly within social security payments and unemployment benefits.

Geography

Regions

Martinique consists of four arondissements

• Arrondissement of Fort-de-France is the most populous and home to the capital Fort-de-France
• Arrondissement of Le Marin
• Arrondissement of La Trinité
• Arrondissement of Saint-Pierre

Cities

• Fort-de-France, the capital
• Saint-Pierre
• La Trinite

Sights and Activities

La Savane

La Savane is an urban park in Fort-de-France. The large central park boasts grassy lawns, tall trees, bamboo and plenty of space to relax and enjoy the views. The harborside of La Savane has souvenir stalls, a newsstand and statues dedicated to early settlers and fallen soldiers. At the northern edge you can find a statue of the Empress Josephine holding a locket with a portrait of Napoleon. The park is the main focus of the action during Carnival and other major events in the capital.

Les Ombrages

Les Ombrages is a beautiful botanical garden. It is located at the site of what once was a rum distillery. It makes for a great break to stop here for a while and wander around the well maintained gardens. There is also the option of taking a trail where you will pass bamboo, tall trees with buttressed roots, torch gingers and the ruins of an old mill. It's a very pleasant and lush jungle walk which doesn't take to long and you can refresh with some fresh juices sold here afterwards.

Other sights and activities

• Musée de la Pagerie - former sugar estate, dedicated to the Empress Josephine
• Macouba - former tobacco town with great views across the sea and mountains
• Balata - another fine town with a church built to remember the people who died in WWI and a garden with thousands of tropical plants

Events and Festivals

Weather

Martinique has a hot and humid tropical climate with average daytime temperatures between 28 and 30 degrees Celcius and average nights around 23 degrees Celcius. Most rain falls between June and October with a change of hurricanes from August onwards. Therefore, the drier (and slightly cooler) December to April period is the best time to visit weatherwise. Unfortunately prices rise sharply during this period and the months of November and May still have good weather. So budgetwise these latter months may be a good option as well.

Getting there

Plane

Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport (FDF) is located near the capital Fort-de-France. Take Air has flights from Guadeloupe, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia and Antigua, among a few others. Air France has direct flighs from Paris. Several other airlines in the Caribbean region all have fligts, connecting most islands with Martinique.

Boat

• Martinique - Dominica vv

L'Express des Iles has 3 weekly services between Dominica and Martinique at 10.15am Wednesdays and Fridays and 12.15pm on Sundays, travelling between the capitals Roseau and Fort-de-France. From Martinique they leave on Mondays at 1pm and Saturdays at 11.30 am. It takes about 1,5 hours in both directions. Brudey Freres (french only) has services as well between the two islands.

• Martinique - Saint Lucia vv

Soufriere, St Lucia

© All Rights Reserved TigerPilot

Wednesdays and Fridays at 1.30pm and Sundays at 3.30pm, L'Express des Iles travels from Fort-de-France to Castries on Saint Lucia. In the opposite direction, ferries leave 5 times a week. Both crossings take about 80 minutes.

• Martinique - Guadeloupe vv

Express-des-Iles has services between Pointe-a-Pitre, Guadeloupe and Fort-de-France, Martinique at least five times weekly (Monday, Wednesday-Sunday) during low season, but six more during high season and school holidays. All ferries except the ones on Mondays stop in Dominica en route (see above) to Martinique, the other way around they don't stop on Fridays.

Getting Around

By Plane

You might be able to charter helicopters with Air Martinique, but it's expensive.

By Car

There are many international and local car rental agencies at the airport and Fort-de-France. An International Driving Permit is recommended, but a national driving licence is enought. You need to be 21 and have at least one year of driving experience. Driving is on the right and roads are generally in a very good condition. Bikes and motorcycles are also for rent.

By Bus

Many minibuses ( taxi collectifs) depart at frequent intervals from Pointe Simon in Fort-de-France to almost anywhere on the island and provide a good and inexpensive way of getting around between the main towns on the island, especially to Saint Pierre. There are less services on Sundays.
Taxis are plentiful as well, especially in and around Fort-de-France, but not much of an option if you want to cover large distances.

By Boat

Several companies offer ferry services between Fort-de-France and several resort areas. Somatours Vedettes runs a ferry to Pointe du Bout taking about 20 minutes and leaving every hour or so. Vedettes Madinina travels there as well. Matinik Cruise Line goes to the village of Trois-Ilets every 75 minutes or so.

Red Tape

As a part of France, most nationalities have the same requirements. A Schengen Visa is not valid though.

Money

See also Money Matters

As an overseas department of France, Martinique has adopted the Euro (ISO code: EUR, symbol: €) as its official currency. One Euro is divided into 100 cents, which is sometimes referred to as eurocents, especially when distinguishing them with the US cents.

Euro banknotes come in denominations of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, €500. The highest three denominations are rarely used in everyday transactions. All Euro banknotes have a common design for each denomination on both sides throughout the Eurozone.

The Euro coins are 1 cent, 2 cents, 5 cents, 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, €1 and €2. Some countries in the Eurozone have law which requires cash transactions to be rounded to the nearest 5 cents. All Euro coins have a common design on the denomination (value) side, while the opposite side may have a different image from one country to another. Although the image side may be different, all Euro coins remain legal tender throughout the Eurozone.

Work

Study

Language

Eat

Sleep

Drink

Health

See also Travel Health

There are no vaccinations legally required to travel to Martinique. There is one exception though. You need a yellow fever vaccination if you have travelled to a country (7 days or less before entering Martinique) where that disease is widely prevalent.

It's a good thing to get your vaccinations in order before travelling to Martinique. The general vaccination against Diphtheria, Tetanus and Polio (DTP) is recommended. Also a hepatitis A vaccination is recommended and vaccination against hepatitis B and typhoid are also sometimes recommended for stays longer than 3 months.

Dengue sometimes occurs as well. There is no vaccination, so buy mosquito repellent (preferably with 50% DEET), and sleep under a net. Also wear long sleeves if possible.

Finally, other possible health issues include diarrhea and other general travellers' diseases like motion sickness. Watch what you eat and drink and in case you get it, drink plenty of fluids (to prevent dehydration) and bring ORS.

Safety

See also Travel Safety

Keep Connected

Internet

Phone

See also International Telephone Calls

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