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Itinerary

7 days Martinique: Trois-Ilets + South beaches + Saint-Pierre

One week in Martinique: base Trois-Ilets (Anse Mitan), Salines beach (most beautiful in French Caribbean), Anses d'Arlet (sea turtles), Saint-Pierre and Montagne Pelee, Diamant. Ideal beach + culture + volcanic nature combination.

The Editors
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Expert on Martinique · 1 contributions

Reviewed by :Africa & Americas Desk — Mowando·Editor
Estimated budget
€1,200 - €2,000 per person
moyen
Ideal for
  • · First-time Caribbean visitors
  • · Couples seeking beach + culture
  • · Families with kids 6+
When to go

December, January, February, March, April

Classic 7-day Martinique itinerary: Trois-Ilets base + island tour (south-north). No visa, EUR, 8h direct flight. The Caribbean without friction for a French audience.

Trip map

Click each numbered marker to see the corresponding day.

Chargement de la carte…

Day by day

  1. 1
    Day 1

    Arrival Fort-de-France

    Direct Paris-Fort-de-France (FDF) flight (8h, Air France/Air Caraibes/Corsair daily, €400-1200 return depending on season). No visa (French territory), ID card sufficient. Land at Aime Cesaire (15 km from centre). Rental car ESSENTIAL (€40-70/day, book 2-3 months ahead in high season). Settle hotel in Fort-de-France centre (Squash Hotel €80-130) or directly at Trois-Ilets (Pointe du Bout - Bambou Hotel €100-180, Carayou €120-200). Evening first ti-punch + bokit or accras de morue at local bar.

    Tips
    • · No visa: Martinique = French territory. ID card sufficient for EU.
    • · Rental car: ESSENTIAL, book 2-3 months ahead in high season (Dec-April)
    • · Pointe du Bout hotels (Trois-Ilets): Bambou (€100-180), Carayou (€120-200)
    • · Direct Paris-FDF flight: 8h, €400-1200 return depending on season
    Fort-de-France →
  2. 2
    Day 2

    Fort-de-France + Trois-Ilets

    Morning Fort-de-France: covered market (spices, flowers, exotic fruits, 7am-noon), Bibliotheque Schoelcher (Eiffel metallic architecture 1893, free), Fort Saint-Louis (17th c.), Saint-Louis Cathedral, La Savane walk. Local lunch break (€15-25/person). Afternoon crossing to Trois-Ilets by ferry from Malecon (€8/person, 20 min - avoids road traffic). Pointe du Bout + Anse Mitan: white sand beach, beach resort atmosphere. La Pagerie Museum (about Josephine de Beauharnais's youth, €5). Sunset over Fort-de-France bay.

    Tips
    • · Maritime shuttle FDF-Trois-Ilets: €8/person, 20 min, avoids road traffic
    • · FDF market: opens 7am, peak crowds 9-11am
    • · Pagerie Museum: no booking needed, 30 min visit
    • · Dinner Trois-Ilets: La Mauresque (€60/person) or Le Petibonum beach
    Fort-de-France →Les Trois-Îlets →
  3. 3
    Day 3

    South: Salines beach + Sainte-Anne

    Drive to the south of the island (40 min from Trois-Ilets). Salines beach in Sainte-Anne: the most beautiful beach in the French Caribbean (1 km of white sand, coconut palms, 26°C turquoise water). Arrive early (8-9am) to avoid midday crowds. Snorkeling possible towards the point. Lunch snack at Plage des Salines (smoked chicken, accras, ti-punch - €15-20/person) or Restaurant Touloulou in Sainte-Anne. Afternoon Sainte-Anne village: craft market, village beach, church. Pointe des Salines (30 min trail): 360° panorama over Anses d'Arlet and southern point.

    Tips
    • · Salines beach: arrive 8-9am (crowds x3 at noon)
    • · No umbrellas on site: bring your own or sit under coconut palms
    • · Water, hat, SPF 50 - intense tropical UV
    • · Lunch: Touloulou (sea view, €25-35) or beach snacks (€15-20)
    Sainte-Anne →
  4. 4
    Day 4

    Diamant + Anses d'Arlet

    Morning Le Diamant: 4 km beach facing the Rocher du Diamant (175m volcanic rock, listed natural site). Panoramic view from Memorial Anse Caffard (15 white statues commemorating slavery). Afternoon drive to Anses d'Arlet (20 km): Grande Anse with its iconic jetty and small church facing the sea (postcard photo of Martinique). Petite Anse for snorkeling (frequent sea turtles). Local village dinner (€15-30/person).

    Tips
    • · Anse Caffard Memorial: 15 white statues, iconic photo early morning (golden light)
    • · Petite Anse d'Arlet: SEA TURTLES regular (snorkeling 5m from shore)
    • · Grande Anse: church + jetty = postcard photo, go before 9am
    • · Anses d'Arlet village dinner: Ti Sable (€35-50) or local snack €20
    Le Diamant →
  5. 5
    Day 5

    North: Saint-Pierre + Montagne Pelee

    Drive to Saint-Pierre (1h from Trois-Ilets): the Pompeii of the Caribbean. In 1902, the eruption of Montagne Pelee (1397m volcano) destroyed the city and killed 30,000 inhabitants in 2 minutes. Visit Musee Frank Perret (volcanology, €8), theatre ruins, Cyparis cachot (only survivor). Centre brunch. Afternoon Montagne Pelee trail: for sporty, hike to summit (4h round trip, 1100m elevation) or alternative Cap 110 at Caffard. Otherwise visit Depaz distillery (1917, AOC agricultural rum, €5 tasting included) at the foot of the volcano. Back Trois-Ilets evening.

    Tips
    • · Saint-Pierre Musee Frank Perret: €8, allow 1h
    • · Montagne Pelee: 4h round-trip climb, frequent fog after 10am, leave 6am
    • · Depaz distillery: free visit, €5 tasting, AOC Martinique agricultural rum
    • · Le Carbet: Anse Couleuvre beach black sand (30 min walk from road)
    Saint-Pierre →
  6. 6
    Day 6

    Tartane (Caravelle peninsula) + Diamant

    Morning Caravelle peninsula (45 min from Trois-Ilets): nature reserve with marked trails (8 km loop, 3h, red marking), mangroves, spectacular cliffs, Dubuc castle ruins (18th c. - sugar plantation), Caravelle lighthouse. Anse l'Etang beach (north coast, surf possible). Lunch Snack du Vieux Phare or Le Phare restaurant in Tartane (grilled fish, €20-30). Afternoon back Le Diamant for 2nd beach session + iconic sunset with Rocher in background. Evening fancy restaurant (La Suite Villa, €60-90/person).

    Tips
    • · Caravelle reserve: 8 km loop, 3h, red marking, closed shoes recommended
    • · Anse l'Etang: beginner surf season Nov-March (more formed waves)
    • · Diamant sunset: iconic photo with Rocher in background
    • · La Suite Villa dinner: revisited Creole cuisine €60-90, booking 1 week ahead
    Tartane →Le Diamant →
  7. 7
    Day 7

    Free morning + Paris return

    Free morning depending on flight. Options: last swim Anses d'Arlet (Petite Anse for turtles), AOC rum shopping (8 distilleries: Clement, JM, Trois-Rivieres, Neisson, La Mauny, Saint-James, Dillon, HSE - €25-50/bottle aged agricultural), craft souvenirs (Caribbean pearls, Creole clothing). Hotel brunch. Return car at Aime Cesaire airport. 3h airport margin. Direct Fort-de-France → Paris CDG/Orly flight (8h30 return, headwind). End of trip. For luggage: agricultural AOC rum bought at distillery (50% cheaper than airport).

    Tips
    • · AOC distilleries: Clement (near FDF), JM (north coast), Trois-Rivieres
    • · Aged agricultural rum: €25-50/bottle at distillery vs €60-100 airport
    • · 3h FDF airport margin (controls + car return)
    • · No cigars at airport (tobacco ban), buy at distillery
    Fort-de-France →

Frequently asked questions

Faut-il un visa pour la Martinique ?+
Non, la Martinique est un territoire francais (Region et Departement d'Outre-mer). La carte d'identite francaise suffit (passeport valide recommande quand meme, certaines compagnies aeriennes l'exigent). Pas de change, pas de visa, pas de declaration douane. Roaming europeen fonctionne mais le forfait Outre-mer n'est pas inclus chez tous les operateurs - verifier avec Free, Orange, SFR avant le depart.
Quand visiter ?+
Decembre a avril est la saison seche (careme), ideale : 28-30 °C, ciel degage, mer turquoise. Pic touristique fevrier-mars (vacances scolaires, Carnaval). Juin a novembre est l'hivernage avec pluies tropicales courtes mais soutenues, cyclones possibles septembre-octobre. Mai et novembre sont des mois de transition acceptables avec prix plus doux.
Quel budget ?+
Compter 1 200-2 000 €/personne tout compris : vol direct Paris-FDF A/R (400-1 200 € selon saison), 6 nuits hotel 3-4* (500-800 €), location voiture 7 jours (250-400 €), repas (200-300 €), activites + entrees (100-200 €). Petit budget en appart : 800-1 000 €. Premium en resort 4-5* (Bambou, La Suite Villa) : 2 500-4 500 €.
Faut-il louer une voiture ?+
OUI absolument. La Martinique fait 80 km de long. Pas de transports en commun touristiques fiables. Voiture petite categorie 40-70 €/jour (Hertz, Avis, Sixt aeroport + locaux Jumbo, Discount). Reserver 2-3 mois avant en haute saison (dec-avril), sinon prix triples last minute. Conduite a droite, routes correctes mais sinueuses dans le Nord.
Quelle base choisir ?+
Trois-Ilets (Pointe du Bout) est la station hoteliere historique avec navette maritime vers Fort-de-France. Alternatives : Sainte-Anne (proche plages du Sud, plus authentique), Le Diamant (plage 4 km face au Rocher), Le Francois (cote atlantique, fonds blancs). Pour 7 jours, recommandation : 5-6 nuits a Trois-Ilets + 1 nuit Nord (Saint-Pierre) facultative.

Our verdict

This 7-day itinerary is Martinique's essentials for a first visit. Trois-Ilets (Pointe du Bout) base well-located to radiate south (Salines, Diamant, Anses d'Arlet beaches) and north (Saint-Pierre, Pelee). No visa, EUR, 8h direct flight - the zero-friction combo that makes Martinique THE ideal Caribbean destination for first-time French travellers. Visit in December-April for dry season. Average budget €1,200-2,000/person. To extend, 10 days allows adding the Atlantic coast (Le Francois fonds blancs) and 14 days adding Dominica (Express des Iles ferry excursion).

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Written by La rédaction · Updated 6/7/2026

Martinique

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