Martinique recommendations.

[Allan]

We arrived today in Fort du France, Martinique. We plan to explore the island by bus and taxi, then possibly take the boat elsewhere for swimming snorkeling etc. Any recommendations, with or without the boat?
Allan

 

[Toutvabien]

St Anne, St Pierre and Grand Anse were my personal favourite anchorages in Martinique, we stocked up all of our lockers at the Super U in Marin which has the dinghy dock near the checkouts.

Each location was slightly different with St Pierre having the history and architecture, Grand Anse and St Anne being a bit like French seaside resorts

 

[michael_w]

Do visit the Distillery Depaz, a half hour walk from St. Pierre. The horizontal steam engine cane crusher used to power the fountains at the Palace of Versailles. The spent cane is burned to provide the steam. All very interesting, if you like that sort of thing. Their Ron Agricole isn't bad either.

I've always fancied having a go at cruising the windward coast of Martinque. Le passe de loupe-garou, might be a bit scary.

 

[geem]

Do visit the Distillery Depaz, a half hour walk from St. Pierre. The horizontal steam engine cane crusher used to power the fountains at the Palace of Versailles. The spent cane is burned to provide the steam. All very interesting, if you like that sort of thing. Their Ron Agricole isn't bad either.

I've always fancied having a go at cruising the windward coast of Martinque. Le passe de loupe-garou, might be a bit scary.

We have cruised the windward side. Very nice and quiet. Anchorages behind reefs. Marked channels going in that we didnt expect and were bot on our charts.

 

[TQA]

Visit the Chateau Dubuc near Trinite. It dates back to 1657 and offers a an amazing glimpse into Caribbean plantation life from that time on. You can get there by bus.

Car hire is relatively inexpensive.

Grand e Anse D'Arlet is one of my favorite anchorages with excellent snorkeling just to the South of the anchorage.

If you are feeling energetic the tourist board have put together an excellent map showing hikes including some on Mnt Pelee the volcano that blew up in 1904.

If exploring Fort de France make sure and look into the library.

 

[Allan]

Visit the Chateau Dubuc near Trinite. It dates back to 1657 and offers a an amazing glimpse into Caribbean plantation life from that time on. You can get there by bus.

Car hire is relatively inexpensive.

Grand e Anse D'Arlet is one of my favorite anchorages with excellent snorkeling just to the South of the anchorage.

If you are feeling energetic the tourist board have put together an excellent map showing hikes including some on Mnt Pelee the volcano that blew up in 1904.

If exploring Fort de France make sure and look into the library.

Many thanks for that, we'll be looking into all of them. Bad news is that the buses are on strike for the third time in a month and we can't find a hire car! I'm sure we'll be fine though.
In the meantime we've found a world class bar 10 minutes walk from the marina Etang Z'abricot. It's called Le Cloud, not cheap but spot on! I'm not going to post anything else tonight, hic, hic.
Allan

 

[mattonthesea]

Do visit the Distillery Depaz, a half hour walk from St. Pierre. The horizontal steam engine cane crusher used to power the fountains at the Palace of Versailles. The spent cane is burned to provide the steam. All very interesting, if you like that sort of thing. Their Ron Agricole isn't bad either.

.

And, if you enjoy exploring by foot, take a left turn on the way back. I wandered along a contour road, around steep cliffs and all surrounded by gigantic versions of the pot plants in my house! It eventually brings you out above St Pierre where you can see the boats over the town.

 

[AndrewB]

I've always fancied having a go at cruising the windward coast of Martinque. Le passe de loupe-garou, might be a bit scary.

I did this one. My Admiralty chart had it in the wrong place. It showed Caye Mitan, once the islet marking the south side of the entrance, which was destroyed by a hurricane in the 1950's. Now its Loup Garou, on the north side. Confusing them, in an F6 trade wind I crashed straight up on the reef and fortunately blew right over - thank goodness for a steel hull.

Once inside Martinique has the best windward side cruising of any Caribbean island. You can anchor right off the ruinous Chateau Duboc, recommended by TQA (and me as well), in Baie de Tresor.

 

[Allan]

I'm sure the skipper won't entertain sailing the windward side! That was even before the blew over the reef story.
We've made a discovery of our own. We spent a few days at the marina Etang Z'abricot, 10 minutes walk up the road and almost impossible to find, is the bar Le Cloud. Quite expensive, good cocktails, some OK finger food, stunning views and for me, a great ambiance.
Tonight we're anchored off Fort du France, it's a bit rolly but OK. Off to St Pierre tomorrow. Hoping to visit the distillery at least, before heading for Dominica next. I'll be starting a new thread shortly if that's OK.
Allan

 

[mattonthesea]

To short circuit the next posts

Recommendations made to me by forumites in 2010 - and now passed on:

Dominica: Indian River in ?Portsmouth Bay

Isle des Saintes: bit weird; a bit of modern France but the castle is worth the visit. I'd have liked to explore more there.

Guadeloupe: Go up between the islands. It's called a canal. You have to go through the bridge before dawn and, once through, you have to navigate by smell and depth (or use the boat in front as a probe). Then the dawn is sensed through the sepia of the mango trees and the light breaks onto a sparkling bay. It's unbelievably beautiful.

Antigua: Sunday evening at Shirley Heights. Two types of tourist cultures meet in a musical evening outdoors at a fort: there are the North Atlantic tourists who climb up from English Harbour, tanned with faded clothes and bad haircuts; and the fortnight holiday tourists; bussed in, usually red or pink with bright and ironed clothes and immaculate coiffure. They talk nicely to each other but they don't really understand each other

 

[TQA]

T

Guadeloupe: Go up between the islands. It's called a canal. You have to go through the bridge before dawn and, once through, you have to navigate by smell and depth (or use the boat in front as a probe). Then the dawn is sensed through the sepia of the mango trees and the light breaks onto a sparkling bay. It's unbelievably beautiful.

er

Unfortunately one of the opening bridges broke down some years back.

AFAIK there is no intention of fixing the bridge.

If you have the time I can recommend Guadeloupe Cul de Sac du Marin. Excellent gunkholing

 

[Allan]

Many thanks for all the help so far. I would take issues with the comment that the distillery is "a half hour walk". Apart from that, everything has been great. Our visit to the distillery, which included a very nice lunch and plenty of sampling was a great success. I would suggest that anyone visiting Martinique and Grenada should visit Depaz here and the Rivers distillery on Grenada, the contrast is very interesting. After a lazy day today we're off to Dominica, I'm about to start a new thread.
Thanks again,
Allan