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Martinique

The Rum Capital of the World

  • Overview
  • Map
  • Gallery
  • Airport

Croissants, Palm Trees and a Volcano!

With croissants and palm trees, all perched near a live volcano, Martinique is the definition of a refined French-Caribbean island – fashionable and elegant, with an abundance of flora. Filled with ruins and monuments, Martinique has been French, with a few interruptions, since 1635. And as an overseas department of France, it revels in French history and savoir-faire. It offers gorgeous beaches, lots of rum and great food.

For a sample sailing itinerary with BlueFoot Travel click the ‘Map’ button at the top of the page.

Bananas, Cane and Rum

Tourism is important, but so are banana farming, cane, and the rum business. Its many small museums focus on curiosities such as banana farming and ancient island civilisations.  The capital, Fort-de-France, displays colonial charm along with its yacht-filled harbour and offers lots to see in its narrow galleried streets. Busy fish and produce markets give rich local flavour, and we enjoy visiting the market in St Pierre.

Restaurants are among the best in the Caribbean. Local seafood offerings include Balaou (ballyhoo, a kind of fish), Soudons (clams), Cribiches (freshwater crayfish) and langouste (Caribbean lobster). Tropical produce such as breadfruit, cassava and Christophines are common local ingredients.

La Route des Rhums

Just as wine lovers regularly visit France to savour the best of French wine while travelling along La Route des Vins, rum connoisseurs are increasingly making their way to Martinique to experience some of the world’s finest and most distinctive rums by travelling La Route des Rhums. The self-guided tour directs visitors to 10 distilleries located throughout the island, each welcoming visitors with insightful tours and free tastings that together affirm Martinique’s position as “The Rum Capital of the World.”. One of our favourites is Depaz Rum Distillery, at the foot of the Pelée volcano.

Sail in Style

Don’t just visit Martinique…take a sailing holiday here! Whether you are travelling solo, as a couple or a group, you will have an unforgettable yacht charter with BlueFoot Travel. Join a shared or private crewed yacht. Relax and recharge. Enjoy delicious healthy food. Get hands-on sailing experience if you wish. And have lots of fun as you sail from one beautiful island to the next. Sail in style with BlueFoot Travel.

Further Information

Latest travel advisory for Martinique

Martinique’s Official Site

Martinique on Trip Advisor

Martinique on Windfinder

Source: Caribbean Tourism Development Company

Sailing Itinerary

A typical BlueFoot Travel sailing itinerary including Martinique looks like this. Please click the ‘+’ in the chart to zoom in to see anchorage and route details.

A huge smile as one of our guests on board Nemo takes the helm as we sail along the coast of Martinique

A huge smile as one of our guests on board Nemo takes the helm as we sail along the coast of Martinique

Guests getting ready to drop the anchor in St Pierre, Martinique

Guests getting ready to drop the anchor in St Pierre, Martinique

Nemo anchored in St Pierre with Mt Pelee in the background

Nemo anchored in St Pierre with Mt Pelee in the background

The theatre ruins in St Pierre destroyed in the eruption of 1902

The theatre ruins in St Pierre destroyed in the eruption of 1902

Mount Pelee as taken from SY Nemo anchored in St Pierre

Mount Pelee as taken from SY Nemo anchored in St Pierre

The dock in St Pierre as the lovely Caribbean sun sets for another day

The dock in St Pierre as the lovely Caribbean sun sets for another day

Sunset walk around St Pierre

Sunset walk around St Pierre

A group walk up to the Depaz rum distillery in St Pierre

A BlueFoot Travel group walk up to the Depaz rum distillery in St Pierre

Depaz Rhum Distillery signage in their museum

Depaz Rhum Distillery signage in their museum

A sign at the Depaz Rhum Distillery showing the workers harvesting the sugar cane

A sign at the Depaz Rhum Distillery showing the workers harvesting the sugarcane

Boulevard du Rhum at the Depaz Distillery

Boulevard du Rhum at the Depaz Distillery

Not sure what these do in the rum distilling process, but they are pretty!

Not sure what these do in the rum distilling process, but they are pretty!

The Depaz family estate

The Depaz family estate

Sam and Neil from BlueFoot Travel enjoying a day trip to the Depaz Rhum Distillery in St Pierre

Sam and Neil enjoying a day trip to the Depaz Rhum Distillery in St Pierre

Our route as captured by SPOT down the coast of Martinique

Our route as captured by SPOT down the coast of Martinique

Statue near Pelée Volcano Museum

Clément Rum Distillery

HMS Diamond Rock

A view of HMS Diamond Rock as we sail from Martinique to St Lucia

A view of HMS Diamond Rock as we sail from Martinique to St Lucia

Plage Des Boucaniers

Fishing boats in Martinique

Fishing boats in Martinique

Martinique’s Airport

Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport (FDF)

Travel Advisory

Important: Please ensure you read the latest Travel advisory for Martinique before planning your flights for your sailing trip. Please confirm your flight details with BlueFoot Travel before booking your flights.

Airlines and airports

LIAT flies directly to Antigua, Barbados, Dominique, Grenada, St Lucia Castries, St Vincent, Tobago

Air France has direct flights to and from Guadeloupe, St Martin Grand Case and Miami and Orly West

Air Antilles Express has direct flights to Guadeloupe, St Martin Grand Case, St Martin Juliana, St Lucia, St Barts, San Juan

Air Caraibes has direct flights to Guadeloupe, St Martin Grand Case, St Lucia and Orly South

American Airlines has direct flights to Miami

Air Canada has direct flights to Montreal

Air Transat has direct flights to Montreal

XL Airways has direct flights to Paris CDG

Flight times

Flight time from Montreal is approximately five hours, Paris seven hours and Miami 3.5 hours.

Transfer times

Fort de France marina is approximately 15 minutes in a taxi from the airport. More information on taxis can be found here.

Sailing Holidays in Martinique

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Our Sailing Destinations

We offer crewed charters around these Caribbean islands!

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Fast facts

Main City:
Fort-de-France
Population:
~ 403,000
Languages:
French, English and Creole
Currency:
Euro (€)
Climate:
~ 26°C / 79ºF
Local Beer:
Lorraine
Local Rum:
Lots! Including Depaz, Clément and St James
Local Dish:
Chicken Colombo with rice
Must Do:
Rum Factory Tour

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