Explore lush Martinique rainforest
Martinique Eco-Travel
Mount Pelee is a 4,500 foot mountain in the north of the island. In 1902, Mount Pelee erupted. Nearly 40,000 people perished after the eruption, leaving only 2 survivors, one being a man who had been placed in a dungeon the night before. The story is an interesting one and there are still remnants of the destruction in town before or after your hike.
Fog rolls in early & often. To get a sunny panoramic view of the island, leave very early for your hike. There are several hiking points to start from, the trip is several hours and not an easy trek for the light-winded, but you can see the island from an active volcano.
Caravelle Peninsula is a small stretch of land on the northeastern side of the island void of large properties. The absence of human development, makes it a quiet, unhurried and protected land space with a scenic hiking trail. There are several loops giving you an option for full day or half day hikes and a great chance to explore the flora and fauna on the island. Deserts, dry forests, and coastlines are just a few of the landscapes you’ll discover.
Balata Gardens are a way to see the green side of Martinique on a smaller scale. While there be sure to climb the tree top trail to take in the verdant landscape from high above. Its best to arrive at opening, as late morning cruise crowds descend on the gardens en masse. In addition, a superior infrastructure of roads and well-maintained trails makes it easy to get to the Martinique’s Eco-Travel spots.
Sub-tropical Martinique mangrove ringing parts of the island
Martinique Eco-Travel features 31 trails that spread across the island. They are maintained well by the Nation Forest Division. The most popular is Route de la Trace, a trail that winds its way up Mount Pelée, passing through jungle and mountain landscapes that characterize much of the island scenery. Formerly a road, it is now maintained for recreational hikers between Fort-de-France and Morne Rouge.
Le Domaine de la Vallee is located in the interior highlands in the shadow of Mount Pelée and offers visitors a chance to see sustainable agricultural practices up close. Le Domaine also boasts a low-impact system for irrigation and utilizes solar panels as its main power source. A less expensive view of rural farm life is available for those who want to travel the back roads of the island and experience the traditional small scale farming that takes place in the many Creole Gardens.
