Located 2 km from the town of Vauclin, the beach of Pointe Faula is unique in Martinique.

The water is shallow and for a comfortable swim, adults have to walk a lot before reaching normal sized water for swimming. Lined with coconut trees, it offers a nice shade for those who wish to picnic.

Another advantage of this beach, the warmth of its waters. Indeed, the water is one of the hottest throughout the Caribbean.

This beach is frequently affected by the various episodes of sargassum that hit the Atlantic coast.

Many activities are offered there (sailing, windsurfing, kitesurfing). It is the beach par excellence for water sports requiring wind due to its totally unobstructed exposure on the Atlantic coast. Also you can come there only to admire the magnificent kitesurf wings.

Snacks are available on the beach for those who wish to eat there. It also has tables and benches in the shade of the sun.

Concerts are sometimes organized there like the Baccha Festival or Music on the beach or the Jazz à la Pointe.

To get there, go to the southest of the island and the municipality of "Vauclin", once you arrive in the city, several signs will guide you to the beach of Pointe Faula.

Anse Madame beach is located in the heart of the commune of Schoelcher, close to the village beach. It's a small beach of fine grey sand, best known for its important nautical base, the Cercle Nautique de Schoelcher.

It is for this reason that many people go there, as it remains a beach that suffers from competition from the town's other beaches.

A waterfront restaurant enables visitors and residents to enjoy lunch or dinner overlooking the sea.

There are also play areas for children.

To get there, head for the town of Schoelcher and then follow the signs for Anse Madame.

If you're a keen hiker, Anse Lévrier is the place for you, as it's only accessible after a walk through the abundant nature of the north of the island. Grab your walking shoes (especially not white ones, as you'll have to wade through mud and small fords to reach it), head for Anse Couleuvre and off you go.

In addition to being a wild, quiet and little-known beach, Anse Lévrier has the island's blackest sand.

railroad vine (Ipomoea pes-caprae) have made their home here. They're home to many varieties of crabs and hermit crabs, and birds sometimes wander in looking for food, so if you can, avoid walking on them.

Likewise, if you see mygale spiders (matoutou cliff spiders) on your walk to the site, you can touch them and put them on your hand - they're neither dangerous nor poisonous. However, put them back where you found them, as they don't tolerate all climates or habitats.

On your way there, you'll be able to see a superb panorama of the north of Martinique, and if the sky is clear, catch a glimpse of the island of Dominica to the north of Martinique, so remember to take your camera with you. Even if the walk to get there doesn't require an athletic level, access remains difficult for small children.

What's more, there's a "hole" in the cliff called a blowhole. We strongly advise against swimming in this hole, as in the event of a strong swell, you could be swept down and drown. So be careful!

To get to L'Anse Lévrier from Fort-de-France, take the N2 towards Saint-Pierre, then the D10 towards Le Prêcheur, and continue on the D10 towards Anse Couleuvre until you reach the beach and its small parking lot. Once there, put on your shoes and set off for a 15-20 minute walk to Anse Lévrier.

It's worth noting that this beach can also be seen on the "Anses du Prêcheur" tour (boat tour to visit all Le Prêcheur beach).

Plage la Charmeuse is the southernmost beach of Le Prêcheur and therefore the closest to the town. It is also a black sand beach, like all the others in the municipality.

It is little frequented, and bathers are mainly residents.

Small rocks sometimes replace the sand on the beach, so be sure to bring appropriate footwear to avoid sore feet.

From the beach, you'll have a magnificent view of the town and, in particular, the church, whose bell tower was built in the 17th century as a gift from King Louis XIV to the Marquise de Maintenon. Indeed, the Marquise, secret wife of the Sun King, adored Martinique and especially Le Prêcheur, where she spent part of her life.

A small bridge nearby is the starting point for a tour of the Prêcheur coves, where an alcoholic snack is offered at the end of the course.

To get there from Fort-de-France, take the N2 towards Saint-Pierre, then once in Saint-Pierre, the D10 towards Le Prêcheur. Shortly after the village, a sign announces the entrance to the beach.

Anse Désert is located next to the Karibea Resort, notably the Résidence Corail, and is frequented mainly by Resort guests. Like its Sainte-Luce counterparts, it offers ideal bathing conditions. Its golden sands and turquoise waters are second to none in the south.

Its great distinction is undoubtedly the many trees lining the beach, which provide pleasant shade for picnics and a more balanced exposure to the sun. What's more, the large boulders have created natural bathtubs that are ideal for children.

Anse Désert is not very popular during the week or even at weekends.

To get there, take the D7 departmental road, then the N5 national road leading to the Sainte-Luce beaches. Then take a dirt road for about 200 meters past "Karib Pizza". On-site parking is available.

Located in Schœlcher, Anse Collat also called Plage du Lido is a wonderful little beach. It will charm all those who are looking for a beach where they can enjoy peace.

With its white sand, turquoise-blue water and coconut palms, it's sure to delight anyone staying around the central Caribbean area or Fort-de-France.

To get there from Le Lamentin, take the freeway, after that, use the Rocade, then the N2 towards Saint-Pierre. Between Schœlcher and Case-Pilote, a sign on the left reads "Anse Collat." Take the long, dead-end descent. At the end, on the left, you'll see the Lido beach.

From Saint-Pierre, take the N2 towards Fort-de-France between Case-Pilote and Schœlcher. A sign on your left will indicate the entrance to Anse Collat beach.

Anse des Raisiniers beach is located near the town of Trinité. It owes its name to the sea grape trees (raisiniers in French) that border it.

It's a wonderful little beach between the town of Trinité and Tartane and will appeal to families in search of peace. It is a little frequented during the week and slightly more so at weekends. The water is clear and turquoise, and the sand is fine white.

It is similar to its neighbor beach, Anse de Tartane.

To get there, head for downtown Trinité. Just before the village, a small slip road leads to Tartane.

Don't head for the main road leading to Tartane, which will take you to Tartane's four beaches: Anse de Tartane, Anse de la Brêche, Anse l'étang and Anse Bonneville.

If there are two unmissable visits to do when you go to Martinique, it is the Habitation Clément and Jardin de Balata. It was in 1982 that Jean-Philippe Thoze, horticulturist, landscape designer and artist in the soul returns to the footsteps of his childhood home of his Creole grandparents. From there, born a passion for botany that will lead him to the four corners of the world.

The garden is organized around the family home in typical Creole architecture, is the result of a perfect alchemy between a homecoming and an atypical artist.

The garden opened its doors for the first time on 19 April 1986 and takes its name from the many old trees which where on the land. The property acquired by the father of Jean-Philippe Thoze during the war, was then a simple cottage-style house looking like a farm. Subsequently, it was sold to the grandmother of the current owner who first used as a second home as a main residence and during his retirement. At his death the property was abandoned during ten years.

Jean-Philippe Thoze, horticulturist at the head of a landscaping company, used it as storage place for abandoned plants he used to bring of his many travels. Then came the day when the family decides to sell and it is naturally to Jean-Philippe Thoze they asked to clear. On this occasion he rediscovers Balata and literally fell in love. He bought the property, and from what had become a savanna where nature had reclaimed its rights, he creates progressively a garden that now houses more than 3,000 species of tropical plants.

To get there from Lamentin, take RN5 towards Morne Rouge, from Fort-de-France take the "Route de Balata / Route de la Trace" towards the Morne Rouge.

Les Salines is "THE" beach in Martinique. In the opinion of almost the entire population, it's the most beautiful beach on the island and is sometimes even described as one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire Caribbean archipelago.

We could even talk about twin beaches, as there are Grande Anse des Salines and Petite Anse des Salines, both of which are equally impressive.

Plage des Salines is often used as a poster for postcards and tourist brochures from Martinique. A long beach of white sand lined with coconut palms, with turquoise-blue waters, this beach has nothing to envy the most beautiful beaches on the paradise islands!

It's very crowded during the week, especially with tourists, and even more so at weekends, when tourists mingle with residents. Bathing is pleasant and not dangerous, even if small or medium-sized waves are sometimes encountered.

There are tables and benches in the shaded areas, and showers for rinsing off after a swim. Restaurants are also available on the beach and nearby.

At the end of the beach, you can visit the Etang des Salines, whose protected ecosystem, well explained on the signs lining the route, is special. You'll discover a multitude of crabs during the ten-minute walk along the pontoon, and if you're lucky, migratory birds pass through our island during the North American winter.

Salines beach is also known as the departure point for young Martinican resistance fighters who made their way to Saint Lucia to join the Free French Forces during the Second World War.

Salines beach is the southern tip of Martinique. You can get there by heading towards the commune of Sainte-Anne and following the excellent signposts, which prevent you from getting lost.

A MUST SEE!

Ilet Chevalier as well as the Salines beach is a little place you must visit when you are in Martinique. This islet located on the coast of the east peninsula of Sainte Anne, protected by the coral reef is a natural paradise as long in length and width.

It can be reached by paying shuttle bus from the Cap Chevalier shoreline in just a few minutes by boat (500 meters). You won't want to miss the shuttles (Taxis du Cap or a few fishermen) on the Cap Chevalier pontoon.

Please note that after 4 PM, access to the islet will be denied. To protect the island's flora and fauna, no visitor may remain on the islet after 6 PM.

During the crossing, you can admire the rocks on the islet. The vegetation on the islet is dense and varied, with coconut palms and cacti. A small, well-trodden path allows you to cross the islet and make the most of its natural beauty.

And what about the beach? A true paradise! Fine white sand and clear, calm turquoise-blue water will leave no one indifferent to this postcard-perfect landscape. For experienced swimmers, it's possible to swim across to Anse Michel beach just opposite.

Unfortunately, the site is affected by the possible presence of sargassum.

To get there, head for the municipality of Sainte-Anne, then follow the signs for "Cap Chevalier". Beware, the unmade road may put you off, but when you see this magnificent landscape, you're bound to be won over!