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.

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.

Five months! This is the duration of stay of the painter Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) in Martinique, the island he had already visited as a sailor. Indeed, Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin arrived in Martinique in June 1887 and stayed there for five months.

The painter, left with his painter friend Charles Laval work on the construction of the Panama Canal, decided to join Martinique as soon as he would meet the necessary sum.

During these five months, Gauguin moved to the Anse Turin in Le Carbet. He painted twelve paintings and had a natural daughter.

Gauguin lived in precarious conditions, which forced him to return to France in October 1887.

However, his Martinican experience will remain as a turning point in his life as an artist and in his painting.

The Paul Gauguin Heritage Interpretation Center pays tribute to the painter, his work, especially during his stay in Martinique.

Closed for four years for renovations, the museum reopens in April 2014 under the name Centre d'Interprétation du Patrimoine (C.I.P.)  Paul Gauguin (Paul Gauguin Heritage Interpretation Center). In a modernized set, with a fun and interactive media space, the Paul Gauguin Interpretive Center offers the public a dive into all the senses in the world of the painter and his stay in Carbet in 1887.

A new space for temporary exhibitions to promote young artists (including schools) from Martinique and the Caribbean. Numerous exhibitions and projects are planned every year.

Do not hesitate to contact the museum for more information.

Located in a lush green setting, the Banana Museum sits within the “Limbe” plantation, a banana estate in the town of Sainte-Marie. During your visit, you'll explore the history of the banana—from its introduction to the Caribbean during 16th-century colonization to its role today.

The museum showcases over 65 banana species out of the 300 recorded worldwide, spread across a scenic 4-hectare trail.

You’ll also discover fascinating insights into the world’s favorite fruit: its origins, cultivation techniques, culinary uses, and more.

On-site, the restaurant “La Bananeraie” invites you to enjoy inventive dishes where bananas take center stage.

Occasional exhibitions are also held, celebrating the banana in all its cultural and botanical richness.

Located at the southern entrance to the bay of Le Marin, Pointe Marin beach is one of the island's top 5 most beautiful beaches. Its fine white sand, blue water and coconut palms offering welcome shade make it one of the island's most pleasant swimming spots.

It also has public showers for rinsing off after a swim. The atmosphere is very family-oriented, with families and groups of friends choosing this place to spend the day. At weekends, the site is very lively. So you can enjoy the local warmth, often with live music.

Snacks and refreshment stands are available on-site. Swimming is supervised. Various activities are on offer, including introductory scuba diving (sea outings and water sports equipment hire), canoe-kayak and jet-ski rentals.

Vehicles are required to pay an entrance fee, so remember to bring a few euros (less than €5) if you're coming by car.

To get there, head towards the commune of Sainte-Anne, just before the entrance to the village, where the signs point precisely to this beach.

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!

The beach of Anse du Carbet or Plage du Coin is known for being the one on which Christopher Columbus landed on June 15, 1502. It is also the place that marks the beginning of colonization in Martinique. Indeed, it is the beach on which the first settlers of the island would have landed, including the most famous Pierre d'Esnambuc.

It is a grey sand beach shaded and animated by the activity of fishermen.

The water is calm but there are strong waves due to the wind. This beach has a pontoon.

Several restaurants are located there and you can enjoy local flavors almost with your feet in the water. To get there, head towards the north of Martinique and continue towards Carbet / Saint-Pierre, a little after Neisson, you will see the sign "Plage du Coin" encouraging you to turn left to get there. There is a small parking lot.

Grande Anse beach of Anse d'Arlet is one of the largest beaches in Martinique. It is also a very quiet beach sheltered from the waves. It is very sunny afternoon and a little windy.

The water is very clear and limpid. It has a platform from which we can see very clearly the sand and the rocks in the water. It is very common to see sea stars or other tropical fish. 

A mask and snorkel are recommended to see the seabed fauna. For snorkeling enthusiasts, a 200-metre trail has been set up by the Conservatoire du Littoral near Cap Salomon at the entrance to the bay. If you see starfish, be aware that they are a protected species in Martinique and that it is strictly forbidden to take them from the water and leave with them.

Diving and canoeing activities are available on the beach for a fee.

It is possible to eat thanks to the numerous restaurants and bars present on the spot along the whole length of the beach.

It's a very quiet beach during the week, but much frequented by families living in the area at weekends.

Be prepared for a lively atmosphere at weekends, and it's possible to get a full taste of local life by listening to local music played on the beach by the bathers present. So this beach may leave a different impression if you go during the week or on a weekend or public holiday.