Martinique: the ultimately wild French island to be traced urgently

© D. Giral

To those who are looking for a shoot of sun and nature " wahou " while staying in France in this complicated period: your destination is found, with a simple identity card, a negative test in your pocket, a certificate of honor who claims you have no symptoms and a plane ticket .

Anyone in the Caribbean will tell you: Martinique is seen as the most wonderful and wild island. Its singularity? It has several faces: black sands in the North, an Atlantic face with almost Breton spray, not to mention the volcanoes but also the Caribbean Sea with turquoise water in the South.

In short: the ideal spot where you can twist your desires for bohemian surfing, trendy beach clubs such as glamping , tropical canyoning , not to mention visits to colonial houses and the discovery of secret beaches. Everything is possible ! The secret ? Rent a 4x4 at the airport to cruiser all over the island. We take you to Martinique, the destination highlighted by Air France Travel Guide .

© D.Giral

It's the wild and sophisticated once-in-a-lifetime experience. The appointment is made on the Oscar au François Island, famous for its white backgrounds, its extraordinary natural swimming pools, its turquoise water and its coral reef .

True paradise on earth, moreover established as a “ natural wonder ”, this small island of 6 hectares shelters an extraordinary classified colonial house which one reaches by boat. The private property of Arthur de Lucy's now serves as a guest house (to be completely privatized and whose rooms can also be rented) where guests are welcomed like friends of the family.

It remains to be seen how you will organize your slow life: splash from your private pontoon before breakfast, diving , paddle boarding , inspired readings in the colonial library, mojito under the coconut trees, dinner around a grilled lobster facing the sunset ...

© CMT

You have to take to the sea to discover the ultimate Caribbean experience. The must ? A boat trip for rent via Beyond the Beach : catamarans with a sailor for a day of coasting through the coves and islets of the coast from several marinas.

Departure in the early morning with swimming in the most beautiful spots of the island, Creole lunch, snorkeling and why not observation session with the dolphins before the essential rum aperitif in front of the sunset.

© CMT et © Ti'Bao

With the rise of green tourism , Martinique has all the heart assets to get into glamping . Instead, aim for the luxury tents of Kawaida , located in the heart of nature in Trois-Rivières to wake up to a breathtaking view.

We also like: the Ti'Bao hut perched in a baobab tree in the middle of a tropical garden of the Ti'Bakoua domain, facing the Morne Larcher volcano . The dream.

© Lili's Beach Martinique

After years of good and loyal service in Fort-de-France , Lili's Beach , a veritable festive institution in Martinique , is moving and is preparing to reopen its doors in August to become Lili's à la Plage au François, in the spirit of the beach houses of Saint-Barth ' to spend the day sunbathing and socializing on the beach of theRelais & Château Cap Est (still under construction) in white sand and lagoon blue sea mode.

On the program : beach bar, sophisticated cocktails, local cuisine based on local and fresh products, daily catch, hut in the water and kite surfing club . In short: the new spot the most anticipated by the jet set of the Caribbean.

And also: Chill Martinique , the restaurant where elegant islanders meet on Diamant beach .

© Hotel Plein Soleil

Martinique is not really famous for its hotel services. To prove its reputation, a new generation of really hot guest houses and boutique hotels is emerging.

Starting with Plein Soleil , a 16-room hotel with exquisite taste, perched on the heights of Pointe Thalémont in François , with a swimming pool in the heart of a tropical garden. The extra thing? His che f Rudy Réclair, voted best chef of the year 2019 by the Gault Millau guide. Yum.

Another hot spot noticed : Villa Apolline in Fort-de-France for its decoration by Moana Luu .

© @nomad_barrel and @ itacaresurfshop972 on Instagram

There is a real old-fashioned surf culture in Martinique. It is mainly practiced near the small village of Tartane , in the nature and bohemian vibes of Bali . In short, the ideal spot to take out your board in a dream environment.

The HQ of this seaside village is resolutely Bliss , the surf school which provides insane lessons for adults and children (160 €), beginners as well as highly experienced students with passionate teachers (surfing, bodyboarding) . After taking the wave, we come to squat the club tavern with a juice or a beer facing the sunset. As a bonus, Bliss also offers insane rooms with WiFi and large bathrooms to wake up to every morning facing the sea.

We also like : Itacare , the top surf shop in Tartane with its coveted little café.

© CMT

Notice to lovers of marvelous landscapes, incredible views and thrills. The other particularity of the island for the more or less experienced sportsmen, it is these extraordinary hikes or downright canyoning . No need to take out your map or play lost hikers: all these experiences are very well supervised by the Office of Hiking and Canyoning of Martinique with experienced guides.

The truly fantastic tropical trip? Go up rivers through Mount Pelée to reach its summit which dominates the entire Caribbean area.

Another must-do trip : the Prêcheur - Grand Rivière hike with the return by skiff, the local fishermen's boats (from € 50). Joy.

© S. Queanon

You have inevitably already seen a photo of Anse Grosse Roche , also called " the beach of lovers ", with a heart carved into the rock. The spot is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the world ... How to get there? We park at Cap Macré equipped with good shoes. Let's go for a good half hour of walking. One thing is certain: the ride is worth the effort.

Another adventure is to know the map to access Anse Trabaud . Instead, aim: 15 kilometers of path and a toll, along a crossing of agricultural properties and pineapple fields before arriving in front of a hallucinating beach… Our recce? Take a picnic to spend a dream day and baths, like in a movie.

© Ti Sable Martinique

Ti Sable , the best waterfront restaurant on the island in the Arlet coves , is ideal for lunch.

Aunt Arlette is also a Creole institution. The dish to try once in a lifetime? The fisherman's grill : a unique dish composed of grilled lobsters, crayfish and queen conch served with local vegetables gratin. A massacre.

© Jean-François Gouait for Fondation Clément and Facebook / Fondation Clément

Installed in a former sugar plantation, it thrills the art world. Founded in 2016 by Bernard Hayot , Martinique tycoon, the Clément Foundation ensures that contemporary art shines in “ the Caribbean ”. The highlight of the show remains its sculpture garden, a veritable open-air museum that offers a walk in the exotic park between the monumental works of Thierry Alet , Victor Anicet , Patricia Baffin ...

Another major advantage: the ability to combine the visit with a trip in the old distilleri e converted into an interpretation center of the mythical Rhum Clement (since 1917), nestled in the heart of the sugar cane plantation Housing. The opportunity to discover this natural product resulting from the direct distillation of cane juice and all its ancestral manufacturing techniques.

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