Martinique

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The island of Martinique is a French overseas department located in the Windward Islands, Lesser Antilles, approx. 300 miles NE of Venezuela. It was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1502, and at that time the native inhabitants, the Carib Indians had named it the Island of Flowers.

Travel Insurance for Marticnique:
Area: Worldwide exc. USA / Canada *

Know Before You Go:
FCO Country Advice for Martinique

The main population is of African descent and the main, religion is Catholicism. The official language is French but some Creole patois is also spoken.

The island is volcanic in origin and has varied terrain, including mountainous areas, forests, lakes, and of course, stunning beaches. The combination of climate and soil quality makes for a perfect environment for growing many tropical crops such as bananas, pineapples, sugar cane and rum, which are mainly exported. The island is also known for its beautiful flora, with orchids, hibiscus and bougainvillea to be seen everywhere. Tourism is, however, the island’s main source of income

The capital of Martinique is Fort-de-France which is a sophisticated city with excellent beaches to the south. There is plenty of good shopping and great restaurants.

Mount Pelee is to the north of the island. In 1902 the volcano destroyed and buried the old capital, St. Pierre , and there is a museum to commemorate the disaster. The volcano is the highest point on the island.

Martinique offers everything you would expect of a beautiful Caribbean island, with all kinds of water sports: scuba diving, snorkelling and yachting to name a few, Martinique is a popular destination for sailors and yachtsmen due to its lovely safe bays, well-equipped marinas and yachting events. There are also botanical gardens and golf courses.

Among other activities, t here are many cultural places to visit, with numerous museums and historic sites. The Gauguin Museum details the life of the famous painter who lived and painted on the island for a few months.

A trip to the interior of the island is worthwhile to see the rainforest and plantations of bananas, pineapples and avocadoes. There are also picturesque fishing villages, hot springs , waterfalls and nature trails. Visitors might also like to explore the site where Napoleon’s Empress Josephine was born.

There are craft markets where you can pick up pieces of local crafts such as coral jewelry, bamboo souvenirs, wooden carvings, wicker, pottery and Creole dolls, or visit the basket and straw weaving centers and potteries where native techniques are used. Another favorite tourist pastime is visiting the rum distilleries where you can sample the wares.

Climate / Weather
Subtropical, moderated by trade winds from the east. Humidity is generally low and there is only a small season temperature variation. Sept-Nov is considered the rainy season. Temperatures average 77 F in winter to 83 F in summer so it is an ideal year-round destination. July-October is the season for possible tropical storms.

Disclaimer: While we have tried to ensure this information is correct we do not accept responsibility for any inaccuracy.

* Inclusion on this guide does not guarantee travel insurance is available in this country at any given time. Travel Insurance is not available in countries for which the F.C.O. advise against travel to.

** At the time of writing, the F.C.O. advised against travel to countries, or areas thereof, marked thus at the time of writing. Travel Insurance is not available in areas where the F.C.O. advise against travel to.

You are strongly advised to visit the F.C.O. web site for up to date information and general travel advice before you travel.

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