Hiking Adventures in Martinique

Martinique's highlands offer great hiking within easy reach of Fort-de-France, particularly through the rainforest in the Pitons du Carbet or to the ruins of Château Dubuc on the Caravelle Peninsula.

More strenuous trails lead up the flanks of Mont Pelée in the northwestern corner of the island and around the undeveloped northern coast. Inexpensive guided hikes, sometimes within the boundaries of the Parc Naturel Régional de la Martinique are organized year-round by the CRRPM (Centre Régional des Randonnés Pedestres de la Martinique). This organization also gives out maps of recommended hikes within Martinique, offers advice about routings and access to departure points for walks and hill treks.

The Parc Naturel Régional  and the Office National des Forêts, along with a hiking club, Le Club des Randonneurs, have developed a network of more than 30 trails, all well marked and maintained, designed for hikers to do on their own.

Among serious hiking tours is a two-hour climb, with guide, up Mont Pelée Volcano through thick foliage and overgrown trails. Less difficult, but still requiring skill, is the trek through a dense coastal rain forest between Grand'Rivière and Le Prêcheur.

Fairly easy are hikes at Les Ombrages, a nature trail at Ajoupa-Bouillon, or along the Gorges de la Falaise, a ravine leading to a waterfall where guided canyoning is the local sport. Presqu'île de la Caravelle, a peninsula jutting into the Atlantic near the town of Trinité, has safe beaches and well-marked paths to historic Château Dubuc's ruins.

For further details contact:

Hiking
1: Bureau De La Randonnee
Rue Victor Hugo
97250 Saint-Pierre
T 0596 783077

2: Aventures Tropicales Antilles
14, chemin Bois Thibault - Didier
97234 Fort de France
T 0596 645849

3: Splendeurs Marinoises
Montgérald, 97290 MARIN
T 0596 746785  Basalt
Fonds Capot, 97222 Bellefontaine
T 0596 525782
 
4: Parc Naturel Regional
Maison du tourisme vert
9 Bd. du Général de Gaulle
97200 Fort de France
T 0596 731930 

Biking
1: Adventures Tropicales
T 0596 645849 V.T. TILT
T 0596 660101