TOWNS & REGIONS - SOUTH WEST
This region of Martinique is a big favourite for the tourists because of the impressive beaches and finest waters for swimming and snorkelling. The towns of Pointe du Bout was purpose built for tourists and the region has a wide variety of visits including museums, scenic drives, kayaking, sailing, golf and a visit to the Diamond Rock.
Trois-Ilets & Pointe du Bout
Trois-îlets is famous for its various museums. Attractions include the Pagerie Museum where Empress Josephine, the wife of Napoleon was born, Sugar Cane Museum, and La Poterie. This is also a superb location for those golf fanatics with a magnificent 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Sr. golf course. For excellent views of the island, you can take a trip on Heliblue helicopter excursions.
Pointe du Bout is a purpose built tourist village with many shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. There is also a reliable boat service to Fort de France from the marina, which is ideal if you want to avoid the traffic and hassles of driving and parking in the capital.
above: Pointe du Bout above: Village Creole above: La Poterie
Anse d'Arlet
Anse d'Arlet is a pretty fishing village with numerous brightly coloured fishing boats in the bay. Grande Anse, a bit further around the coast, is one of the best beaches in Martinique with crystal clear waters, ideal for snorkelling.
above: Grande Anse d’Arlet
Le Diamant
Le Diamant is named after the Diamond Rock which rises out of the sea two and a half miles off the coast. The rock was named by the British army HMS Diamond - the unsinkable ship. The rock was occupied by British forces during several attempts to gain control of Martinique. Diamant has a popular 2km long beach with a wonderful strip of various tropical trees behind. There are also a number of restaurants and shops in the village centre.
The Anse Caffard memorial was designed by a local artist - Laurent Valère to honour the disappeared victims of the slave trade. On 8th April 1830 a slave ship attempted some risky manoeuvres off Le Diamant when the sea was very rough and broke apart on the rocks. The following day, 46 bodies were recovered. The corpses of sailors were buried in the cemetery of Le Diamant, while those of drowned Africans were buried at some distance from the shore.
above: Le Diamant above: Scenic Drive (D37) Le Diamant to Anse d’Arlet
This region of Martinique is a big favourite for the tourists because of the impressive beaches and finest waters for swimming and snorkelling. The towns of Pointe du Bout was purpose built for tourists and the region has a wide variety of visits including museums, scenic drives, kayaking, sailing, golf and a visit to the Diamond Rock.
Trois-Ilets & Pointe du Bout
Trois-îlets is famous for its various museums. Attractions include the Pagerie Museum where Empress Josephine, the wife of Napoleon was born, Sugar Cane Museum, and La Poterie. This is also a superb location for those golf fanatics with a magnificent 18-hole Robert Trent Jones Sr. golf course. For excellent views of the island, you can take a trip on Heliblue helicopter excursions.
Pointe du Bout is a purpose built tourist village with many shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. There is also a reliable boat service to Fort de France from the marina, which is ideal if you want to avoid the traffic and hassles of driving and parking in the capital.
above: Pointe du Bout above: Village Creole above: La Poterie
Anse d'Arlet
Anse d'Arlet is a pretty fishing village with numerous brightly coloured fishing boats in the bay. Grande Anse, a bit further around the coast, is one of the best beaches in Martinique with crystal clear waters, ideal for snorkelling.
above: Grande Anse d’Arlet
Le Diamant
Le Diamant is named after the Diamond Rock which rises out of the sea two and a half miles off the coast. The rock was named by the British army HMS Diamond - the unsinkable ship. The rock was occupied by British forces during several attempts to gain control of Martinique. Diamant has a popular 2km long beach with a wonderful strip of various tropical trees behind. There are also a number of restaurants and shops in the village centre.
The Anse Caffard memorial was designed by a local artist - Laurent Valère to honour the disappeared victims of the slave trade. On 8th April 1830 a slave ship attempted some risky manoeuvres off Le Diamant when the sea was very rough and broke apart on the rocks. The following day, 46 bodies were recovered. The corpses of sailors were buried in the cemetery of Le Diamant, while those of drowned Africans were buried at some distance from the shore.
above: Le Diamant above: Scenic Drive (D37) Le Diamant to Anse d’Arlet
