Archaeology handicrafts and science and technology sites to visit South Caribbean

Take a ride on the little train through the large estate, which has been located in the green countryside of Rivière-Pilote since 1749. The famous "Tèt' Maré" will first tell you a few anecdotes, traditions and other historical facts about the site. The guide then leads you into the heart of the distillery to discover the different stages in the production of AOC Martinique agricultural rums. The last stop, a tour of the cellar, allows you to appreciate the art of blending and ageing old rums. Finally, the Cabane à Rhum team accompanies you on a tasting of the different rums and liqueurs.

Your non-French-speaking friends from around the world can board the little train and follow the whole tour thanks to the app, available in English, Spanish, Italian and German (don't forget your headphones).

Enjoy a bite to eat at Kay Mimi, located at the foot of the distillery, before heading to the pretty beach of Anse Figuier, 10 minutes away.

This small beach is reserved for those who know about it, because you can't see it from the road. Access has to be earned: to get there, you have to take the direction of Mabouya, continue towards the sea on a road that looks more like a track and finally cross a housing estate. Ten more minutes of walking and you are there! The sea is beautiful and calm. The view on Morne Larcher is breathtaking. In the evening, many Martinicans meet there to admire the shimmering colors of the sunset on the sea. A very beautiful place.

Renovated with sand from Guadeloupe, this pretty beach is very popular with families. Calm turquoise waters, coconut palms and a large lawn make for a picture-postcard setting. There are a number of children's games (slide, swings), picnic tables and carbets for shelter from the sun. The underwater world is beautiful, with colonies of sea urchins, large starfish and colorful tropical fish. Don't forget your mask and snorkel. And don't forget to visit the nearby Ecomuseum on your way out.

This superb tropical domain extends over 75 hectares north of Sainte-Luce. The giant cheese tree is king on the edge of the marked out paths: one of them even reaches 5,50 meters in circumference. The originality of the place lies in the presence of engraved rocks dating from the pre-Columbian era. The site was in fact one of the settlements of the Amerindians. The Anoli trail of 900 meters and the Mongoose trail of 1.6 km will take you to meet the plant and animal species of this mysterious forest.

Just off Les Salines beach, a 10-hectare stretch of desert stretches out its surprising scenery. Situated on the site of an ancient volcano, it was once dotted with the geological remains of a forest engulfed by lava. Petrified wood blocks, agates, polychrome jasper and chalcedony could be found here, plundered by disrespectful collectors. All that remains is the bare site, which nevertheless lends itself to an enchanting stroll.

Sainte-Luce remains one of the most authentic cities on the island. To discover it, there is nothing like a morning stroll along the boulevard Kennedy which follows the sea, at the time when the first stalls of the covered market are set up and when the fishermen return to the port with their daily catch. The many cafés and restaurants come alive later in the evening. After the market, continue towards rue Schoelcher to go to the Sainte-Luce church, surrounded by old houses, and then return via the town hall.

Shortly after the cane house, on the road leading to the town of Trois-Ilets, the Vatable forest is a nice place for a shady and family walk to change from the beach and discover the mangrove. Along the path (which makes a loop of one hour), you will come across a wooden pontoon for those who would like to try to swim in the mangrove, picnic tables, an amphitheater decorated with enameled lava, and especially magnificent views of the mangrove and the bay of Fort-de-France. Departure for kayak rides as well.

Settled in the renovated buildings of the old Vatable distillery in Trois-Ilets, the Maison de la Canne offers a broad panorama of the multiple and complex relationships that have been established between: land, plant, people. The site recounts the main events of the history of sugar cane, (Saccharum officinarum, a plant of the grass family), from the steam engine, from the mill to the slave ship, until the cutting of the cane around 1900. Through documents, models, and engravings of the period, more than three centuries of sugar economy from the late 17^th to the 20^th century in Martinique are told. This is an opportunity to revisit this large reed originating from Asia, which very early on interested farmers for its ability to store sucrose in its stems through the process of photosynthesis. Once harvested and then crushed in large mills, the cane yields a liquid, the vesou, which is transformed into sugar after crystallization, or into rum after distillation. From the planting of the cane to the manufacture of rum, through the extraction of sugar, all stages are faithfully described. The history of sugar cane is also directly linked to the history of colonization and slavery: particularly demanding in terms of labor, the cultivation of sugar cane in the colonies led to the massive deportation of people from Africa to cover the needs of the farms. Do not leave without having read the Code Noir.

Dare to take the red brick road, and you will land in another era, that of a village where dozens of men and women work. The Village de la Poterie is an authentic village, that was once inhabited, a unique place which gathers in the same site 45 different workshops and trades: a brick factory and craftsmen potters dating from the 18^thcentury, craftsmen and designers (furniture, fashion, decoration, soaps…), artists (jewelers, painters), souvenir stores and local products (chocolates) and some restaurants.

Just 2 kilometers from the town, Anse-Corps-de-Garde is one of Sainte-Luce's largest beaches. This blond-sand beach, dotted with coconut palms and offering lovely shaded areas, is ideal for families. The waters are calm and clear. A nautical center offers kayaks and paddles for hire. You'll find plenty of snacks, lolos and restaurants nearby. Watch out for the mancenillia at the end of the beach! On the other hand, if you're looking for a bit of peace and quiet, you'll be happy to head for a more peaceful spot.

Nestled between the Mabouya and Fond-Banane coves, this picture-postcard white-sand beach stretches for several hundred meters. Its many shady spots make it an ideal spot for family picnics. Frequented by hotel guests, it remains relatively uncrowded. The waters are rather calm, but beware of the sometimes dubious cleanliness. Finally, for the little ones, a number of natural baths along the beach invite you to take a dip.

Martinique's southernmost rum distillery. With the launch of Braud & Quennesson, the family of Martinique agricultural rums expands. The arrival of this new rum distillery marks the rebirth of an emblematic site: the old Le Marin factory, founded in 1866 by the Braud and Quennesson forefathers and closed since the 1970s. This exceptional site benefits from a unique terroir and a particularly warm, humid microclimate, which confers exceptional qualities on the rum: aroma, freshness and smoothness. According to cellar master Stéphanie Dufour, the cane has one of the highest sugar contents on the island. The house's positioning is resolutely upmarket: controlled productivity, quality work, few cuvées (4 round, gourmet whites: 59°, 59.2°, 55° and 50°). And this year, the range has been extended to include its first wood-aged rums, which, after 12 months' ageing in a combination of casks, are ready to reveal all their aromas. This site, steeped in history, boasts a beautiful boutique and a botanical garden planted with coffee, calabash, cheese and mango trees, making it a delight to stroll through. The ruins of the old sugar factory are still clearly visible. Cane is currently distilled at the Simon dwelling, but the De Gentile family, who are at the head of the project, hope to launch their own distillery in a few years' time. A must-see!

Just a few kilometers from Martinique's most beautiful beaches, take the D9 towards Sainte-Anne for around 3 km to climb the Piton Crève-Coeur. Turn off at Cap-Chevalier and drive for 1 km. Turn right for 2 km and follow the unpaved road to the ruins of an old sugar mill. Leave your car in the dedicated parking area. Piton Crève-Coeur is an ancient volcano (18 million years old...), much older than Montagne Pelée, which today rises to an altitude of 200 m and offers breathtaking views of southern Martinique. Your walk begins on the right, with a path that climbs up, passing by ancient ruins: the main house of the Habitation Crève-Coeur. You soon come to a fine viewpoint over the island's southern peninsula. Further on, still in the direction of Sainte-Anne, a string of small coves invites you to unfold your towel and recharge your batteries. Cap-Chevalier offers windsurfing and kayaking programs. Anse-Michel, Baie des Anglais and Les Salines, coves and sandy beaches, also boast a small commercial infrastructure (food stores, restaurants) and sports facilities (jet-skiing, windsurfing). Don't forget to bring sun protection, light clothing and plenty of water - the sun can be fierce, especially in the middle of the day! Allow an hour and a half round trip, with a difference in altitude of around 150 meters.

The town of Le Marin is built on a hillside around the marina bay. A walk in the rue Duquesnay and rue Zola will allow you to contemplate some beautiful examples of Creole architecture from the beginning of the 20^th century. On the road to the south, don't hesitate to branch off and get lost in the narrow streets of the old town. On the seaside, you will let your steps lead you to the discovery of the ships at anchor, some of them particularly impressive, and the marina, very modern.

A few fathoms away from the village beach is an underwater path, among the most beautiful of Martinique, accessible to all with a simple mask and snorkel. You can spot it thanks to the four educational buoys placed in the sea to mark the path. This path, in the heart of a 2,600 m² site, aims to raise awareness of marine ecosystems that are an integral part of the island's natural heritage. An underwater trail, for the whole family, not to be missed.

This superb tropical estate extends over 75 hectares north of Sainte-Luce. The giant cheese maker is king on the edge of the marked trails: one of them even reaches 5.50 metres in circumference. The originality of the place lies in the presence of engraved rocks dating from the pre-Columbian period. The site was indeed one of the settlement sites of the Amerindians. The 900-metre Anoli trail and the 1.6-km Mongoose trail will take you to meet the plant and animal species of this mysterious forest.