The most beautiful natural sites to discover North Inland

The highest point on the island at 1,397 m, Mount Pelée is now a Unesco World Heritage Site, and inspires respect among the island's inhabitants, who still remember the tragedy of May 8, 1902.

There are four different routes to the summit, each different in length and difficulty. Before setting off, find out if the path you want to take is open, and always take water, a hat and sun cream, good walking shoes and food with you. The weather at the summit is fickle and rarely predictable, and can turn a sunny hike into a storm.

2 circuits from Morne-Rouge. The Aileron trail. 2h30 return. Medium level. Starts from the parking lot of the Refuge de l'Aileron bar.

The caldera. 6h return. Difficult level. Steep path joining the Palmistes plateau and overlooking the explosion crater. Cross three refuges before descending on the Aileron trail.

From Grande Rivière. 5 hours 30 minutes return. Difficult level. Start at the corner of the Beauséjour farm road and the D10. Cross the banana plantations, take the forest track for 1 km, continue on a steep slope up the north side of the crater (Morne Macouba).

From Le Prêcheur. 3h return. Moderate level. From the D10 at the entrance to the town, follow signs for La Charmeuse, continue for 5 km to the Grande Savane parking lot. Perhaps the most beautiful of the ascent trails. First you cross cultivated land, then steep, rocky paths.

In the middle of the tropical forest, a waterfall of more than ten meters, fresh and limpid, flows into a small basin where it is good to refresh oneself (the water temperature is around 16 degrees!). Its name would come from the numerous gendarmes who, coming from Saint-Pierre, stopped there to make their horses drink. It is said that one of them fell while trying to climb the rock face from which the waterfall flows. This green area with its clear water is ideal for picnicking and listening to the birds sing.

Now a Unesco World Heritage Site, the Pitons du Carbet consist of a group of volcanic massifs, with five peaks in close proximity to each other at altitudes of between 1,000 and 1,200m. The hike, which starts from Fonds-Saint-Denis (Plateau Boucher), is a sporty one, lasting 6h30 and requiring excellent physical condition. Because of the steep terrain, you'll sometimes have to use ropes and take steep paths. But the effort will be rewarded: from the top, the view of the Caribbean coast is breathtaking.