Things to see and do Marin

It is one of the most beautiful and oldest in Martinique. Built at the end of the 18^th century, with its bell tower standing in the center of the village, the structure dedicated to Saint Étienne, patron saint of the town, follows the Jesuit aesthetic codes and shows two orders of superimposed Tuscan columns. The vault in the shape of an inverted ship's hull reminds us that the building was built by sailor carpenters. The remarkable high altar would have been originally intended for the cathedral of Lima, Peru. The shipwreck of the vessel carrying it stopped its journey in Le Marin.

The Atlantic coast from Grand-Macabou to Cape Macré is wildly beautiful. It is bordered by two very pretty beaches, notably Anse Grosse Roche in the north, fringed with grape trees on the seashore. Although the sea is often a bit rough (it's the ocean), swimming is still quite possible and the water color varies between deep blue and turquoise. To the south, the Caribbean coast of Pointe Borgnèse, at the entrance of the bay of Le Marin, the sea is calmer. Don't forget to take a mask and snorkel: the sea bed around the Pointe Borgnèse is beautiful.

Outdoor and outdoor base, located on your right 500 m before the beach. To introduce you to sea kayaking, this sheltered water plan is ideal: safety for beginners, it allows to start smoothly in a geographical environment of mangrove and blue sea. In front of the departure, at Pointe-Rose, a small wild beach invites to a stop swimming. Also other activities: boat and sea bikes, combined organisation and theme days on demand. Special mention for Rodrigue, who takes care of his environment and surrounding areas by collecting garbage.

A very active and keen tourist office to inform visitors about news, outings, events, excursions, cruises, accommodation, hotel residences, sport… Classified as a tourist town in 2012, the town, a nautical resort, also benefits from many other assets, such as historical and heritage assets with its 17^th century church, one of the oldest in Martinique, and rich flora and fauna.

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!

This garden, led by the Sud Botanique association, has several missions: educational, by welcoming all types of visitors to raise awareness of environmental preservation, botanical, as it houses a nursery with tropical trees and rare species, and finally social, with its work camp for the integration of landscape workers. There is also a marked footpath for a nice stroll through the plants. The park also offers workshops to learn how to create and maintain a Creole garden. For a pleasant family walk.

Aboard a covered boat, discover the cul-de-sac of Le Marin with a naturalist guide, an expert of the island's ecosystem, who will explain the specificities of the mangrove and its interactions with the coral reef. The excursion lasts 2h30 in total, including 45 minutes of visit of the mangrove and 40 minutes of snorkeling in a marine reserve (masks and snorkels provided), on a small, stable and comfortable motor catamaran, with a capacity of 12 persons. Snacks offered during the excursion. A very educational visit.

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.

Moving in towards the sea, Cap Macré is bordered along its entire length by two very pretty beaches (to the north, Anse Grosse Roche) which meet at the end of the Cape.

Several hikes with beautiful beaches are located between Le Marin and Sainte-Anne.

From Le Marin, follow the direction of Sainte-Anne and then, at the traffic circle, turn left towards Cap Macré, in front of the residence Cap Evasion, renting furnished apartments by the month or by the week. The road, bordered by gentle hills with southern vegetation, is ideal for cyclists and hikers alike. A fork invites you to choose between Grand-Macabou on the left (stop at the pretty viewpoint on the sea a little further) and Cap Macré on the right. Cross the rock to go down to the cape, surrounded by scrubland. The Conservatoire de l'espace littoral et des rivages lacustres protects the natural site of the Grand-Macabou domain. It is located at the Cape Beauchêne: no beach, just a starting point for hikes. A small stone church, at the end of the cape, on the edge of the cliff, overlooks the sea.

You can follow footpath n° 29, the trace des Caps, which crosses the southern tip of the island from Cap Macré to Anse-Caritan. Remember to bring a bottle of water. A superb walk, with no major difficulties, except for its length. Count about 5 km from Petit-Macabou to Cap Macré, 7 km between Cap Macré and Cap-Chevalier, 6.5 km between Cap-Chevalier and the Baie des Anglais (Anse-Trabaud), 5 km between Anse-Trabaud, considered as the most beautiful beach of Martinique, and Les Salines, and 4.5 km from Les Salines to Anse-Caritan. This amounts to a total of 28 km from Petit-Caribou to Anse-Caritan (the sign indicates about 12 hours, but good walkers will do it in 6 hours without any problem).

From Cap Beauchêne to Cap Chevalier. On the way back to Sainte-Anne, reach Cap-Chevalier by a pretty road invaded by goats and lined with small white houses. The beach of Cap-Chevalier, nicer on its left side (with more sand and immaculate bottoms), is open to the Atlantic Ocean. Its narrow strip of sand is strewn with seaweed, rafts and a few fishermen's boats, from which the restaurants in the area get their supplies. You can dive with just a mask, fins, and snorkel to discover the rocky barrier. By choosing the road on the right, reach the seaside, in front of the “îlet Chevalier”, a nice opportunity for a beautiful marine stroll. You can get there with a shuttle called “taxicap”.

In Morne Gommier, Pierre-Yves Panor has designed a garden on the site where his ancestors lived during the marronnage period, when they fled from slavery in search of a new destiny.

As you wind your way through the breathtaking panoramic views, you'll come across several themed gardens that deal with agriculture and pharmacopoeia on the Mornes, the fight for freedom and, above all, the trauma of slavery. An emotional moment. Possibility of sleeping on site.