Things to see and do The Handles Of Arlet

Located between Le Diamant and Les Anses-d'Arlet, Petite-Anse is no exception to the rule: fine sand, coconut palms, a volleyball court and small restaurants are all popular with visitors. To get there, all you have to do is follow the seafront and its fishing boats. The road from Le Diamant to Petite-Anse is very pleasant and offers some choice panoramas of Le Diamant rock and the bay, not to be missed. The area is relatively unspoilt by tourism, with limited but excellent accommodation.

The Habitation Sucrerie, refered to as a “château” (castle) by the locals, was acquired in 1788 by Jean-François Hayot; it was then the most important house in the commune.
Built on 200 m², it was constructed during the second half of the 18^th century. Its architecture is particularly original. It is characterized by a gallery on the north and south sides, a first floor narrower than the ground floor and, most original of all, an entrance on the side of the kitchen. As it should be, it dominates the village. About a hundred slaves were involved in running the place. A vestige of a cattle mill, rehabilitated into a coal oven, the basin of a spring already used by the Natives, the master's house below are the silent witnesses of the rough life of yesteryear. A family tradition runs along the old stones of the distillery and whispers that Arlet himself lived there. God only knows… Built in the second half of the 18^th century, the building, entirely made of wood and bricks, seems to have been put to sleep by a nasty twist of fate. However, in an outbuilding adjoining the old, but no less famous kitchen of Père Labat, a community of white angels preserves the place. Here is the vegetable garden, formed by a masonry block, a storage space for the “potins” (cast iron container to hold the embers). There, the square well dating from 1914, a little further on a stone crucifix and, in the middle of a blue-painted Ave Maria, is a flowery grotto where Our Lady of Lourdes rests.

This pretty walk links the village of Anses-d'Arlet to Grande-Anse in one hour. The departure at the village cemetery goes up a little on the side of the Morne Champagne hill. The walk continues through the savanna, towards the beach of Grande-Anse. Enjoy the beautiful views of the village and the Caribbean coast, and the abundance of tropical forest, between gum trees and heliconias. A superb and easy walk without hesitation. However, bring good shoes.

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.

Starting from the Gallochet district, the Arlet trail leads you to the Grande Anse beach. The seven-kilometer trail starts by going along the Anse Noire ravine to go up to the black sand beach of the same name. You will then reach its neighbor, Anse Dufour, before heading inland to go around the Morne Réduit. On the way, you will have access to beautiful viewpoints on the coast. Finally, you will go back down towards the beach of Grande Anse, where the walk ends. Count 2 hours. Easy level.

Signs indicate the path that winds to the hidden springs at the foot of Morne Jacqueline. In Petite-Anse, park in front of Fredo's and follow the sign for a short 15-minute walk. At the end of the path, you can bathe in the small basin where the water flows at more than 35 °C. This ferruginous spring has been used by the elders for thousands of years and is said to come from a deep reservoir with a temperature of about 180 °C. It is supposed to relieve rheumatism, pain and other ailments. Small drawback: it is quite crowded…

To the north of Grande Anse, a path goes through the thickets before continuing along the sea. After an hour's easy walk, reach the underwater trail set up by the Conservatoire du Littoral (Coastal Protection Agency). Armed with a mask, a snorkel, and flippers, dive to discover the 5 buoys under which reside unique underwater fauna and flora: seagrass beds, rocky bottoms, coral massifs, fish of all colors… Out of the water, a carbet (native hut) with educational panels indicates the animals and plants that you are likely to meet.