BOILING LAKE

Strange, impressive, unique... There's no shortage of adjectives to describe this bubbling lake, considered to be the second largest body of water of its kind in the world. It has to be earned: you'll need at least a 3-hour walk from Laudat to reach it. From Titou-Gorge, the trail climbs steeply through the jungle to the windy ridges, which open up beautiful views over the valley and surrounding peaks. Already, the smell of sulfur, characteristic of volcanic sites, permeates the air. Gas-reddened tree trunks gradually appear, and in the Valley of Desolation, the vegetation disappears completely, leaving the steep red earth slopes of Morne Watt bare.

You are on a geothermal site where numerous phenomena bear witness to the volcano's underground activity: smoke emanations, hot springs, bubbling pools, gray mud pots, sulfur deposits... From here, hot rivers flow with rapids and waterfalls. Grey, blue and sometimes ink-black water dyes the rocky bottom and banks with an infinite variety of colors: yellow, ochre, red, green, blue, grey, black... The minerals inherited from ancient volcanic activity define this chromatic palette. Swimming is permitted in some of these river basins. The water temperature is ideal.

Then, finally, an imposing mass of whitish smoke announces Boiling Lake, formed on the rim of a vast, deep crater, at the bottom of which stretches a lake of grey water, bubbling at its center and smoking in monstrous puffs. The water is heated by the magma beneath the immense rocks. With its 60-metre width and as yet unknown depth, Boiling Lake truly resembles an enormous bubbling cauldron. The panorama, meanwhile, is sublime, with an unobstructed view of the ocean, Martinique and a singular landscape formed over 200 million years. A few insects and small lizards manage to survive here.

Here, the presence of a guide is mandatory! The best option is to hire a guide in the village of Laudat (from 40 to 50 EC$ per person). These professionals will give you safe access and provide explanations during the walk: in geothermal sites, you mustn't put your feet just anywhere, as the water and mud are hot in places, and the soil can be fragile.