Things to see and do Caraïbes

The cathedral occupies the entire side of Empedrado Street that faces the square, between San Ignacio and Mercaderes. The Jesuits began to build it in 1748, but work stopped in 1767 when they were expelled from Cuba by order of King Charles III of Spain. In 1772, the Parroquia Mayor, which had been erected in the Plaza de Armas but was reduced to dust by the explosion of the ship Invincible (anchored in the port), was moved to this square. The work was resumed and completed in 1777. Eleven years later, in 1788, the island was divided into two dioceses and the bishop Jose of Very Palacios was appointed. He transformed the oratory of Saint Ignatius into a cathedral dedicated to the Purísima Concepción. From 1946 to 1950, Cardinal Archbishop Manuel Arteaga initiated new renovations to the cathedral, in order to allow more light to enter the building, which is said to have gained in ventilation and beauty.

Today it is called Catedral de San Cristobal de La Habana, but for Cubans it is simply the cathedral. With its 35 meter façade, it is a quadrilateral with impressive dimensions. Neither the passing of time nor the tropical climate has been kind to the stone, but with the help of restoration, San Cristobal remains one of the most beautiful and imposing churches in Cuba. The façade is clearly baroque, its decoration inspired the architects of many Havana palaces. The classic French eye will not fail to notice the asymmetry of the side towers: the one on the left is narrower so that the alley that runs along its side is not closed. It is in this tower that the mechanism that operates the bells is located. Inside, the style is frankly neoclassical, following the modifications ordered in 1814 by Bishop Espada, a great defender and promoter of this style. Two rows of columns separate the central nave from the two side naves. The oil paintings, executed by the Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Vermay, also date from this period. The central altar and the tabernacle were decorated with wood carvings and gold ornaments by the Italian Bianchini, under the guidance of the Spaniard Antonio Sola. This carving and gold work was done in Rome. The three frescoes on the altar are the work of another Italian artist, Giuseppe Perovani. Finally, it should be noted that the story goes that the remains of Christopher Columbus lay for a long time in the central nave of the cathedral, at least until 1898, when they were moved to Seville.

An idea for a completely out of time stroll, exclusive in Martinique, with the family or in small groups.

Michel Bally lives alone on Chancel Island. He wanted to share this amazing place in this completely atypical excursion: the visit of the islet by horse-drawn carriage, commented by himself.

Departure for the island from the port of Le Robert; Michel Bally comes to pick you up personally with his loyal mount, named Colibrette! Everyone climbs aboard the carriage, then you're off for a 2h30 ride at the rhythm of the horse.

The Martinique Zoo is housed in one of the island's oldest dwellings. Founded in 1643, the Latouche dwelling covered an area of 15 hectares. By 1664, sugar was the main product, followed by rum, cocoa, manioc and indigo. When Mount Pelée erupted, most of the buildings were destroyed, but some magnificent remains remain (dwelling house, indigoterie, manioquerie, sugar mill, aqueduct, etc.). In the hands of Jean-Philippe Thoze, creator of the famous Balata garden in Fort-de-France, the Latouche dwelling has been transformed into a unique place, sublimated by beautiful botanical compositions, that absolutely must be visited. Not just to meet the residents, who live in semi-liberty and live out their days in peace: monkeys, jaguars, pumas, lorikeets, anteaters, raccoons, as well as the more insular mongooses, touloulous crabs, turtles, iguanas and, of course, snakes. But above all for its unique atmosphere and its wild nature, skilfully staged by the magician Thoze. A precious testimony to local and subtropical fauna, this exotic bestiary is brought together at the heart of the Latouche dwelling, where visitors can banter and follow a specially-designed educational trail, not only to discover unexpected animals but also to interact with them. In one of the zoo's immersion aviaries, visitors are treated to a singular spectacle as lorikeets come to rest on you and eat out of your hand. These colonial relics, nestled in the hollow of the valley, are now the markers of a whole part of the island's history, made up of an agricultural economy and progressive industrialization. A visit to the zoo reveals the entire dwelling: the main house, of course, and the various farm and business buildings. You'll also note the rich aquatic network, to which the aqueduct and the paddle wheel still bear living witness. At the end of the visit, a large exhibition on piracy will delight visitors of all ages and recall another feature of the island's history: Madinina was home to many freebooters. Both the zoo's layout and facilities have been designed with the animals' well-being and visitors' comfort in mind: when you enter the Latouche dwelling, you're in for a rich journey in what can now be called a new-generation zoo.

Fifteen statues look out over the sea and the Diamond Rock, their shoulders slumped and their gaze lost. This monumental triangle-shaped ensemble (evoking the triangular trade) was created in 1991 by the sculptor Laurent Valère for the 150^th anniversary of the abolition of slavery. It evokes the shipwreck of a slave ship in 1830 off the baie du Diamant. The chained slaves could not escape, and the survivors were sent to prison…

Inaugurated on December 28, 1988, on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the battle of Santa Clara, it is the only museum dedicated to Che. Photos, objects, documents and videos evoke his life from his birth to his death. His remains and those of seven companions assassinated in Bolivia on the orders of the United States, were transferred there in 1997, for the 30th anniversary of their death. In the memorial, we can see the coffins of Che and all his companions. It is rather sober but moving.

You are seeing the attelage of the horse before the visit.

Mr Brut offers 2-hour trips to horse cart on different sites on the island.

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.

The Tourist Office of the Saintes welcomes you and offers many services to facilitate your stay: accommodation, transport, visits…

A pleasant excursion to do with your family. Embark on board a yole to discover the mangrove of Trois-Ilets and Rivière-Salée, stroll among the mangrove trees and meet the “mantu” crabs… A professional guide will explain everything you need to know about the fauna and flora. A drink and a small snack are served on board. The duration of the excursion is 2h30. Reservation is strongly advised on site or by phone.

The tourist office now covers the 4 communes of Fort-de-France, Le Lamentin, Saint-Joseph and Schoelcher. It offers guided tours of Fort-de-France off the beaten track. We highly recommend the "audioguided tour of the city center", to discover the most incredible corners of Martinique's capital! The team is super friendly and ready to guide you according to your preferences for unforgettable events and discoveries.

At the bend in the road to Balata, in the heart of a tropical environment, stands this building, which is a replica of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Montmartre on a scale of 1/5, the work of the English architect Charles Albert Wulfleff (1929). At the base of the dome is the following inscription: “Au Sacré-Coeur, la Martinique reconnaissante (To the Sacré-Coeur, Martinique is Grateful)”. In addition to its remarkable stained-glass windows and mosaics, the site offers a splendid view of Fort-de-France and its bay.

Here we witness a strange phenomenon: the sea splits in two and leaves a 400 m long strip of sand, creating a passage that links the mainland and the island. It connects the land to its rock and protects the city of Sainte-Marie from tidal waves. A whim of nature, this comma of sand combines industry and tragedy in the past. This islet served as a fort and a port during the 17^th century, relaying barrels of rum and syrup to the ships anchored in the bay.

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.

North of Roseau and at the foot of the Morne Bruce mountain, you can visit the Dominica Botanical Gardens. They constitute the largest space in the city. The site is home to more than 50 species of native plants and imported trees as well as the Sisserou parrot, emblem of the national flag. The gardens were established in 1890 on the site of a former sugarcane field. They benefit from optimal climatic conditions for the development of tropical plants. These gardens were organized in two parts, the first one has an ornamental vocation, the second one is dedicated to the development of plants for the local agriculture.

In 1889, the royal government decided to encourage the diversification of crops on the island. It distributed plants and seedlings to farmers. The site covered 40 acres, part of which was planted with sugar cane and sold to the government by William Davies, owner of Bath Estate. The curator of the garden, Henri Green, began the main work on the plantation. In 1892, Joseph Jones took over the garden. This activity became his sole passion and lifelong vocation. The function of the botanical garden is essentially economic and experimental. The exotic plants were collected from all over the world when it was part of the Royal British Garden of Kew.

On several occasions, the park has been visited by the royal family of England, including Queen Elizabeth II in 1966 and 1985. A cricket field, the most official on the island, is installed in the park, as well astwo churches (Anglican and Catholic), which were built between 1800 and 1916. In 1930, the site is one of the most beautiful botanical parks of all the English islands. Cyclone David left traces of its passage in 1979, it destroyed the most impressive and oldest trees of the park. You can still see the remains of a bus under a baobab that the gusts of strong winds have laid on the spot. At the back of the park, it is not unusual to hear parrots singing the praises of the past.

To help you with your visit, the Fauna and Flora department offers a map of the gardens, with captions to help you recognize the different species. The gardens suffered greatly from the devastating Hurricane Maria in September 2017. The visit is nonetheless enjoyable. "The Gardens" continues to enjoy an idyllic setting for recreation, parades and celebrations. Its beauty and serenity make it one of the true gems of the Caribbean.

Rather wild and quiet, the beach is really beautiful, but beware of mosquitoes. The access to this paradisiacal and almost deserted area is to be deserved, but the game is worth the candle (we will leave our car about 300 meters before arriving at the beach). The colors are magnificent, between the intense blue of the sea, the golden of the fine sand, the green of the coconut trees which border the beach... There is no restaurant, except for a few young people who sell piña colada. It is better to bring a picnic.

This site, chosen in 1819 to establish the new French colony, is the heart of the historic district. A rose window on the ground indicates the place designated by de Clouet. You will see the Triumphal Arch (1902), the only one of its kind in Cuba, and the white marble statue of Martí (1906), both commemorating the birth of the Cuban Republic. Two lions standing on high pedestals protect the entrance. You can also admire the majestic buildings surrounding the square. Ideal to sit in the shade and enjoy the moment.

Many commercials have been filmed in this exquisite little bay, bordered by green, transparent waters and shaded by almond trees with abundant foliage. Excursion boats stop here for a swim after touring the Gri Gri lagoon.

It can also be reached by road, 3 km after Río San Juan. It takes about 10 minutes to get there. There, on the sand, a few restaurants, roughly equipped with tables and wooden benches, await the visitor to offer him grilled fish, salads and fruit juices..

Playa Fronton and its neighbor Playa Madame are only accessible by boat or horseback. It takes 25 minutes to reach them through extraordinarily beautiful coastal landscapes. Impressive cliffs fall steeply into the ocean. Coconut trees, almond trees and cactus vegetate the fine sandy beach. Playa Fronton is a beautiful diving site with corals and tropical fish. Don't forget your mask and snorkel (and bring water shoes to protect you from corals and sea urchins!). An excursion not to be missed from Las Galeras.

The vocation of the centre, which is one of the most modern in the Caribbean, is to raise awareness of Dominican art and culture. In addition to the temporary exhibitions, three permanent exhibitions allow you to immerse yourself in the Dominican soul. One should also not forget the gardens and the reproduction of the authentic Jimenez cigar factory...

The tours are very didactic and fun, and all the modern techniques facilitate the approaches. "Signs of Identity" proposes an anthropology exhibition more or less equivalent to that of the Dominican Museum of Man in Santo Domingo, with the presence of testimonies of all the cultures that have forged the Dominican culture; one will see in particular a large collection of objects of the Taíno culture, beautiful pieces recovered from the Spanish galleons that ran aground in Dominican waters, an approach to African origins, religious syncretism and daily life in the 19th century. "Genesis and Trajectory" (second level) is an exhibition of contemporary plastic arts: some of the great masters of Dominican painting are present, including Jaime Colson. The Jiménez family is honored in the exhibition "Footprint and Memory" (second level of the building replica of La Aurora) which traces the path of this real tobacco dynasty from 1903 to 2003 through documents and photos, from the purchase of the first land to the internationalization of its products.

Straight out of a medieval postcard, the Iglesia San Estanislao, in the heart of Altos de Chavón and overlooking the river Chavón, was consecrated in 1979 by Pope John Paul II and is one of the most beautiful churches in the Dominican Republic. Its attractive portico houses a wooden statue of Stanislas, patron saint of Poland, carved in Krakow. An urn containing the saint's ashes was donated by Pope John Paul II to celebrate its inauguration. Church services are held here on Saturdays and Sundays at 5pm.

This is the commune's star attraction. It is accessed via the Montagne Pelée road on the left from Morne-Rouge. It's a walk along a river between two huge cliffs in the middle of the rainforest; the gorges are spectacular for their steepness and their location in the greenery. Gradually, you climb back up to the waterfalls. The surrounding waterfalls provide an impressive backdrop. Watertight cases to protect your souvenirs and camera are available. Swimsuits and towels recommended.

The Maison du volcan is an information and documentation center specialized in vulcanology, with a library on the eruptions of Mount Pelee in 1902 and 1929 in geology and astronomy. The permanent exhibition “The ballet of the continents and its consequences” informs about the seismic risks affecting the region as well as the Caribbean volcanoes, and shows a rich collection of rocks and sands. If the visit can sometimes be difficult to access for the youngest, it provides a better vision of the volcanic phenomena.

A multipurpose landscaped park with a beautiful width. In its Creole, Indian and fruit gardens, it is rich in local or exogenous species: edible plants, dyeing plants such as indigo, Creole botanical and medicinal essences that are still entering the local pharmacopoeia… that can be purchased. The arboretum includes the endemic species from the north of Grande-Terre. You will also discover a collection of Antilles cherry trees. A rice field installed in the wettest area of the park that allows to collect more than 500 kilos of rice! Throughout the year, on Saturdays in general, the park organises themed days with various animations around plants (rimed razié, traditional remedies, culinary art, edible plants, botanical and ecology, etc.). A beautiful Creole hut has been set up on site, as well as a bar/snack and picnic area.

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.

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.

Phillipe has lived in the Dominican Republic for over 20 years. Knowing the island on the tip of the fingers, it proposes to make it discover it, off the beaten tracks, with its jeep jeep. You can choose your route, or follow its advice, and you will have an overview of the country as few people have the chance to discover it.

These falls are perhaps the most beautiful on the island. To go by car, a 4 x 4 is strongly recommended (counting a good time). In the village of Camp-Perrin, take the beautiful paved road towards Jeremiah. At the exit of High Camp, take 1,5 km and turn right at the Church of God (located on the left) towards St Mathurine. Then take the narrow land road that descends to the waterfall. It is located on the left, opposite the power station. Park your car between two major portals: one opens towards the waterfall, down, the other towards the powerhouse. In both cases, a guard will open you and accompany you. Ask children if needed. To access and enjoy the waterfall that is maintained by the villagers, who organise parties and gatherings, you will be asked for a minimal entrance fee. You can even leave a little more.
The place is magical and refreshing. The waterfall is dried around February. But bathing is still pleasant.