12 Reasons We Love Martinique

"Why Pick Just One Distillery, When You Can Have Ten! Martinique’s Route Des Rhums is something of the ultimate single island rum tour. The big reason for this being there are 10 different distilleries spread across Martinique’s 425 square miles! TEN! Two of the best are Distillerie Neisson and Plantations Saint James Martinique. All of them produce what's called rhum agricole, but all you need to know is Martinique rums are the only rums in the world that have been granted the prestigious Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée (AOC) designation. Awarded by the French government agency Institut National des Appellations d’Origine (INAO) in recognition of the finest agricultural products (wines, cheeses, butters, etc), the AOC designation is an incomparable stamp of excellence in the culinary and spirits world."

"Craft Shopping in Village de la Poterie in Trois-Îlets Follow a dusty red road to this artsy village just outside of Les Trois-Îlets, and you’ll find a complex of adobe-style artists’ workshops, where local artisans create and sell traditional crafts like jewelry, hand-painted tiles, organic soaps, and wooden furniture. The main attractions, however, are the earthenware ceramics made from mineral-rich local clay. Pick up traditional bowls, vases, and tableware to bring a piece of Martinique’s creative heritage home. Sponsored by Martinique"

"A Diver’s Delight There are more than 40 diving centers across Martinique that will take you to magical coral reefs on the seabed or the famous Nahoon and Roraima wrecks. Take your underwater skills to the next level in Martinique. From 19th century shipwrecks to the famous under water tunnel of the Diamond Rock, Martinique counts hundreds of fabulous, well-protected diving spots perfect for any visitor. Sponsored by Martinique"

"Visit Saint-Pierre, the little Pompeii of the Caribbean What’s old is new again in Saint-Pierre, a city built under majestic Mount Pelée on Martinique’s Caribbean coast. In 1902, Mount Pelée volcano erupted, leveling the city and killing all 30,000 inhabitants– save one lucky prison inmate, whose thick cell walls protected him from the blast. Today, the rebuilt Saint-Pierre honors its fiery past at the Musée Volcanologique, a mini-Pompeii filled with carefully preserved relics. History meets modernity at the southern entrance where seven inspired, contemporary Caribbean artists have created 32 colorful totem sculptures welcoming guests. There are also popular dive sites nearby, where scuba divers can swim alongside century-old wrecks of ships that sunk in the explosion. Sponsored by Martinique"

"Play Robinson Crusoe at Josephine’s Bathtub Martinique has no shortage of picturesque swimming holes, but Josephine’s Bathtub, off of Le Francois in the Atlantic, is the local favorite. Surrounded by a high, white sandbank and vibrant coral reef, the turquoise waters are perfect for a leisurely swim or snorkel. Afterwards, stop for a Créole lunch at Îlet Oscar, a private island with a 19th Century guesthouse and welcoming outdoor restaurant. Wash down your accras and freshly caught fish with a glass (or three, but who’s counting?) of Oscar’s addictive ‘ti punch. Sponsored by Martinique"

"Mt. Pelé is Martinique's tallest and most notorious volcano, but it's not the only one. Just south of Mt. Pelé runs a string of five smaller volcanoes called the Carbet Mountains, which look similar to the Pitons in nearby St. Lucia. Small villages cling to the hillsides, as does the Balata Botanical Garden, home to around 3,000 tropical plant species."

"Shop Like A Local at Le Grand Marché de Fort-de-France In the market for freshly ground curry powder? How about pure vanilla extract, harvested by hand? Or want to pick up a tipple of the island’s legendary ‘ti punch to go? At Fort-de-France’s century-old Grand Marché, local vendors sell fruits, spices, and homemade rum daily. Stop for sustenance at Chez Carole, a stellar Créole café within the market. The eponymous proprietor dishes out fresh-pressed juices and steaming bowls of accras, the island’s ubiquitous cod fritters, to hungry shoppers. What to bring back? Definitely a bwa lélé, the local version of a spoon, the authentic ti-punch stirrer. Sponsored by Martinique"

"Thisbotanical wonder is home tothousands of native plant species, including heliconias, hibiscus and bromeliads. Guests enjoy strolling around thethree-hectare (seven-acre)grounds, where hundreds of palm trees tower over creeks and tiny hummingbirds flit among the lush foliage.An aerialwalkway suspended 15 meters (49 feet) highin the canopygives visitorsviews of the Balata Garden, the mountains and Fort-de-France Bay. There's also a fine old plantation house on the grounds."

"A lively produce market takes placein the Grand Marché Couvert, a huge 1880s glass-and-steel building tucked into Fort-de-France's tight town center. Rows of vendors sell mangoes, pineapples and other tropical fruits, as well as herbs, spices and medicinal elixirs. The pointy, wide-brimmed straw hat called the bakoua makes a great souvenir."

"The coastline around Mt. Pelée is marked by crescents of rich black sand, a stark difference from the white-sand beaches of other parts of the island. These unique and secluded beaches come in varying shades, from light gray at Anse Turin to darker black at Anse Céron. But all offer stunning scenery, with calm, blue waters and verdant volcanic slopes rising up from the coast."