Music of Martinique
- Bélé
- Biguine.
- Chouval bwa.
- Hip hop.
- Jump up.
- Kadans.
- Mini-jazz.
- Quadrille.
The capital was relocated to Fort De France where it remains today. In 1946 Martinique was granted the status of official French territory and has been considered a French Region since 1982.
Wildlife consists mainly of birds, fish and shellfish, as well as small lizards called “mabouyas†and “anolisâ€, iguanas and trigonocephalus snakes that are only found in Martinique. The “manicouâ€, a type of opossum, is one of the rare mammals to be found in the Antilles.
The fine dining, luxury resorts and impeccable sand don't come cheap. Vacations to the area are notoriously expensive, especially during the winter. And as an overseas region of France, Martinique's currency is the euro, so your U.S. dollars won't go as far.
The Anses d'Arlet region, in the south of the island, is undoubtedly the best place in Martinique for snorkeling. You can get into the water in the village of Anses d'Arlet, at Grande Anse d'Arlet (a little further north, where a snorkel trail has been installed), but especially at Anse Dufour and Anse Noire.
It's BEAUTIFUL! If you go with a clear set of expectations, an open mind, and proper pre-planning, then I promise you'll have a great time. Martinique's culture, pristine beaches and delicious food are just a few of the ingredients that make for a fabulous vacation.
Martinique – Island of Flowers'Martinique' is thought to be a corruption of this, but the nickname 'Flower Island' means its original moniker lives on.
Montserrat. Nicknamed "The Emerald Isle of the Caribbean" both for its terrain and the heritage of its inhabitants, Montserrat is a British territory in the Leeward Islands and it is considered to be the safest island in the Caribbean, with its last recorded murder occurring in 2008.
Best beaches in Martinique. Grande Anse des Salines is considered by many as Martinique's best beach. It's a picture-perfect moon-shaped bay with golden sand and dozens of palm trees overlooking the blue waters. Relax and enjoy a cocktail in one of the many sand bars.
Martinique Aimé Césaire International AirportThe airport is 11km (7 miles) from the city.
The best time to visit Martinique is in May. Temperatures stay consistent in the 80s throughout the year, but there is a chance of hurricanes in summer and fall.
The trip: Three days, 100 milesAt just 50 miles long and 22 miles across, Martinique island is relatively small, but its roads are at times narrow and windy, so it can take longer to drive a fairly short distance. (You'd need a week to loop the entire thing.)
Short-stay/Schengen visa: 90 days within a six-month period; long-stay visa: valid for stays of over three months.
The safest Caribbean islands to visit
- Barbados.
- The Dominican Republic.
- Anguilla.
- St. Maarten/St. Martin.
- St. Barts.
- The Virgin Islands.
- Antigua.
- Turks & Caicos.
Traditions as disparate as Colombo-seasoned cuisine, storytelling festivals, Carnival celebrations, and a very distinctive boat race all live side-by-side on this fascinating island. Here's a look at five things that make Martinique unique: French is Martinique's official language, the euro is the currency.
A bélé is a folk dance and music from Martinique, St. Lucia, Dominica, Haiti, Grenada, Guadeloupe, and Trinidad and Tobago. It may be the oldest Creole dance of the creole French West Indian Islands, and it strongly reflects influences from African fertility dances.
Martinique's heritageThe cultural and historical heritage of Martinique comes from Amerindian, African and European influences;but also the result of its ethnic mix.
It is the Day of the She-Devils (La Fête des Diablesses), when some 30,000 revelers gather to mourn the end of Carnival and the symbolic death of King Carnival. Only two colors are worn: black and white.
Dress in Martinique is generally informal. Casual sports clothes in cotton and other light fabrics rule the day. One can choose to wear the latest fashions but remember, this is the tropics. Jeans, shorts, polos, tees, sandals, sneakers and boat shoes are de rigueur.
Martinique is about 50 miles (80 km) long and reaches a maximum width of 22 miles (35 km). Among the smallest of the French overseas territories, Martinique has one of the highest population densities in the Antilles.
As an overseas départment of France, Martinique's culture is French and Caribbean. Its former capital, Saint-Pierre (destroyed by a volcanic eruption), was often referred to as the Paris of the Lesser Antilles. Following French custom, many businesses close at midday, then reopen later in the afternoon.
Association Football is the leading sport in Martinique which is an overseas department of France. Several of France's leading footballers are of Martinique heritage, including Thierry Henry and Raphaël Varane.
- Vaval. This event is known as Carnaval elsewhere in the Caribbean, and Mardi-Gras in many other places, Vaval is held in February every year, concluding on the first day of Christian Lent.
- Bastille Day.
- Le Tour de Martinique.
- Tour de Yoles Rondes.
- Beaujolais Nouveau Celebrations.
- Martinique Jazz Festival.
