Martinique is a slice of France set down in the tropics. Islanders wear Paris fashions and eat croissants. Zouk music pouring out of tape players, bars and nightclubs will remind you, however, that Martiniquans have a culture of their own, solidly based on West Indian Creole traditions.

Urbanization has spread through much of the island, and most of Martinique's large towns feel like modern suburbs. Nevertheless, nearly a third of Martinique is forested and other areas are given over to pineapples, bananas and sugarcane fields. There are also plenty of hiking trails into the mountains.


When To Go

Martinique is warm year-round, with temperatures usually peaking close to 30°C (around 85°F) during the day. The best time to visit Martinique is the slightly cooler, drier season of late winter to early spring (February to May) when temperatures average about 26°C (85°F). Note that this is also the peak tourist season and prices will be at their highest and attractions and lodgings most crowded.




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Factoid
The Empress Josephine
Martinique's most famous colonial daughter was the Empress Josephine. After a relatively short-lived marriage to a wealthy army officer, Alexandre de Beauharnais, Josephine began a passionate love affair with a largely unknown military officer named Napoleon Bonaparte. Although she had two children by her first marriage, Josephine was unable to bear Napoleon an heir and in 1809 Napoleon acrimoniously divorced her. Curiously, Josephine's daughter from her first marriage, Hortense de Beauharnais, married Napoleon's brother and gave birth to a son, Louis, who would take the French throne as Napoleon III in 1852.

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Mountainous Martinique is one of the most scenic and colorful islands in the Caribbean. Acres of lush tropical vegetation and an abundance of flowers vie with vast green stretches of banana plantations, pineapple and sugarcane fields. With 425 square miles, Martinique is the largest of the Windward Islands. Boasting a combination of stunning scenery and French-Caribbean ambiance, one can easily see why it appeals to a wide spectrum of visitors.

FROM: Fort-de-France, Martinique - Discount Cruises, Last-Minute Cruises, Short Notice Cruises - Vacations To Go

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