To read our reviews of popular tours and excursions in Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Bonaire, the Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guadeloupe (coming soon), Jamaica, Martinique, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia and more… just click HERE
Now that the weather is showing signs of winter in many parts of the world, you might be starting to think about a nice warm Caribbean vacation. Nothing beats the winter blues like feeling the warmth of the sun above you and the sand beneath your feet. That said, it’s also great to get the muscles moving, the heart pumping and the mind blown by experiencing the natural wonders that the Caribbean has to offer. Take a peek at the underwater world below the surface of the Caribbean Sea or hike through a lush green rainforest to awaken the senses – This is nature’s best medicine. Of course, a round of golf or a warm relaxing day at sea would also fill the prescription for what the travel doctor ordered! If you’re thinking of heading south to escape the cold and dark of winter for a week or two, here are our thoughts on the best of the less busy/touristy Caribbean adventure destinations to visit in early 2024.
For this article, we’re highlighting the Caribbean Islands that provide the best opportunities for getting out in nature by enjoying snorkeling (and diving), hiking, fishing, watersports, and golf, highlighting a few of the more ‘unspoiled’ Caribbean Islands where you can truly immerse yourself in the culture and activities of the land.
Located just north of South America’s Venezuelan coast, Bonaire is a special municipality of the Netherlands. Famous for its pink flamingos and salt mounds, the small Dutch island is more than just a “diver’s paradise”. This Caribbean Island is also a great place to experience snorkeling, watersports, cycling and surprisingly good hiking as well!
With healthy coral reefs and rich marine life, Bonaire is one of the best islands in the Caribbean for snorkeling and diving! Bonaire and its small offshore island Klein Bonaire are encircled by reefs providing homes for an amazing biodiversity of colourful fish, corals, sponges, and more. You can slip into the warm Caribbean Sea from shore and swim out to a nearby reef, or take a short boat ride to Bonaire’s Marine Park to experience some of the best snorkel & dive spots in the Caribbean. Explore shallow coral reefs, steep underwater cliffs as well as underwater caves. Bonaire also happens to be one of the best Freediving locations in the world.
For more details on the dozens of snorkel sites or diving at any of the over eighty dive sites in Bonaire, as well as contact info for local dive shops and boat operators who can get you outfitted and in the water, check out our Bonaire Snorkeling and/or our Bonaire Scuba Diving pages.
With its near-constant trade winds, year-round warm air and water temperatures, Bonaire is one of the best places in the Caribbean to enjoy water sports as well. The flat southwest coast of the island seems to be made for kiteboarding and kitesurfing, while the mangroves and waterways of Lac Bay on the southeast side of the island are ideal for kayaking and windsurfing. Spending an adventurous day on the sea is a great way to experience the Caribbean, and Bonaire definitely ticks all the boxes when it comes to watersports options that satisfy everyone’s needs!
For more tips on watersports options in Bonaire, including contact info for local tour operators, surf shops and places to rent gear, check out our Bonaire Water Sports page.
With over a hundred kilometres of cycling trails, Bonaire is also one of the best Caribbean destinations for bicycle riding. Explore Bonaire by bike to experience jaw-dropping views of the island and picturesque views of the Caribbean Sea. The island has road courses that include amazing scenic coastline routes, as well as off-road trails in desert-like terrain. If you’re looking to travel at a slower pace, the hiking trails of Bonaire offer surprisingly good opportunities for some easy relaxing walks as well as a couple of intermediate–difficult outings. Perhaps the best Bonaire hiking can be found in Washington-Slagbaai National Park at the north end of the island.
For more details on biking and hiking in Bonaire, including contact info for local tour operators, hiking guides, and places to rent bikes, check out our Bonaire Cycling and/or our Bonaire Hiking pages.
For a complete listing of things to do in Bonaire, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Bonaire Vacation Ideas and Things to Do in Bonaire pages.
The Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis Islands, commonly referred to as “St. Kitts & Nevis”, is a two-island nation in the northern Caribbean, located southeast of Puerto Rico and just west of Antigua & Barbuda. The island of St. Kitts and its smaller sister island of Nevis are only 2 miles (3km) apart, conveniently connected via ferries and water taxis. Among many awesome attractions, Saint Kitts is home to Brimstone Fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well as the last railway in the Caribbean. Nevis may be best known for its sandy beaches and Georgian-style buildings in the charming capital of Charlestown. That said, a St Kitts & Nevis vacation has plenty to offer travelers seeking action on land and sea.
As the tops of a submerged volcanic mountain range, St. Kitts & Nevis are covered with rolling green folds of volcanic peaks separated by lush valleys. With more than a quarter of the islands being conserved via National Parklands, such as the Central Forest Reserve, St. Kitts & Nevis are a great place for Caribbean hiking! The islands offer a variety of easy relaxing nature walks, some decent intermediate hikes as well as some very challenging climbs – No adventurous trip to Saint Kitts is complete without hiking up the island’s highest peak Mount Liamuiga, or the shorter but steeper Nevis Peak. Combined, the sister islands have about a dozen trails to explore.
For more information and tips on hiking in St. Kitts & Nevis, including contact info for local tour operators and hiking guides, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Hiking pages.
Bicycling is another great way to explore St. Kitts & Nevis while getting some fresh air and exercise at the same time. Both islands offer mountain biking as well as some cane field and scenic road routes. For avid cyclists, you can compete against the island’s best, in an around-the-island cycle in Nevis. Alternatively, take your time to better enjoy the gorgeous views of the island, Caribbean Sea, and neighbouring islands, while being challenged by the mountainous terrain encountered on portions of the route.
For more details on cycling and MTBing in St. Kitts & Nevis, including contact info for local tour operators and places to rent bikes, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Cycling page.
Meanwhile, just offshore from St. Kitts & Nevis, you can find some good snorkeling and diving spots to explore an underwater world of rocky reefs and wrecks. St. Kitts offers more than half a dozen locations to snorkel along the west coast of the island, with perhaps the best being the oddly named Shitten Bay, typically accessed via boat. The shallow turquoise water is crystal clear, and the sandy seagrass-covered bottom and rocky shoreline are home to a wide variety of tropical fish, corals and other marine life. Several others can be accessed directly from the beach. For the more adventurous scuba divers, there are over two dozen dive sites with reefs, wrecks and walls to explore around the sister islands – Something for divers of all skills to enjoy.
For more tips and details on snorkeling or diving in St. Kitts & Nevis, as well as contact info for local dive shops and boat operators who can get you outfitted and in the water, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Snorkeling and/or our St. Kitts & Nevis Scuba Diving pages.
For a relaxing day on the links, St. Kitts has a couple of gorgeous 18-hole / par 71 golf courses, and Nevis has one as well. The Royal St. Kitts Golf Club is home to a course with several holes overlooking the Caribbean Sea or Atlantic Ocean. Kittitian Hill – Irie Fields is a unique course set among Belle Mont farm’s crops and fruit trees with spectacular ocean views featuring St. Barth’s in the background. The Four Seasons Golf Club on Nevis features a Robert Trent Jones II designed course. For more information, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Golf page.
For those looking for the ‘salt life’, you can experience fishing in the turquoise blue waters of St. Kitts & Nevis with the mountainous island featuring Mount Liamuiga shrouded in mist as a picturesque backdrop. Out at sea, you could catch barracuda, kingfish, marlin, sailfish, mahi mahi, wahoo, while the reefs offer snapper, grouper, grunt and more! There’s plenty of deep sea and sport fishing as well as reef fishing to be found around the sister islands.
For more details on fishing in St. Kitts & Nevis, including contact info for local boat operators who can get a reel in your hands, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Fishing page.
Surrounded by a diversity of wind conditions and shorelines, there’s also plenty of water sports to enjoy while visiting St. Kitts & Nevis. On the windier Atlantic Ocean side of St. Kitts, the southeast coastline may be the best place for surfing, windsurfing, kite-surfing and even fly-boarding and parasailing, while the southwest coastlines of both islands are ideal for kayaking and SUP while taking in the breathtaking views of the sister islands. Also, on the Caribbean side of St. Kitts, the popular Timothy Bay and South Friar’s Bay are hotspots for jet skiing, banana boat rides and much, much more!
For more information on watersports options in St. Kitts & Nevis, including contact info for local tour operators, surf shops, and places to rent gear, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Water Sports page.
For more ideas for things to do in St. Kitts & Nevis, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our St. Kitts & Nevis Vacation Ideas and Things to Do in St. Kitts & Nevis pages.
Not to be confused with the touristy Dominican Republic, the Commonwealth of Dominica is located north of Saint Lucia, between the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Dominica is the youngest island in the region with geothermal activity you can experience for yourself by hiking to the second-largest hot spring in the world, aptly named Boiling Lake. Besides being one of, if not the best, Caribbean Island destinations for hiking, the “Nature Island” also offers incredible canyoning, snorkeling, diving, and fishing adventures… All just waiting for you to discover!
Dominica is famous for its wild mountainous landscape and plentiful rivers and waterfalls. The tallest peak on the island is Morne Diablotins, which at 4,747 feet (1,447 m) above sea level, makes it the ninth tallest in the Caribbean. For unique hiking adventures, Dominica has a challenging trail to the aforementioned Boiling Lake, which is literally ‘bubbling’, as well as an untamed river trail to the gorgeous Victoria Falls. There are literally dozens of hiking trails on the island throughout an extensive natural park system including Cabrits National Park, the Northern Forest Reserve, the Central Forest Reserve, as well as Morne Trois Pitons National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dominica is also home to the Waitukubuli National Trail – 115 miles (184 km) of trails weaving back and forth across the length of the island. For the more adventurous, Dominica is also home to a burgeoning canyoning scene with several natural waterfall playgrounds just begging to be climbed and rappeled – You just need to know which canyons and gorges they’re in!
For more information and tips on hiking in Dominica, including contact info for local tour operators and hiking guides, check out our Dominica Hiking pages.
Dominica is also protecting its natural underwater world with the Soufriere-Scott’s Head Marine Reserve and the Cabrits Marine Reserve. Several sheltered bays along the Caribbean coast with close-to-shore reefs make Dominica a great Caribbean Island for snorkeling – An ideal destination for spotting tropical fish, large fish as well as rays and turtles. There’s also the unique snorkeling spot known as Champagne Reef, where Dominica’s volcanic activity can be experienced underwater as you swim through air bubbles seeping through volcanic fumaroles on the seabed while you explore the corals and fish in the area – A snorkeling spot not to be missed!
The island is also a nearly undiscovered mecca for scuba diving with shallow coral reefs, pinnacles, and steep drop-off cliffs with incredible caves and pass-throughs. There are dozens of dive sites to choose from along the west coast of Dominica, with a variety of options appropriate for divers with various skill levels. The reefs and walls are covered with colourful corals, tubes, fans, sponges and a wide assortment of marine life including fish, eels, seahorses, shrimp, and more. Free-divers looking for a new place to explore will love the underwater crater in Soufriere Bay, which can be easily accessed via the fixed freediving platform.
Unsurprisingly, Dominica’s healthy reef systems and deep waters also make it a great destination for Caribbean fishing. Sports fishermen dream about the big marlin, sailfish, yellowfin skipjack, tarpon, wahoo, dorado, and mackerel you can catch in the waters of Dominica. As an added bonus, you might be fortunate enough to see dolphins and whales swimming alongside your boat as you journey to and from the island’s fishing hot spots!
For more details and ideas for things to do in Dominica, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Dominica Vacation Ideas page.
Well, that’s Part I of our list of some of the ‘lesser known’ Caribbean Islands to visit in 2024 for some of the best snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, watersports, and golf. For more of our unspoiled top picks for 2024, check out our Experience a Different Kind of Caribbean Island in 2024 – Part II blog post!
ACT Staff
FYI (Full Disclosure): We are not being compensated in any way by the islands listed above. These islands were chosen as our top destinations based on the criteria outlined in the opening paragraphs.
We hope you liked our assessment, and it has motivated you to enjoy some quality time in the Caribbean!
As we were saying in part I of this article… With the cold winds and shorter days of winter starting to rear its ugly head in many parts of the world, you’re probably thinking about a nice warm Caribbean vacation this winter. We suggest you travel to somewhere warm and exciting – A less-touristy place with amazing natural wonders to experience, like an underwater world full of life, or a hike through lush green rainforest with amazing tropical views! If you missed part I of our thoughts on the best ‘off the beaten path’ Caribbean adventure destinations to visit in early 2024, you can find it here – Experience a different kind of Caribbean Island in 2024 – Part I.
Part II of this article highlights a couple more relatively unspoiled Caribbean Islands that provide the best opportunities for getting out in nature by enjoying snorkeling (and diving), hiking, fishing, and water sports – Places you can really immerse yourself in the culture and natural beauty of the land.
The most southern of the Caribbean’s Windward Islands, Grenada is a tri-island nation that includes the main island of Grenada along with Carriacou and Petite Martinique. Known as the “Spice Island” for its abundance of nutmeg, cinnamon, clove, ginger and vanilla, Grenada is a great Caribbean destination for hiking, fishing, snorkeling and diving as well as a wide variety of water sports!
With Marine Parks protecting several areas of the ocean, including the world’s first underwater sculpture park, Grenada is a top Caribbean Island destination for snorkeling. Slip into the warm Caribbean Sea from a handful of the islands’ white sandy beaches or take a short boat ride for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to explore dozens of underwater statues and healthy coral reefs alive with colourful tropical fish and amazing marine life. Similarly, with over 30 dive sites, Grenada is also a top Caribbean scuba diving destination. There are dive sites featuring reefs, wrecks and underwater gardens in a variety of depths, offering something for everyone. If it’s shipwrecks you’re after, Grenada has more divable wrecks than any other Caribbean island, including the “Titanic of the Caribbean”, the Bianca C. Then there is the diving gem that is Carriacou, known as the ‘Island of Reefs’, where you can enjoy an additional 20 dive sites in the less-visited waters of the Grenadines.
For more details on exploring Grenada’s underwater world, including contact info for local tour operators, dive shops, and boat operators who can get you in the water, check out our Grenada Snorkeling and/or our Grenada Scuba Diving pages.
Grenada’s reefs, shoals and deep water close to shore also make it one of the best places in the southern Caribbean for catching a wide variety of fish. This includes plenty of deep-sea sport fish like blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, and even the occasional tuna. If you’re interested in a few days of competitive fishing, you’re welcome to join hundreds of like-minded anglers for a week of fun at the Spice Island Billfish Tournament, held every January.
For more details on fishing in Grenada, including contact info for local boat operators who can get a reel in your hands, check out our Grenada Fishing page.
For even more amazing outdoor experiences on the water, Grenada’s protected bays and mangroves along with Carriacou’s quiet beaches provide the perfect setting for a relaxing day kayaking or Stand-Up Paddleboarding. More adventurous kayakers can challenge the waves by journeying around an offshore island or two. That said, river tubing through a rainforest down Grenada’s Balthazar River is a must for new visitors to the island!
For more tips on water sports options in Grenada, including contact info for local tour operators, surf shops and places to rent gear, check out our Grenada Water Sports page.
Meanwhile, back on dry land, adventurers can explore the island’s mountainous terrain to experience first-hand why Grenada is also considered one of the best Caribbean destinations for hiking. Avid hikers can enjoy trails through rainforests that feature waterfalls and their accompanying pools, as well as strenuous mountain climbs with spectacular views. While the most iconic hike in Grenada, with its impressive view of Crater Lake, is probably the Mount Qua Qua trail in Grand Etang Lake and National Park, mountain hikers will also enjoy the tallest peak on the island, Mount St. Catherine which stands 2,760 feet (840m) above sea level. There are plenty of other hiking trails to choose from in Grenada, and not to be outdone, Carriacou also has a number of trails worth exploring as well.
For more information and tips on hiking in Grenada, including contact info for local tour operators and hiking guides, check out our Grenada Hiking pages.
For more great ideas for things to do in Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Grenada Vacation Ideas and our Things-To-Do in Grenada page.
Located south of Antigua & Barbuda and just north of Dominica, the Guadeloupe archipelago consists of more than a dozen islands/islets – The two largest, Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre are separated by a small channel, making the two islands appear as the wings of a butterfly. The less busy and relatively uninhabited islands of Marie-Galante, Les Saintes Bay and La Désirade are the other major islands in the archipelago. The Guadeloupe Islands are recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve providing a gorgeous natural setting for all sorts of Caribbean adventures like hiking, snorkeling, diving as well as a variety of water sports. Of course, there’s plenty of rhum on the French island as well!
Basse-Terre is a mountainous lush green paradise for hikers. The healthy natural ecosystem of the Parc National de la Guadeloupe contains the largest rainforest of the Lesser Antilles and has well over 100 miles (160km) of hiking trails to explore. Several trails lead to the top of La Grande Soufrière volcano, which at 4,813 feet (1,467m) above sea level is one of the tallest in the Caribbean! A couple of other popular trails include the Chute du Carbet and the Cascade aux Ecrevisses, both ending at the foot of rewarding waterfalls! With over a hundred trails across the Guadeloupe archipelago, these islands have to be considered one of the top hiking spots in the Caribbean.
According to some accounts, Jacques Cousteau, the famous scuba diving innovator and oceanographer mentioned that he was very impressed with Guadeloupe’s underwater world – The Guadeloupe Islands returned the compliment by naming a Marine Reserve, encompassing two small islets (pictured above), in his honour.
The Cousteau Marine Park at Pigeon Island, Basse-Terre is home to some of the best snorkeling and dive spots in Guadeloupe. While a boat or kayak is required to reach Pigeon Island as well as the shipwrecks and coral located in the shallows of the Grand-Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve, there are about a dozen great snorkeling spots that can be accessed from beaches around Grande-Terre, Basse-Terre and Iles des Saintes. While snorkelers can appreciate colourful corals, sponges, sea fans, turtles and tropical fish, divers can explore over 20 sites that feature diverse coral gardens with underwater canyons, arches and swim-throughs, along with visiting shipwrecks, and spotting turtles, rays, and even whales, along with a wide variety of fish. For another fascinating example of underwater geothermal activity (similar to Dominica) check out the champagne dive at Bouillante, Basse-Terre. There are over a dozen dive shops across the Guadeloupe Islands ready to get you in the water.
Another great way to get exercise and explore nature in the Butterfly Islands is to kayak in the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin Nature Reserve lagoon. While exploring the reefs and mangroves you may be fortunate enough to spot a manatee swimming around or grazing on the seagrass. The Nature Reserve is also a great place to try Stand-Up Paddle-boarding. Meanwhile, on the east coast of Grande-Terre, surfers can find that perfect northeast swell to ride. While most kayak and SUP action takes place near Basse-Terre’s Malendure beach and the Pigeon Islands, there are places to rent SUP boards all over the islands, along with opportunities for the more adventurous to join a long-distance race paddling between islands of the archipelago.
For more detailed ideas for things to do in Guadeloupe, including contact info for local tour operators who can help you get the most out of your stay, check out our Guadeloupe Vacation Ideas page.
Well, thanks for reading our list of some of the ‘lesser known’, and different kind of Caribbean Island to visit in 2024 for some of the best snorkeling, diving, hiking, fishing, watersports, and golf. We hope you liked our assessment, and it has motivated you to enjoy some quality time in the Caribbean!
While our article covers some of the best ‘unspoiled’ Caribbean Islands, that does not take anything away from other amazing and less-visited islands that can also provide enjoyable Caribbean adventures – Some of our other favourites include Montserrat, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Tobago, the Cayman Islands’ Lil Cayman and Cayman Brac, as well as St. Eustatius.
ACT Staff
FYI (Full Disclosure): We are not being compensated in any way by the islands listed above. These islands were chosen as our top destinations based on the criteria outlined in the opening paragraphs.
Another day in paradise… That’s what I was thinking as we departed our tour bus and boarded a ‘jitney’, a Jamaican term for a tractor-pulled transport wagon. The jitney took us on a short ride through the beautiful wide-open grounds of this spectacular estate on the way to the beautiful Jamaica waterfall. It was warm and sunny as we surveyed the surroundings from our wagon, which was moving at a leisurely pace. Needless to say, this area is totally different than the tourist filled beaches and the heavily forested landscape of Jamaica’s mountainous regions. It was a ‘breath of fresh air’ to view large areas of flat, grass-covered fields. Massive ‘logwood’ trees providing much needed shade for a few cows, seemingly hanging out and enjoying the good life.
The YS River flows through a former cane plantation and sugar factory. The site was also logged for it’s large trees that provided black dye to the textile industry. The estate now features this spectacular natural attraction, along with operating a horse farm, that has been breeding and raising thoroughbreds for over 60 years.
This was our second of three amazing excursions on Jamaica’s south-west coast, all part of the Black River Safari, YS Falls and the Appleton Estate 3-in-1 tour which we booked through Jamaica’s Amstar DMC and Tropical Tours.
Part 2 of 3 blog posts from the day’s adventures – This chapter focuses on the amazing Jamaica waterfall area known as YS Falls.
I can just imagine how the original natives on the island, as well as the English settlers would have felt as they explored this area. They would have heard the sounds of rustling water as they followed the milky blue-green river upstream. They would have come across a couple of modest waterfalls before realizing that there are in fact 7 different cascades all within a space of a hundred yards or so along the river. I suspect their excitement built as they waded into the deep pools of water below a few of the refreshing waterfalls. Well, that’s the way I felt on this day!
When our jitney ride through the beautiful countryside came to an end, it was just a short walk to the series of Falls. We excitedly came to view the stunning assortment of Jamaica waterfalls – Soaking it all in, we realized that the falls are comprised of multiple levels and a number of pools. There is a boardwalk at the bottom of the falls with stairs and platforms that climb the hill to the right side of the cascading river. As tourists stand in awe of the cascading river falling in front of them, local guides offer their services to assist in navigating the river and it’s sometimes slippery rocks.
We took our shirts off and put down our towels and bags in a little hut on the side of the river. Watching a few others in front of us, we ventured along the rock slabs that make up the top ridge of the lowest waterfall. From there we waded into the natural pool at the bottom of one of the larger and more spectacular falls. The rushing water falls approximately 15 feet (4.5m), across an area about twice that wide. The pool was over 6 feet (2m) deep in the middle and you can get right up under the falls if you want to.
Making our way uphill, the next waterfall’s pool was the largest of the bunch and appeared to be fairly deep in spots. This Jamaica waterfall and pool is sandwiched between much taller falls. This was clearly the play area of the natural attraction, as a couple of ropes hang from the canopy above. One of the ropes allows you a nice-and-easy swing out over the pool, where you can gently drop into the water or let momentum take you back to the rock slab that borders the pool. The other rope, which I didn’t even see at first, allows more daring folks to swing over and dive about 10 feet (3m) into the pool from a platform high up on the side of the river.
There are two other waterfalls above this pool and falls, with the top one being more of your typical tall thin variety. Climbing the stairs on the side of the river, we saw that the pool under the top cascade appeared to be fairly shallow, so we did not venture into it, choosing instead to take in the view of the river flowing down the hillside in front of us.
We noticed another wooden stairway leading up to a platform that is apparently used for zip-lining across the river and it’s falls. Our time almost up, we returned to our pick-up point. While some folks in our group used the change room, I noticed a nice relaxing park and a ‘river-fed’ man-made pool at the base of the falls. I understand that there are two more (man-made) pools as well as a garden elsewhere on the estate grounds. In case you’re wondering, YS is apparently named after the original land owners, John Yates and Richard Scott.
In summary, we really appreciated the majestic charm of the area – The fields, the trees, the park and of course the river with it’s waterfalls. Less crowded than other high profile “falls” in Jamaica, this was a laid back treat – A leisurely exploration of a natural beauty. We could have spent another hour or more on the premises, but we had another excursion to do before heading back on the long journey to the other side of the island
If this Jamaica waterfall excursion appeals to you, you can contact the friendly folks at Amstar by visiting the Amstar DMC website or their Facebook page.
Want to see more? Check out our Natural Beauty of YS Falls video on YouTube!
For an overview of the land of wood and water, take a look at our Jamaica Vacations page
For other great Tourist Attractions on the island, check out our Things to Do in Jamaica blog
If you’re looking for more active things to do while vacationing on the island, click on our Jamaica Adventures blog for some other great ideas!
Stay tuned for next week’s write-up on Appleton Estate’s ‘Joy Spence Rum Experience’ in another remote Jamaican location. – More than just a rum tour
The French Island of Martinique is located just north of St. Lucia in the Caribbean’s Windward Islands. While best known for its many rhum distilleries and French-Caribbean fusion of food and culture, the island has an amazingly diverse terrain and natural environment making it ideal for active vacations. Martinique’s northern rainforests are great for mountainous hiking and canyoning, while the protected bays on the island’s southwest Caribbean coast are ideal for snorkeling. Martinique also has a number of wetlands and shallows along its coastline ideal for kayaking, while the Atlantic side of the island is a great place for surfing, kite-surfing and more.
A Martinique vacation has plenty to offer travelers seeking action on both land and sea – Take a look at our favourite activities below that are guaranteed to make you feel alive!
Hiking is a great way to appreciate Martinique’s varied landscape and natural beauty, providing the opportunity to appreciate amazing panoramic views of the island and the Caribbean Sea from hill-top look-outs or coastal trails. One of the “Top 3” islands for Caribbean hiking, Martinique offers a variety of challenging volcano/mountain trails, sun-drenched coastal trails and even a trail through a wild river gorge. The island has over 30 hiking trails, most of which are well-marked and maintained.
Most of Martinique’s hiking trails are located in the northern half of the island where half a dozen peaks reach more than 2,300 feet (700m) above sea level. None is more exciting than the iconic Montagne (Mount) Pelee which has four different paths to reach the top. When not shrouded in mist and fog, this peak provides the most amazing views of the island and Caribbean Sea. Perhaps the most popular trail up the semi-active volcano is the 2-mile (4km) long L’aileron route – For a colourful, first-hand account of hiking this trail, check out our Mount Pelée – L’aileron Trail blog post.
There are a couple of note-worthy trails in the north/west of the island, one of which is a 1.5 mile (2km) forested trail with an easy 755 feet (230m) vertical that follows a river to the Cascade Couleuvre, the tallest waterfall on the island. For a more colorful, personal account of hiking this trail, check out our Cascade de la Riviere Couleuvre Trail blog post.
There are over a dozen trails in the Parc Naturel Regional De La Martinique, located in the north-east of Martinique, including Les Gorges de la Falaise, a short but unique hike along and in a river at the bottom of a steep gorge. You’ll be rewarded at the end of this hike with a refreshing waterfall and pool.
In the north-west area of the island, the Pitons du Carbet is home to more than half a dozen trails, offering a variety of nice relaxing walks as well as some more challenging mountainous (volcano) hikes with amazing panoramic views of the island and the Caribbean Sea.
There are several hiking trails along the East Coast of Martinique, including the awesome Circuit de la Caravelle Loop Trail that provides amazing views of the island and the Atlantic Ocean. It’s a 5-mile (8km) loop with 650 feet (200m) in elevation change located within the Presqu’Île de la Caravelle Nature Reserve. For a more colourful review, check out our personal hiking experience by clicking on our Circuit-de-la Caravelle Trail blog post.
Not to be left out, there are over half a dozen trails at the southern end of the island, including a steep 1.5 mile (2km) hike up a 1,300 (400m) vertical to the top of Morne Larcher that offers spectacular panoramic views of the island and Caribbean sea. There is also a very popular and less challenging route to the top of Morne Gommier that also rewards hikers with impressive views.
There are even a couple of coastal trails backpackers or long-distance hikers would love. The Sentier Littoral Nord Atlantique is a 28-mile (45km) long trail along the northeast coast of Martinique, while the Trace des Caps trail is a 21-mile (34km) long hike along the southeast shores of Martinique.
For a more complete list of Martinique hiking trails, along with some hiking guides to get you on the trail, check out our Martinique Hiking page.
FYI – For the more adventurous, there are plenty of opportunities for canyoning in Martinique as well!
What makes Martinique a great place for snorkeling is that many of the best reefs are located in the shallow waters of protected bays that can be easily reached by simply swimming off a gorgeous beach.
While there are several snorkeling sites on the northwest coast of Martinique, perhaps the remote Anse Couleuvre is the best. You can reach the rocky reef found off the north end of the beach by boat or with a short hike from the Cascade Couleuvre trailhead.
That said, the most popular Martinique snorkeling spots are in the Les Anses-d’Arlet and Trois Ilets areas along the southwest coast. The white sand beach at Plage de l’Anse Mitan in Pointe du Bout offers a rocky reef alive with fish and other sea life. Perhaps the two best and most popular snorkeling spots on the island are near Les Anses-d’Arlet. The quieter Anse Noire is home to a wide variety of marine life and its long pier offers a great way to get in and out of the water away from shore. Well known for its green sea turtles, Anse Dufour has a gorgeous white sand beach and plenty of amenities, with plenty of viewable sea life among the rocky reefs that border both sides of the protected bay.
There are several more good snorkeling sites along the southern shores of Martinique. Anse Figuier, located in Sainte Luce, is beach-accessible and has shallow calm water above a nice sandy bottom that is ideal for beginners. For a more remote quiet spot for snorkelling, Pointe Borgnèse at the Bay du Marin, is home to a wide variety of tropical fish and marine life.
For a more colourful first-hand account of snorkeling in Martinique, check out our Snorkeling Martinique blog post.
For more detailed information on Martinique’s snorkeling sites, along with a list of tour/boat operators who can get you outfitted and in the water, click on our Martinique Snorkeling page.
FYI – For the true lovers of the deep, there’s plenty of amazing scuba diving off the shores of Martinique as well!
The island’s only golf course is located less than half an hour from the capital, Fort-de-France. The picturesque golf course, Golf des Trois-Îlets, is a 5,812 meter 18-hole / par 71 golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones. While the first 9 holes may seem fairly easy, beware of the challenging back 9. Even if you’re having an off day on the course, you can still enjoy the spectacular views of Fort-De-France Bay.
For more information about golf on the island, check out our Martinique Golf page.
One of the most fun ways to experience the Caribbean is by getting on the water. With precious mangrove forests, several protected bays, and areas that get plenty of those famous Caribbean tradewinds, Martinique is a great Caribbean Island for watersports.
Well protected within the bay of Fort-de-France, the mangroves of Génipa Nature Reserve are made to be explored by kayak, as are the calm shallow waters on the Atlantic side in Robert’s Bay and Francois Bay. Back along the Caribbean coast, the protected bays and beaches of Les Anses d’Arlet and Anse à l’Ane are ideal for Stand-Up-Paddleboarding, ocean kayaking and a wide variety of fun and exciting motorized watersports like waterskiing, wakeboarding and tubing – There are even jet ski and sea scooter rentals as well as flyboard available.
Meanwhile, the Atlantic side of Martinique is a happening scene for surfers, windsurfers and kite surfers. The town of Tartane on the north side of Presqu’ile du la Caravelle is home to several surf schools as well as great surf beaches like the gorgeous Anse l’Etang and Anse Bonneville, aptly known as Plage des Surfeurs (Surfer’s Beach). These are great places for Caribbean surfing, for both beginners and experienced tube-riders alike. For the more adventurous, Martinique’s southeast coast is home to a few beaches ideal for kitesurfing and windsurfing.
For more information, along with local tour operators and surf shops who offer surfing, SUP as well as watersports gear rentals, check out our Martinique Water-Sports page.
Enjoy the adventure(s) of your choice in Martinique!
ACT Staff
For a more relaxed vacation itinerary, you can find great Tourist Attractions on the island by checking out our Things to Do in Martinique blog post
For an overview of this amazing French Caribbean gem, take a look at our Martinique Vacations page
