Martinique Travel Facts for Yachts

Fact File for Martinique

Martinique is an overseas department of France. Beautiful and rustic, the island offers something for every visitor. Mountains and rain forest in the north attract hikers, while the southern part offers premium shopping and some of the region’s best beaches.

COORDINATES: 14º40N, 61º00W

LANGUAGE: French

CAPITAL: Fort-de-France

WEATHER: Tropical moderated by northeast trade winds. Temperatures are quite stable and vary only by a couple of degrees throughout the year. The main rainy season occurs in the autumn.

BEST TIME TO CHARTER: December-April

AIRPORTS: Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport (FDF) serves inter-Caribbean and intercontinental flights.

TIME: UTC-4

CURRENCY: EUR; USD also accepted in some hotels and boutiques; Visa and MasterCard widely accepted (apart from small shops and restaurants), American Express less frequent.

ELECTRICITY: 220V, 50 Hz

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:

1 Jan - New Year's Day
Mar/Apr - Good Friday
1 May - Labor Day
8 May - Victory Day
22 May - Slavery Abolition Day
May/Jun - Whit Monday
21 Jul - Schoelcher Day
15 Aug - Assumption Day
1 Nov - All Saints' Day
11 Nov - Armistice
25 Dec - Christmas Day

MAIN PORTS AND MARINAS: Le Marin, Fort-de-France, Case-Pilote, Schoelcher

RECOMMENDED BEACHES: Anse Céron, Anse Couleuvre, Grande Anse d'Arlet, Ilet Chevalier

CULTURAL: The island is an overseas department of France blending both Caribbean and French cultures. The cuisine is a delicious mix of Creole and French recipes.