CaribbeanTravel.com Directory - (Page 160) MARTINIQUE resorts bloom on ISLE OF FLOWERS he richest of the French Caribbean colonies, Martinique remains close to France in spirit while embracing its African-influenced Creole culture. In the capital, Fort-de-France, the dress is chic, the croissants are fresh, and it’s as easy to find delicately flavored classic French cuisine as it is spicy Creole. This lush, verdant island also remains true to its Carib Indian name, Madinina, which means “Isle of Flowers.” Hibiscus, frangipani, bougainvillea, anthuriums, poinsettias and orchids add color to a jungle of green. T A TRIO OF ECOSYSTEMS Nature lovers have three distinct eco-systems to explore. The northern part of the island is dominated by the dormant Mt. Pélee, which peaks at over 4,600 feet, and the Pitons du Carbet, which reach about 4,000 feet. Here, a rainforest sliced by gorges, rivers and thunderous waterfalls sets the scene for canyoning, hiking and 4x4 adventures. Along the way, adventurers can dip into cool pools and hot springs and bask on volcano-grey beaches. The middle of the island is fringed by mangroves, ideal for canoeing, kayaking and bird watching. To the south, rocky hills frame cove beaches. Here, energetic travelers hike from one to the next, discovering the special qualities of each beach along the way and stopping for refreshments at gourmet seaside bistros and restaurants. The lively resort area of Pointe du Bout and smaller resort centers such as Sainte-Luce and Sainte-Anne are built along glorious whitesand beaches, where full-service resorts offer water sports and a wide choice of gourmet restaurants. Small boutique hotels, including a four-star deluxe resort and spa, as well as historic inns, comfortable villas and countless gourmet restaurants in every price range, nestle along the coast. MARTINIQUE GEOGRAPHY: Martinique is 1,965 miles from New York, 1,470 miles from Miami, 2,270 miles from Montreal, 425 miles from San Juan and 4,261 miles from Paris. The island covers 425 square miles, is 50 miles long and 22 miles wide. The highest point is Mont Pelee in the northwest at 4,656 feet. The terrain rises gradually from the coast to the center of the island and from the south (beaches) to the north (Mont Pelee and Carbet Peaks). The only large plain, Le Lamentin, is in the center of the island. LANGUAGE: French is the official language. Creole is spoken locally. English is spoken in the tourist areas. POPULATION: 392,000 (1999 census). CLIMATE: The mean temperature averages about 79ºF. Average humidity is 75%. The rainy season is from the end of August to October. TIME: EST +1. GMT -4. Daylight Savings Time is not observed 160 www.caribbeantravel .c om http://www.caribbeantravel.com
For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.