Recommend September 2017 - 10

1. Hiking: About 31 trails traverse all quadrants of Martinique,

3. Golf: The Golf de l'Espérance country club course is not only

2. Canyoneering: With so many rivers and waterfalls

4. Snorkeling: Especially in waters just off the southwest coast,
the underwater rocks and coral reefs seem to be condominiums
for fish, and with full occupancy. Some of the snorkeling can be
enjoyed by simply wading out from the beaches, but there are also
power boats and sailboats that take snorkelers out to the very
best spots.

including the flat, sandy south, the windy Caravelle Peninsula on the
east coast, the forested flanks of Mount Pelée (where hikers have
a choice of approaches and routes), and the sparsely populated,
lost-in-time north coast. The government keeps these trails in good
condition and produces detailed trail maps for independent types,
but many visitors opt for guided hikes and nature walks.

flowing off the mountains, Martinique is a big draw for fans of
canyoneering, which involves descending rivers, rapids, and
waterfalls by floating, rapelling, swimming-whatever is
appropriate at a given place. The Martinican canyoneering guides
emphasize safety, and they offer experiences not just for seasoned
athletes but for absolute beginners.

There's plenty of opportunity for kayakers and scuba divers.

gorgeous, as befits Martinique, but it's a par 71, 7,262-yard layout
designed by the great Robert Trent Jones, Jr.

5. Diving: Mountainous terrain usually indicates still more steep

verticals below the surface, and sure enough, underwater walls
drop off near Martinique's northern coast, and every 30 ft. of depth
reveals different varieties of fish. Not all those walls are in the north,
though. For example, the base of Rocher du Diamant, a veritable
monolith in the sea, is a gold mine for divers. Speaking of gold
mines, Martinique's coastal waters contain many shipwrecks, too,
including wrecks of 19th century boats that sunk in Saint-Pierre's
bay during the tragic 1902 volcanic eruption of Mount Pelée. That
there are more than three dozen accredited dive operations is a
testament to how good the diving here is.

6. Surfing: The bad news is that you can't surf on every beach,
but that's also the good news: It means that much of the surf,
especially in the southwest, is too calm. The best surfing is off the
east coast from the Caravelle Peninsula north to Prêcheur. Plenty of
shops and shacks rent boards and offer instruction.
7. Kayaking: Both great exercise and an ideal way for

spotting birds and giant turtles, kayaking is particularly popular
here amid the mangroves off the west and south coasts,
where there is absolutely no wave action but plenty of
fascinating wildlife.

8. Yawl Racing: After just three minutes of watching local

boating clubs race these craft, you'll know you're witnessing an
extraordinary spectator sport. Martinique's hand-made,
traditional yawls have no weighted keel, so the crews keep them
from capsizing in winds that blow from one side by crawling out,
way out, over the water on poles suspended out to either side.

lUC OlivieR

9. Flyboarding: As new as yawl racing is traditional, flyboarding

has taken flight in Martinique. Using a jetpack and standing on a
platform with ski pole-like handles, a flyboarder can zip across the
surface or even rise into the air, sometimes as high as 50 ft. It's as
close as any of us will ever come to being Superman. g

Specialist Program

R. Pakiela

To become a Martinique
Destination Specialist and participate in
the incentive & rewards program, visit

edu.recommend.com/martinique
10
http://edu.recommend.com/martinique
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend September 2017
