The Basics
Country: Martinique
Where is it?: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Why do people go here?: France, with a flavor of the West Indies. Martinique has the typical island draws, but with hiking and strong French flavor.
What are the main entry points?: Flying is still the most common (from France or the US), but you can actually take a cargo ship, yacht or ferry as well.
Currency used: Euro (EUR)
Country Code: 596
Religion: Roman Catholic 95%, Hindu and pagan African 5%
Population: 400,000
Ethnic Breakdown: African and African-white-Indian mixture 90%, white 5%, East Indian, Chinese less than 5%
Government: Overseas department of France
Languages: French, Creole patois
Travel Information
Major Cities: Fort-de-France
Attractions: Franc-o-phile, Hiking Trails, Plantations
Accommodation: Martinique Hostels
Tourism Office locations and links: Martinique-(See French West Indies) Blvd. Alfassa Fort-de-France, Martinique +596-637960; //www.martinique.org
Health Issues: No vaccination requirements for any international traveller.
Tips for Visiting
When to go: Early spring is the nicest time to go, unfortunately, everyone else knows this too.
Specific Events/Holidays: Bastille Day, 14 July (1789)
Getting Around: Try to rent a car: bus service is difficult to navigate, although cheaper.
Cheapest airport to fly into: The cheapest airport to fly into Martinique is the Aime Cesaire International Airport.
Need more information?: Check out the Martinique travel guide for more on what to see, where to stay, and how to get there.
