Martinique enjoys a tropical climate, tempered by the trade winds of the Atlantic Ocean.
The island of the French West Indies experiences a wet season, called wintering, which extends from July to October, while the dry season, called Lent, extends from February to April.
Temperatures vary little throughout the year, with highs reaching 29°C in February and 31°C in August.
The island is exposed to tropical storms with cyclones, typical of the Caribbean area, between August and October.
Read the fileAntilles: the
Figaro travel guide
When is the best time to go to Saint-Pierre and the north of Martinique?
Classified as a "city of art and history", Saint-Pierre is the most visited city in Martinique.
Simon Dannhauer
The northern part of the island experiences more rainfall than the southern part, especially on the slopes of Mount Pelée and the Pitons du Carbet where the rainfall exceeds 4,000 mm per year.
The north of what is nicknamed "the island of flowers" is best discovered during the dry season, when temperatures oscillate between 23°C and 29°C in Saint-Pierre, the former capital of Martinique, which lives in the memory of the nearby, still active volcano, which destroyed it nearly a century ago.
The Volcanological Museum also presents various objects testifying to the eruption of 1902. To the south of Saint-Pierre are Anse Turin, a long gray sand beach, and Anse Céron, a magnificent black sand beach facing the Îlet la Perle, which will delight diving enthusiasts.
Rum is one of the fundamental elements of the history and culture of Martinique.
To discover the local know-how in the manufacture of the famous beverage, you can visit the distillery of the Plantation Saint-James, north of Sainte-Marie, as well as the Domaine de Fonds Saint-Jacques, where there is a plantation dating from 1660. Located at the northern end of Martinique, Grand Rivière is a fishing village dominated by high cliffs offering a panorama of the rugged silhouette of Mount Pelee to the south and the neighboring island of Dominica to the north.
Read alsoWhen to go to Guadeloupe?
Weather, climate… Our advice region by region
When is the best time to go to Fort-de-France and the center of Martinique?
Capital of Martinique, Fort-de-France contains many treasures such as museums, distilleries, colorful markets and sublime gardens.
chromoprism
The central part of the island receives about 2,000 mm of rain per year, including more than 200 mm per month from July to November.
The period from February to April is the best time to discover the region and in particular Fort-de-France, where the thermometer shows an average of 26°C during the dry season.
Much of the charm of the capital lies in the natural landscapes that surround it, on the edge of the Baie des Flamands, with the Pitons du Carbet rising to the north as a backdrop.
The mix of busy streets, parks and old buildings with shops and cafes gives this city a unique atmosphere.
Do not miss to discover the Schœlcher Library, the Saint-Louis Cathedral, which dates from 1895, the Palais de Justice, a neoclassical building from 1906, the Departmental Museum of Archaeology, which presents objects related to the Amerindian past of the island , as well as the Martinique Aquarium, which reproduces the habitat of a tropical river.
Less than a 10-minute drive from the capital is the Church of Balata, a smaller replica of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Paris.
Not far away you will find the Jardin de Balata, a botanical garden set in a typical tropical forest, with paths winding between tropical trees and exotic flowers.
When is the best time to go to the south of Martinique?
On the southwest coast of Martinique, the town of Anses-d'Arlet is one of the island's must-see places.
You can explore the underwater world during a diving session or contemplate the sublime sunsets from the pontoon.
gadzius
In the south of the island, it rains less than 1,500 mm per year, especially along the coasts.
Precipitation usually occurs in the form of showers or thunderstorms, sometimes intense but brief.
The cool temperatures of the dry season are conducive to seaside pleasures in water at 28°C, especially on the beach of Salines and that of Pointe Marin, which are among the most beautiful in Martinique.
A winding coastal road connects the authentically charming villages of Anses d'Arlet while offering sea views. and whose summit offers a panoramic view of the south coast and the tip of Diamond Rock to the west.