Best beaches in Martinique

Anse des Salines

Martinique boasts a collection of Caribbean beaches, each one more enchanting than the last, but the prize for the most beautiful beach goes to the great Anse des Salines, truly heavenly.

With its blond sand almost 2 km long, its tall sloping coconut palms and its calm, turquoise waters, this beach is truly breathtakingly beautiful. Moreover, it is frequented by both Martinians and tourists. On weekends it is very crowded, but its arched shape allows one to find a quiet corner even on the busiest day.

Moreover, the vegetation that borders it (made up of pretty coconut palms, country pear trees and mangroves) will allow anyone who wishes to do so to shelter in the shade during the hottest hours.

Behind the beach are many small restaurants offering local specialities at cheap prices and street vendors selling delicious homemade ice cream. Access is directly via the D9 road that ends at the edge of the beach with plenty of parking along the way.

The water is generally calm and shallow, allowing for safe swimming.

Anse Michel

Located on the south-east coast of Martinique, along Cap Chevalier, a few metres from the pier leading to the Chevalier islet, Anse Michel is often considered one of the most beautiful beaches in Martinique. Here, you will not find long, endless beaches but an intimate and cosy bay with magnificent sand, a lagoon of incredible colours and palm trees that provide lovely places to take shade.

Protected by a coral reef, the beach benefits from calm, crystal-clear waters, ideal for families with children to swim in. You will also find small restaurants serving delicious local specialities.

Anse Dufour

In the south-west of Martinique, in the municipality of Anses-d’Arlet, Anse Dufour is a pretty little beach outside the centre, bordered by a small fishing village, with pretty wooden boats and a quiet, charming beach. An authentic and relatively uncrowded place, which you will have to reach by making a diversion.

Protected by the rocky walls bordering the cove, the water is calm and the water transparent: a real little paradise for all those who love snorkelling and wish to observe tropical fish but especially sea turtles. In fact, it is very common to spot sea turtles venturing towards Anse Dufour, and sometimes even very close to the beach, almost ashore.

It is also worth noting that right next to Anse Dufour there is another equally amazing little cove, Anse Noir, a small black sand beach, a five-minute walk away, a favourite nesting place for turtles, with a wonderful wooden jetty stretching out into the sea.

Also, between Anse Dufour and Anse Noir is Point Y, a Y-shaped indentation where you can swim in completely transparent waters, which can be reached by sea from Anse Dufour. A small path from the car park will also take you to the end of the point, for a beautiful view of the sea in the distance between the two beaches.

Diamant Beach

South of the Diamant peninsula, this 3-kilometre-long beach is one of the best known in Martinique, due to its location right in front of the famous Diamond Rock, a jewel anchored in the Caribbean Sea, a 175-metre-high volcanic islet that has become one of Martinique’s symbols.

From the beach, the view of Diamond Rock is magnificent, undoubtedly magical at sunset. The small, uninhabited island of Diamond Rock rises about two kilometres from Pointe du Diamant, and takes its name from its unusual, pointed, blunt shape (as well as from the reflections of its walls at certain times of the day) reminiscent of a precious stone. Its origin comes from the intense volcanic activity that affected this region almost a million years ago, which also gave rise to the characteristic black sand.

Unlike other beaches on the island, attention must be paid here to the currents, which are often particularly strong, requiring caution from bathers: do not stray too far from the shore.

Anse Couleuvre

Located in the far north of Martinique, at the foot of the Pelée Mountain, Anse Couleuvre and its volcanic black sand is undoubtedly one of Martinique’s most beautiful wild beaches.

Nestled between high cliffs and surrounded by green nature, it will catapult you into a Robinson Crusoe atmosphere. Anse Couleuvre in fact remained a secret for a long time, before becoming a favourite spot for Martinians and tourists alike, thanks to its location in the heart of the wildest part of Martinique, right at the end of the road that stops right here.

The adventure then begins directly by car, on the coastal road (D10) that enters the tropical forest and winds between the volcanic peaks. Beware, the roadway is narrow and distorted, with many potholes. A small car park allows you to leave your car before reaching the beach on foot, via a path that goes deep into the vegetation.

A beautiful arc-shaped tongue of grey volcanic sand awaits you, overhung by imposing cliffs covered with tropical forest: nature in its raw state.

Beyond the beach, there are several hiking trails. One of these leads to the town of Grand’Rivière (which also has another black sand beach called Anse Sinaï and is accessible by car from the northeast, 18 km away). If you take the beginning of this path, it will allow you in a few minutes to discover a beautiful viewpoint on Anse Couleuvre, then two other small beaches: Anse Lvier and Anse à Voile.

Another path leads to the sublime waterfall of Anse Couleuvre, called the Prêcheur Falls (consider 2 hours round trip).

Anse l'Etang and the Surfers' Beach

The beach at Anse Bonneville, commonly called Surfers’ Beach, is located at Tartane, at the end of the Caravelle peninsula. It is a large nature reserve of almost 500 hectares, full of small, more or less easily accessible beaches, very different from those typical of Martinique.

This pretty cove of fine sand, pounded by powerful waves, is in fact a favourite spot for local surfers. It is obviously not the waves of Hawaii, but the sea is very choppy and forms very nice waves, suitable for boarding or kitesurfing. It is a small paradise for water sports enthusiasts.

It is not the most suitable place for bathing, both because of the currents and the presence of the reef: you come here especially for the ambience and the easygoing atmosphere typical of places frequented by surfers. For a quiet swim, we recommend the nearby Anse l’Étang, five minutes from Surfeurs beach.

Cap Macré Beach

Despite its wild beach appearance, Cap Macré beach is also very popular: bright white sand, waters of different shades of blue, views of the offshore reef and Chevalier Island, picnic tables: it has everything you need for a nice day at the beach. Best of all, it is not too crowded.

Although the water may be a little choppy, a small natural pool surrounded by rocks allows the little ones to splash around safely.

Cap Macré beach is located on the Trace des caps hiking trail that connects the different beaches of Marin and Sainte-Anne, between Anse Grosse Roche and Cap Chevalier.

Anse Grosse Roche

Inaccessible from the road, it takes about twenty minutes on foot from Cap Macré: on arrival, this wide, long and beautiful white sandy beach, lined with coconut palms, awaits you.

Very often deserted, in addition to its turquoise waters, its charm is mainly due to the rocky ledge to the right of the beach, naturally pierced by a heart-shaped hole. A real little piece of paradise, really nice for a little romantic getaway.