The north of Martinique means Saint-Pierre and its ruins, Mount Pelée, the Route de la Trace, the rum distilleries and the end of the road at Grand'Rivière. It's also where you depend most on a car: the sights are far apart and the roads climb. Your car waits for you at Aimé Césaire airport, with a free handover; Saint-Pierre is about an hour's drive. We don't deliver to accommodation: you collect the car at the airport, at our Le Lamentin agency or at the Fort-de-France cruise port.
From the airport to the north: two roads
Along the Caribbean coast (N2), through Schœlcher and Le Carbet: about 45 km to Saint-Pierre, an hour to an hour and a quarter outside rush hours.
By the Route de la Trace (N3), through the rainforest, past the Jardin de Balata to Le Morne-Rouge, the starting point of the Aileron trail up Pelée: an hour to an hour and a quarter outside rush hours.
Both roads go through Fort-de-France, where weekday traffic is heavy in the morning and late afternoon. The nicest plan: go one way, come back the other. For Grand'Rivière, at the end of the northern Atlantic road, allow about an hour and a half.
What a car opens up in the north
- Saint-Pierre — once the island's economic and cultural capital, destroyed by the eruption of Mount Pelée on 8 May 1902, which claimed nearly 28,000 lives. A French 'Town of Art and History': the theatre ruins, Cyparis's cell, the Memorial of the 1902 disaster;
- Mount Pelée — nearly 1,400 metres, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2023; the Aileron trail starts at Le Morne-Rouge. Set off early: the summit often clouds over as the day goes on;
- The Route de la Trace and the Jardin de Balata — the drive through the rainforest between Fort-de-France and Le Morne-Rouge;
- Le Carbet — Anse Turin, where Paul Gauguin stayed in 1887, and its interpretation centre;
- Le Prêcheur and Anse Couleuvre — the last beach reachable by road on the Caribbean side;
- Distilleries and estates — Depaz in Saint-Pierre, JM in Macouba, Habitation Céron in Le Prêcheur;
- Grand'Rivière — the village where the northern Atlantic road ends.
Our detailed itineraries are on the Martinique road trip by car page.
Driving in the north
The roads are paved but winding, with climbs and tight bends, especially on the Trace and towards Grand'Rivière. No need for a 4x4: a city car gets everywhere; a more powerful engine or an automatic gearbox makes the hills more comfortable. The north is also wetter than the south: plan full days and set off early.
Book your car for the north
Unlimited mileage, which matters for trips to the north, a team you can reach 7 days a week and free handover at the airport. In high season, book online as soon as your dates are set; the full range is on the Vehicles page.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Spar'Car agency in the north of Martinique?
No. Our agency is in Le Lamentin, in the centre of the island, a few minutes from the airport. For a stay in the north, collect the car at Aimé Césaire airport when you land: the handover there is free.
How long is the drive from the airport to Saint-Pierre?
About 45 km: an hour to an hour and a quarter outside rush hours, along the Caribbean coast. At rush hour, getting through Fort-de-France can add a lot of time.
Do I need a 4x4 for the north of Martinique?
No. The roads are paved and a city car is enough. The climbs on the Trace are simply more comfortable with a more powerful engine or an automatic gearbox.
Can you deliver the car to my accommodation in the north?
No, we don't deliver to accommodation. The car is handed over at Aimé Césaire airport (free of charge), at our Le Lamentin agency or at the Fort-de-France cruise port (extra charge), and you return it to the same place.