Martinique lends itself to a road trip like few islands: within an hour's drive you go from southern beaches to highland forest, and from a calm Caribbean coast to a windswept Atlantic shore. The trick is ordering your days sensibly. Here are three itineraries that structure a stay well, with what they actually ask of you behind the wheel — written by a rental company based on the island.
Before you set off: three things about the roads
Distances are deceptive. The island is small, but the terrain and the bends stretch everything: a journey that looks short on the map often takes twice as long as expected. Allow extra, especially on the way back.
Drive around Fort-de-France at peak times. It is the island's only real congestion point, morning and late afternoon. Timing your departures outside those windows changes the day.
Mountain roads are good but narrow. None requires a special vehicle: they require accepting a slow pace and pulling over to pass. All the rules are in our driving in Martinique guide.
Itinerary 1 — The north: Mount Pelée, Saint-Pierre and the Route de la Trace
The most spectacular day, and the one where a car earns its keep. You follow the Caribbean coast up to Saint-Pierre, the former capital destroyed by the eruption of Mount Pelée in 1902, whose ruins can be explored on foot within the present-day town.
From there, the Route de la Trace crosses the interior through rainforest: a winding, shaded, often damp road that climbs and drops in hairpins. It drives easily as long as you are not in a hurry — and it is probably the finest stretch on the island.
The day can be rounded out with a distillery, several of which are in the north, and a viewpoint over Pelée when the weather allows. The summit is often in cloud: if you see it clear in the morning, change your plans and go up.
What this itinerary asks
- A full day, with nothing else planned.
- A full tank before setting off: fuel stations thin out in the heights.
- Patience on the Trace, particularly behind a slow vehicle.
Itinerary 2 — The south: beaches from Sainte-Anne to Le Diamant
The most popular route, and the easiest to drive. You head down to Sainte-Anne and Grande Anse des Salines, then work back up the Caribbean coast through Le Diamant, facing the rock of the same name, and Les Anses-d'Arlet.
The advice that changes everything: set off early. Les Salines fills up by mid-morning, and the parking spaces nearest the beach go first. Arriving as it opens means a quiet beach, and you can leave for lunch elsewhere as everyone else arrives.
The full detail of this area — the communes, the access roads, the parking — is on our car rental in the south of Martinique page. The beaches, with swimming advice, are in our guide to beaches you can reach by car.
Itinerary 3 — The Atlantic: the Caravelle peninsula
Less busy than the other two, which is precisely the point. The Atlantic coast offers a completely different landscape: greener, windier, with a rough sea you look at rather than swim in.
The Caravelle peninsula, jutting into the ocean, ends in a nature reserve and coastal paths. It is a day that mixes driving and walking, and shows a Martinique most visitors never see.
Fitting it into a week
A week lets you do all three without rushing, keeping time for the beach and for doing nothing:
- The first days — the south and its beaches, while you settle in and get used to the driving.
- Mid-stay — the northern day, the longest, saved for good weather.
- Then — the Atlantic and the Caravelle, plus the bay of Fort-de-France and Les Trois-Îlets if you are staying on that side.
The rest fills itself: markets, distilleries, gardens, and the coves you find by pulling over on impulse — which only a car allows. For a day-by-day plan, see our 7-day itinerary; with two weeks, follow the 2-week itinerary.
Which vehicle for a Martinique road trip
No special vehicle is needed: every road mentioned here is paved and fine in an ordinary car. Choose on passenger numbers and luggage, not on terrain. A city car parks more easily at the busier sites; a roomier model is more comfortable if several of you are doing long days back to back. Our fleet covers both.
One thing worth knowing if you plan to drive a lot: unlimited mileage is included in our rentals, so the itineraries above cost you nothing extra.
Arranging your rental
The simplest option is to collect the vehicle at Aimé Césaire airport on arrival: you are independent from the moment you land. If you have questions about the conditions — age, licence, deposit, what is included — it is all covered in our how to rent a car in Martinique guide.
Once your dates are set, book your vehicle online.
Frequently asked questions
How many days do you need to tour Martinique?
You can cross the island in a day, but touring it properly takes a week. The three itineraries above fit into three full days, best spread across a stay so you keep beach and rest time.
Do you need a 4x4 to explore Martinique?
No. Every road mentioned here is paved and accessible in an ordinary car, including the Route de la Trace and the access roads to the southern beaches.
Is the Route de la Trace hard to drive?
It is winding, narrow in places and often damp, but nothing dangerous for an attentive driver. Take it steadily, use your lights in the shaded stretches, and let faster traffic through.
Can you visit Martinique without a car?
You can stay without one if you remain in a single area, but you cannot tour the island: the sites are spread out and connections do not let you choose your timings. It is the point our customers raise most often.
Is mileage limited?
No, unlimited mileage is included in our rentals: you can run these itineraries back to back without counting.