This week, The Octopus invites you to discover the best anchorages of Martinique. Known as “the island of flowers”, Martinique is located in the heart of the Caribbean Sea.
Famous for its exotic and luxurious vegetation, idyllic beaches and blooming sealife, La Martinique is a dream destination for boaters!
Without further ado, let’s discover the best anchorages of this postcard-like tropical paradise !
Climate and season
Wondering when is the best time for a trip to La Martinique? With average temperatures of 29 degrees in the air, and between 27 and 30 in the water, summer never ends in Martinique.
The island has a tropical climate. From June to November, it’s hot and humid with heavy rainfall at the end of the day. From December to May, the climate becomes drier with slightly milder temperatures. So, we recommend you to visit La Martinique during the dry season, from December to April, to fully enjoy the island’s paradisiacal beaches and exotic landscapes.
The best anchorages of Martinique
The Marin-Est
Our first stop-over on this tour of the best anchorages in Martinique, is the anchorage of Marin-Est, located in the south of the island.
Well protected from winds and swell, the anchorage is quite spacious and can accommodate a large number of boats during high season. The sandy bottom offers perfect ground for safe anchoring.
Besides its comfort, the anchorage features an exceptional setting. You will be surrounded by eroded mountains covered in thick vegetation embracing the bay’s turquoise waters. A unique tropical landscape that will delight sailors looking for a change of scenery.
Finally, from the mainland, hike up to the viewpoint of Morne Gommier. From there, admire the breathtaking view of the city of Le Marin and its marina, Sainte Anne and the famous mountain Pelée. A view worth seeing !
For our next stop, The Octopus is taking you to two of the most popular anchorages on Navily, located in the South of Martinique. He couldn’t choose between these two exceptional spots but their proximity made the task easier!
At Les Boucaniers, as at Sainte Anne, you’ll easily drop your anchor in sandbanks of a good holding. Moreover, both anchorages are a good refuge from easterlies.
From the deck of your boat, contemplate the beach of Pointe Marin. A line of fine sand stretching over a kilometer, from the anchorage of Sainte Anne to Les Boucaniers.
The atmosphere there is something out of heaven. A tropical flora made of coconut and Sea-sidegrape embrace the crystal blue waters, forming the most beautiful and wild setting.
Extend the pleasure onland, where you can walk in the coconut grove, admire the colorful vegetation, enjoy the beaches or take a hike to the Piton de Creve Coeur, one of the island’s mythical volcanoes. It’s a wonderful place holding many promises!
Marigot du Diamant
Our next stopover, Marigot du Diamant, is also located in the south of La Martinique. At the anchorage, you will drop your anchor in a mix of mud and sand and benefit from fair protection from wind and swell. Additionally, Marigot du Diamant is spacious and can comfortably accommodate several boats while remaining calm and peaceful, even in high season.
From the deck of your boat, you’ll enjoy a breathtaking view on Morne Larcher, an imposing volcano covered in a thick coat made of tropical flora, overlooking the anchorage. The scenery is of pure wilderness in this natural paradise that holds promises!
The viewpoint of Morne Larcher is the ideal spot for any hiker. Climb up to 400 meters of altitude and admire a spectacular view of the bay and its famous rock. From there, you will also be able to see the south coast of Martinique and the town of Sainte Anne. A short hike, ranked difficult, in order to admire one of the most beautiful landscapes of Martinique. The prize is worth the climb!
Near the anchorage, you will enjoy the Diamond beach, a perfect place to swim and relax for a cozy afternoon. Finally, one mile off the coast you will have the opportunity to discover the Diamond Rock, a 175 meters high remnant of a volcanic edifice eroded by time. A beautiful natural landmark to visit, to end your stay In Marigot du Diamant on a good note.
Petite Anse d'Arlets
Our next anchorage is Petite Anse d’Arlets, located in the southwest of La Martinique.
Its seabed is mostly made up of sand and seaweed, offering fair holding for your anchor. It is a magical place, with only one disadvantage: its relatively poor wind and swell protection.
At the anchorage, you will enjoy a view on a postcard-like landscape : majestic mountains covered with lush tropical flora dominate the cove’s deep blue waters. A breathtaking natural haven, one of the emblematic anchorages in La Martinique.
A swim with a mask and a snorkel is strongly recommended to observe the seabed blooming with aquatic life. In this natural aquarium, you’ll be lucky enough to swim with sea turtles and various species of tropical fishes.
Reach the shore to take a walk along the coastline and admire its wild beauty. The Morne Champagne is one of the most popular hikes on the island. It connects two outstanding beaches : Grande Anse d’Arlet and Anses d’Arlet.
A definite “coup de coeur” stopover for the Navily community, which of course had to be included in our list of the best anchorages in La Martinique!
Grande Anse d'Arlets
We follow our journey in the southwest of the island, in the bay of Grande Anse d’Arlets. The sandy bottoms will allow you to anchor easily and the good protection against wind and swell makes it a perfect resting ground for a few days stopover.
It’s another exotic paradise with tropical rainforests, impressive rock formations dotted with lush vegetation and white sandy beaches. A unique natural reserve that will definitely transport you in another dimension!
In addition, at the anchorage, you will witness the incredible biodiversity of its crystal clear waters. Swimming with the turtles is a daily activity in these rich and protected waters.
Finally, on land, beautiful hikes await the most adventurous ones. A great way to fully enjoy your stay in this wonderful anchorage.
Anse Noire
The anchorage of Anse Noire is a promise of discovery and total escape! Despite a poor protection against winds and swell, the place is a dream for sailors in search of tranquility and peace.
Towering vegetation composes the major part of this beautiful tropical landscape. From the deck of your boat, contemplate the imposing green mountains, which abruptly fall into the calm waters of the bay. In the foreground the small black sand beach is an invitation to spend a relaxing afternoon enjoying the sun and sea.
Turtles, rare starfish, and hundreds of different species of fish populate these incredibly diverse waters. A paradise for divers and snorkelers from all over the world!
The Octopus also recommends you to explore the bat cave, located near the anchorage. The cave is not open to visitors because bats are a protected species (and it would get Batman angry), but from the vantage point at the entrance, you will have the opportunity to see myriads of bats clustered on the cave walls.
Truly exotic paradise, Anse Noire is one of the community’s favourite anchorages in La Martinique.
Anse Mitan
Anse Mitan is a very popular destination in the west of La Martinique. Although the cove is poorly protected against wind and swell, its exceptional setting and strategic location make it a very nice and convenient stopover.
Once comfortably anchored in the sandy seabed, you will enjoy the beauty of this amazing place. The long rocky coastline covered in rich vegetation overlooks the deep blue waters of the anchorage.
From the deck of your boat you will have a remarkable view on the white sandy beach of Anse Mitan. An ideal place to swim, snorkel, paddle or just relax and enjoy a swim!
Moreover, located near the Pointe du Bout marina, the anchorage benefits a strategic position providing good accessibility to many amenities (restaurants, activities, shops).
Very crowded in high season, it’s without any surprise that we include it on our list of the best anchorages in Martinique. Despite the traffic, the anchorage remains a stopover not to be missed during a cruise in Martinique. Approved by the Navily community!
Rade de Saint-Pierre Nord
In the northwest of Martinique, Rade de Saint-Pierre Nord is a famous spot, known for its paradise-like setting. The anchorage is not very well protected against wind and swell, however its sandy bottom offers a good holding for your anchor.
The natural landscape of the anchorage is majestic! The lush vegetation offers an ideal setting for a hike, which will delight nature lovers. From your boat, you will have a direct view on Mount Pelee, which shelters a grey stratovolcano, known for its big eruption in the 20th century.
You will have the opportunity to discover more about this eruption as well as the destruction of the city of Saint-Pierre in 1902, at the Franck-A.-Perret museum located near the anchorage. During your visit you will learn about the dramatic event that changed the history of Martinique, in the resolutely contemporary architectural setting of the oldest museum on the island.
An exciting and captivating stopover, that will allow you to discover more about the history of Martinique. Not to be missed!
Anse couleuvre
To complete our tour of the best anchorages in Martinique, The Octopus takes you to Anse Couleuvre, in the north of the island. The anchorage is not very well protected, and it is strongly recommended to visit this place in good weather.
Once you are well anchored in the sandy seabed, you will enjoy the purely wild setting of this incredible place. It is a paradisiacal spot with a splendid panorama on the green mountains of the coast. The pristine beach bordered by tropical forests, will give you a feeling of total escape!
Finally, you can undertake hikes in absolutely magical settings. Take a walk in the rainforest, and marvel at the magnificent waterfall of the Couleuvre River. It is impressive for its height and you can easily get under it, where a rain of fresh and invigorating water falls from the slopes of the mountain Pelée.
An exceptional place, that you will remember for a long time, The Octopus guarantees it!
This is the end of our tour of the best anchorages in Martinique. If this region has seduced you, do not hesitate to share your experience on Navily.
Find the perfect rental boat for cruising in Martinique with our partner Samboat by clicking here!
To learn more about the Caribbean, check out our previous articles on the best sailing areas in St Martin and Dominica or the SVGs!
Fair winds Captains,
The Octopus
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