Set in a large bay on the leeward side of the island looking out onto the Caribbean sea, Fort de France became the capital of Martinique when St Pierre was wiped out by the eruption of the volcano Montagne Pelée in 1902.
The town has mushroomed from less than 10,000 inhabitants at the time of the eruption to its current level of nearly 100,000 people. The historical centre grew around the strategic point of the Fort Saint Louis, which was first established in 1638. There are numerous cultural and historical places of interest in Fort-de-France, as well as a wide choice of quality shops, restaurants, cafes and bars, selling French and Creole products. English is widely spoken and understood, and US Dollars are accepted in most outlets.
Like the rest of the PONANT EXPLORERS series, Le Champlain successfully manages to subtly combine the desire to explore the remotest regions of the planet with the comfort and privacy of a cozily intimate ship. To the innovative and environmentally friendly equipment are added elegant design and a unique atmosphere in keeping with the whole PONANT universe. Your dream of a cruise onboard a cozily intimate ship is thus made possible through the combination of an authentically genuine voyage experience together with discreet luxury.
Dec 08, 2027 - Fort de France
Set in a large bay on the leeward side of the island looking out onto the Caribbean sea, Fort de France became the capital of Martinique when St Pierre was wiped out by the eruption of the volcano Montagne Pelée in 1902.
The town has mushroomed from less than 10,000 inhabitants at the time of the eruption to its current level of nearly 100,000 people. The historical centre grew around the strategic point of the Fort Saint Louis, which was first established in 1638. There are numerous cultural and historical places of interest in Fort-de-France, as well as a wide choice of quality shops, restaurants, cafes and bars, selling French and Creole products. English is widely spoken and understood, and US Dollars are accepted in most outlets.
Dec 09, 2027 - Antigua
With a beach for each day of the year, Antigua is a water-lover's delight. For shopping and feasting on local seafood, the capital city of St. John's offers many choices on Redcliffe Quay. Or motor around the coast to historic English Harbour, a superb restoration of the 18th century dockyard where Admiral Lord Nelson once ruled the British fleet.
Dec 10, 2027 - Virgin Gorda
Enjoy the fabulous underwater world of the British Virgin Islands. For those who wish to get wet and enjoy the thrill of viewing coral formation and other marine life without diving, you can take a professionally guided snorkel tour of the famous Norman Island underwater sea caves and the Indian Reef. Cruise along Sir Francis Drake Channel to Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda. Or take a short drive to the baths at Spring Bay for swimming, snorkeling and sunning amid the mammoth boulders and sea caves for which the area is well known. The only viewing gear you need are your eyes!
Dec 11, 2027 - Jost Van Dyke
Jost Van Dyke boasts several lovely beaches and picturesque Great Harbour, with its beach-side West Indian village. Jost is very popular with sailors and has several famous watering holes on its southern shore, including Foxy's Tamarind Bar.
Dec 12, 2027 - Gustavia
There was never any hope of lucrative sugar plantations in St.Barths. It was too dry, too steep, too rocky, and, finally, too small. Unsuitable for agriculture, the island was never coveted as a prize during the colonial wars of the 18th century. The place had a serviceable harbor, and this allowed the town that grew around it, Gustavia, to play a key role in that intermittent conflict, a role that was to presage much of its future. Overflowing warehouses surrounded a harbor packed with ships from many nations, and a mercantile and architectural tradition was established that has lingered to the present day. Today, Gustavia has adjusted itself to satisfy the increasing number of visiting tourists. Restaurants, boutiques, and gift shops now line streets once busy with merchants, merchant seamen, and adventurers.
Dec 13, 2027 - Charlestown
Charlestown is a Caribbean town with remnants of the Colonial era. It’s the capital of the island of Nevis of Saint Kitts and Nevis in the West Indies. The town was developed as early as the 17th century by the British building Fort Charles and mounting 26 cannons to protect its harbor. The British had a lucrative sugar trade much profitable than that of North America. Historical figure Anthony Hamilton, the first US Secretary of Treasury was born and raised in Charlestown.
Travelers visiting Charlestown can tour the Nelson Museum, Philatelic Bureau or Museum of Nevis History. Visitors can either horseback ride by the beach or relax by it under the Caribbean sun!
Dec 14, 2027 - Marie-Galante
Marie-Galante is a popular day trip from Grande-Terre—regularly scheduled ferry and air service is available. It's different enough from the main islands in the archipelago, though, that it's worth an overnight stay. Marie-Galant is agricultural and rural, with a charm unspoiled by mass tourism. Most of the island is made up of sugarcane fields. Only one sugar mill is still active (at Grande Anse), but three rum distilleries are operating (you can visit both Bielle and Poisson and sample the wares). Many of the island residents are boatbuilders and fishermen.
A road circles the island and connects the three towns of Capesterre, St. Louis and Grand-Bourg. As you explore the island, you'll find golden-sand beaches rimmed by profusions of hibiscus, alamanda and bougainvillea. Charming little houses with colorful gardens and bright red roofs are terraced up the hillsides—there are even a few rare wattle houses still standing. You might even see traditional oxcarts transporting sugarcane for the production of rum. The ruins of windmills—72 in all—are everywhere.
In Grand-Bourg, see the Trianon and Roussel houses and the baroque 18th-century church. Also stop by the studio and gallery of Armand Baptiste, a sculptor whose works are in the collections of several French presidents and noted galleries throughout the world.
The Gueule du Grand Gouffre (Mouth of the Great Abyss) is a grotto on the northern coast formed by ocean waves. Other natural wonders include La Grande Barre (a high green ridge dividing the island) and the Trou au Diable (Devil's Hole), a sea-level grotto with stalactites. Hikers will enjoy relatively easy forays along the coast, as well as along the plateaus of the interior. Especially rewarding is a climb to the top of the highest point on the island, 670-ft/204-m Morne Constant, or just motoring along empty roads, discovering the tiny haunts and eccentricities of this timeless place. The local people are friendly and love to chat with visitors.
Dec 15, 2027 - Fort de France
Set in a large bay on the leeward side of the island looking out onto the Caribbean sea, Fort de France became the capital of Martinique when St Pierre was wiped out by the eruption of the volcano Montagne Pelée in 1902.
The town has mushroomed from less than 10,000 inhabitants at the time of the eruption to its current level of nearly 100,000 people. The historical centre grew around the strategic point of the Fort Saint Louis, which was first established in 1638. There are numerous cultural and historical places of interest in Fort-de-France, as well as a wide choice of quality shops, restaurants, cafes and bars, selling French and Creole products. English is widely spoken and understood, and US Dollars are accepted in most outlets.