Getting around Martinique

Like most of its other Caribbean neighbors, US and Canadian nationals do not require a visa visit to Martinique; all they need to carry is a valid passport and they can stay up to three months on the island. EU member countries need a valid passport and an official identity card to travel here. Citizens of most other countries in the world require a valid French visa and passport to visit here.

At the moment not many international carriers come to Martinique; however, many regional airlines do land here. American Airlines and Air France are two of the main international airlines to land on the island along with regional carriers such as BWIA, LAIT and the Air Antilles Express. You can also get to Martinique by cruise ship. Pointe Simon in Fort-de-France is a frequented port for cruises.

If you are traveling on a budget and seeing some other Caribbean islands as well, you can reach Martinique by ferry. Daily catamarans ferry between Martinique and Guadeloupe, Saint Lucia and Dominica. You can also travel by yacht to the island as sailing is very popular in Martinique.

Once you are on the island, the best way to get around Martinique is by bus. The public transport system here is quite good and buses take you to most parts of the island. Most of the buses are minivans and are marked TC on top. Taxis are also available for hire on the island and are a good idea to use if you are in Martinique for a few days only. Taxis charge around 30 euros from the airport to the capital, with a 40% surcharge applied if you travel between 8 pm and 6 am.

Boats and bicycles are two other ways of getting around the island, with renting a car idela if you are planning on staying for a while. The road conditions are very good in Martinique, with driving on the right hand side. The other road signs and traffic rules are the same as in Europe. You will find numerous car rental agencies in for-de-France including Avis, Hertz, Budget and Europcar.