Martinique arrival
Airplane: the airlines that fly to Martinique from Europe include Air France, Air Caribes (both from Paris) and Corsair (from Brest, Paris and Lyon). There are numerous feeder flights from airports in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
The following airlines fly to Martinique within the Caribbean and Central America:
- Air Caraibes – Castries (St. Lucia), Panama City, Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadelupe), Port-au-Prince (Haiti), St. Martin / Sint Maarten and San José (Costa Rica)
- Air Antilles Express – St. Barthelemy, Pointe-à-Pitre (Guadeloupe) and St. Martin / Sint Maarten
- LIAT – Castries (St. Lucia)
- American Airlines / American Eagle – San Juan, Puerto Rico
Airports: Martinique Aimé Césaire International Airport (FDF, formerly known as Lamentin International Airport) is located 11 km east of Fort-de-France. Taxis drive from the airport and rental cars can also be rented.
Ship: Martinique is one of the popular destinations for cruises (around half of all visitors to Martinique are participants in cruises), Martinique is visited by one or more cruise ships every day. The cruise lines that offer Martinique include Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Holland America. Cruise ships anchor at Pointe Simon in Fort-de-France, on the west side of the port and close to the city center and major attractions.
The island is also a popular anchorage for private sailing boats and yachts. The main port for yachts is Fort-de-France, but sailors can also call at St-Pierre or Marin.
L´Express des Iles operates catamaran ferries between Martinique and Dominica, St. Lucia and Guadeloupe.
The ferry company Brudey Frères connects Martinique with Guadeloupe with express catamarans.
Martinique: visa requirements, passport and immigration
As a French overseas department, almost the same entry requirements apply to Martinique as to France.
Passport
Needed to enter MartiniqueGerman, Swiss and Austrians have a valid identity card or a valid passport.
Visa
nationals of EU countries (exceptions Romaniaand Bulgaria) and Switzerland do not require a visa for a stay of a maximum of 3 months in Martinique. This applies to both tourists and business travelers.
Entry with children
The same visa requirements apply to accompanying children as to their parents. Children under the age of 15 traveling alone in Martinique should have an officially certified declaration of consent from their parents or guardians.
Germany: Your own passport or child ID card. Child ID cards are no longer issued in Germany, existing child ID cards remain valid until the expiry date.
Austria: separate passport for children.
Switzerland: Children need their own passport.
Martinique climate
According to LOCALCOLLEGEEXPLORER.COM, the Caribbean island of Martinique is a French overseas department and is one of the Lesser Antilles.
The climate in Martinique is tropical, that is, the temperatures fluctuate only slightly over the course of the year and the day. The average temperatures in the somewhat “cooler” time are between 21 ° C at night and 27 ° C during the day (January and February) and between 24 ° C at night and 30 ° C during the day in the warmer time (August and September).
The rainy season in Martinique is between June and October / November. However, it also rains in the drier period, in the driest month of April there is an average of 13 days of rainfall, about twice as often in September, the wettest month in Martinique. Usually comes the rain in the form of short (about half an hour) showers.
The average humidity in Martinique is high, ranging from 80% in March and April to 87% in October and November. The northern, mountainous interior of the island is cooler and wetter than the coast. Lush vegetation can thrive here due to the higher rainfall. The least rain falls on the southern and southeastern coasts of Martinique.
Even in February the water temperatures do not fall below 25 ° C, from July to October 28 ° C can be exceeded.
From June to November, Martinique can be crossed by devastating cyclones.
Best travel time for Martinique
Martinique is warm all year round. Thanks to the constantly warm water, you can swim in Martinique all year round, especially on the drier coasts in the south and south-east.
The best time to visit Martinique is arguably the slightly cooler, drier season of late winter to early spring (February to May), when maximum temperatures average 26 ° C. Note that this is also the peak of the tourist season when prices are highest and most accommodations are overcrowded.
