Corail Bleu voyages

   Escorted Tour from Montreal   
                                                                                           

8 Days / 7 Nights
Group of 15 persons
Price per person : 2 998.00$

Departure starting from the 19th of February 2011 until June 2011 

Corail Bleu Voyages and Martinique: "Martinique - Done a different way"

We offer several authentic trips in Martinique. Our objective is to help you discover Martinique in a different way, by promoting equitable and sustainable tourism with direct contact with the inhabitants of Martinique in small rural communities. You will also be able to discover the culture, history, natural beauty and the wild landscape of this island.

Circuit summary:

In Martinique, you can appreciate a truly special product resulting from years of tradition and passion. Rum can be considered as an emblematic symbol of the island and is also considered to be a noble product. It has been linked to the human evolution and history of Martinique and its people.

Cane plantations, slave labour, and the discovery of Father Labat, who was the first, in 1722, to advocate the use of copper stills... all these elements combine to make rum an essential element for the identity of the inhabitants of Martinique.

Rum is more than just a drink; it is a culture icon in itself and has conquered the world.

In order to convince you, we will visit six of the twelve existing distilleries on the island so you discover the Rum from the very first stage of manufacturing to the last stage of comsumption. You will be able to walk in the fields of sugar canes and the gardens of these splendid properties are always pleasant.  

You will also visit the Savannah of the slaves which will allow you to discover Martinique "Antan lontan", the regional Ecomuseum is set in an old restored distillery and charts the island's history through its different settlers and their customs.

Martinique's "Route des Rhums"

Day 1

The departure is from Montreal via Fort-de-France in Martinique.                                                  
The arrival in Fort-de-France, in Martinique, is set for the early afternoon.                                    
You will be greeted at the Lamentin airport, then transfer to Morne-des-Esses.                             
Check-in at the Z'amandines lodges.                                                                                        
There will be a welcome cokctail given, after check-in, by your host Patrick Duchel.                          
Supper will be at Le Colibri Sucré (The Sweet Hummingbird).

Day 2

After breakfast, you will be directed towards the south of the island.

As you arrive at Anse Figuier, you will definitely notice the imposing building occupied by the Ecomuseum of Martinique. This ancient distillery, presents Amerindian objects found on the site. You will also discover an exhibition about the daily life of the 19th century in Martinique, the period of the firld crops of sugar canes, coffee, cocoa, etc.

Afterwards, you can go swimming or take a nap on the beach.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Clement distillery, located in the town of François. You will be able to see several facets of the agriculture domain: the Creole world with its houses that have been classified as Historic monuments, the world of vegetation with its 16 acres of garden and tropical plants, the industrial world or you can discover the manufacturing of rum. Thereafter, there will be a rum tasting at the clement distillery.

Supper will be at Le Ghetto in Marigot. You will end your night at the Z'amandines lodges.

Day 3

Breakfast is followed by an excursion to the north of Martinique. At Macouba, there is a 4 by 4 tour of the sugar cane fields and banana plantations.

Afterwards, you can visit the JM Crassous Medeuil distillery where the best rum in the world is made. There will also be a tasting of this delicious rum.

The Habitation Fonds-Preville is the only agricultural domain to exploit two other cultures: the banana and the pineapple. The presence of these cultures is a unique characteristic in the Caribbean. Lunch will be at Chez Tante Arlette in Grand Rivière.

In the afternoon, we will stop for a "foot bath" in a river descending Mount Pelée. (Bring your camera!) This hike offers landscapes that are sometimes green, sometimes lunar, some flanks that have been drowned in fern moss and bromeliads, banana plantations that are hanging from the slopes. You will understand that whether it is domesticated or wild, the nature in Martinique has everything to charm all your senses.

The rest of the night, including supper, will be at the Inn of the Mount Pelée at Morne Rouge.

Day 4

Breakfast will be followed by a guided tour of Saint-Pierre, today; the town is the district capital of the Caribbean and the North district of martinique. It has been designated as a "city of Art and HIstory". There are many historic remains, and the Franck Perret Volcanological Museum.

Before the total destruction of Saint-Pierre in 1902 by a volcanic eruption, it was the most important city of Martinique culturally and economically, being known as "the little Paris of the Caribbean". It is also the cultural capital of Martinique.

In 1900, Saint-Pierre, unique case in the region, owned some particularly modern equipement: a netqork of urban electrical lighting, a horse-drawn tramway, a theatre with 800 seats, a chamber of commerce, one of the first aylums that cared for the clinically insane, a botanical garden and a particularly active port.

There will be a picnic on the beach of Saint-Pierre.

In the afternoon, you will visit l'Habitation Depaz. You will also have the possibility to visit the renowned Chateau Depaz Estate, this estate offers extraordinary visual feast, and equally breathtaking is the sight of luxurious fields of rare, expensive blue cane, which are unique to this most fertile landscape. Afterwards, there bill be delightful rum tasting.

During your visit, you will notice an impressive steam engine at the Depaz rum distillery.

This principal component, which now operates the distillery Depaz, was once used to fill the water fountains of the Château Versailles.

Supper will be at Prêcheur au relais prêchetain.

The rest fo the night will be spent at the Inn of Mount Pelée in Morne Rouge

Day 5

Breakfast.  

Within the massive Carbet Mountains (Pitons du Carbet), is one of the prettiest communes of Martinique, Fonds Saint-Denis. You will discover beautiful vegetation and tropical flowers. Prepare to be seduced by this beautiful rainforest.

Lunch will be at a restaurant called Tijo in Fonds Saint-Denis. The distillery Neisson is today one of the last two family-operated distilleries in Martinique. This distilleries rum is the product of ancestral know-how handed down and renewed from cane field to aging cellar, generation after generation. There will be a rum tasting.

The rest fo the night, including supper, will be at the Inn at Mount Pelée.

Day 6

Breakfast.

We direct you to the Trois îlets and the Savannah of the slaves site. These guided tours will allow you to discover Martinique's "Antan lontan".

The traditional huts, the Creole garden, the various ustensils that were used in the old days... Everything is there waiting to be discovered by you!

Gilbert Larose, will explain the lifestyles of "Neg Marrons" (also known as the runaway slaves).

Lunch will be at Chez Rico in Rivière Salée (The Salt River).

In the afternoon, you can visit the La Favorite distillery, which has ben in operation for nearly a century and a half. It is also one of the last two family distilleries on the isalnd. La Favorite has white rum that is known to be the sweetest in Martinique. You will also be able to taste this white rum and see for yourself how sweet it really is. Today, this distillery is the only one still completely operational by steam.

Supper is not included. Tonight, you will be staying at the Empress Hotel in Fort-de-France.

Day 7

Breakfast.

In the morning, you will visit the Fort-de-France market and will have some free time for shopping.

Lunch will be at Chez Carole, located in Fort-de-France market.

In the afternoon, you will visit the Rum Museum and its distillery, located in Sainte Marie. The Rum Museum will show you all the highlights from cutting sugar canes to the famous mixture of the rum.

In the garden around the museum, you will find ancient steam engines. Behind the museum, there is a small railway station allowing you to go for walks in the neighbouring fields.

On the main floor, you will find all the collections of Saint-James rum since 1765. Saint-James is the oldest brand for rum in Martinique, still active.

There is a very nice bar made entirely made out of wood that is open for some Saint-James rum tasting. Their old rums are very famous and widely appreciated by all visitors.

In the evening, we will propose a blind tasting of all rums seen during that week. See for yourself ifyour palate recognizes the tastes of the different rums that will be presented to you.

Supper and the rest fo the night will be at Z'amandines lodges.

Day 8

Breakfast.

There will be one last brief visit of the market located in the town of Lamentin, afterwards, there is a transfer from the market to the airport.

Departure for Montreal.