Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle

DREAMSCAPES WINTER/SPRING 2024 68 TRAVEL PLANNER Air Canada and Martinique have launched five-hour non-stop flights aboard an Airbus A220 from Toronto to Fort-de-France. For more travel information on Martinique, visit Martinique.org i C A R I B B E A N influences and Creole ingredients, paired with Ti-Punch (a cocktail with the island's infamous rum). We head straight to Diamond Rock, an uninhabited basalt island that's the striking remnant of a one-million-year-old volcano. Anchored in the Caribbean Sea, just three kilometres off the coast, snorkellers and scuba divers circle the aquamarine perimeter. Remnants of boats from the eruption sit at the bottom of this bay attracting explorers and making this one of the richest diving sites in the Caribbean. This stunning landmark joins nearly two dozen other sites considered premiere scuba diving locales. While aboard, pods of dolphins swim alongside, playing hide and seek and criss-crossing in the wake. We approach the opening of a bat cave to track several colonies hanging along the perimeter. There are no designated private beaches on the island, making every bit of coastline available to visitors. This access makes exploring the unspoiled coast and its waters a breeze, with activities like kitesurfing, windsurfing, diving, SUP, flyboarding, fishing and horseback riding. If you're seeking a surf scene, head east and hit the Atlantic coast where the conditions are ripe for catching waves. GO GREEN Its natural beauty isn't limited to the coastline with a rainforest that runs through the north and two sprawling nature parks— the Jardin de Balata and the Domaine d'Émeraude (home to more than 3,000 species, including 1,220 native plants and 500 species of trees)—that make up part of the two-thirds of the island that's protected parkland. For those looking to gain a front-row seat to the Mount Pelée volcano, you can walk, climb or hike it. Allow yourself several hours for the roundtrip and you'll be rewarded with spectacular views once you reach the summit. Otherwise, a well-maintained network of more than 250 kilometres of hiking trails will take you through tropical rainforests, beaches and waterfalls. A must-visit for nature lovers is Habitation Céron, a sprawling property that once housed a sugar plantation. Stepping onto the grand estate, preserved by a multi-generational French family, is like being transported to the magical garden from a fairy tale. At its centre sits the three-century-old majestic Zamana tree. It's one of the largest trees in the Lesser Antilles, covering almost a hectare and was voted "the most beautiful tree in France." The eco- friendly tropical garden encourages visitors to immerse and connect with nature through its activities and exploration. TOUR DE FRANCE, ISLAND EDITION I hop on my ATV and zip over hills and through fields of sugarcane on my tour of Trois Rivières—the island's oldest and largest sugarcane estate. As we reach an opening, my guide points to the protected mangroves which act as a nursery for the fish, fauna and flora, highlighting how intertwined and important both its land and water are to not only this property but to all Martinicans. We cap off our tour with a "rhum" tasting; after all, Martinique is known as the rum capital of the world. DS PHOTOS: MARTINIQUE TOURISM AUTHORITY | GRACE TOBY

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