Welcome in the municipality of Saint-Anne located in the south of the island. The municipality of Saint-Anne is known for the Club Med, the beaches of white sand located on its territory. ( (Grande et Petite Anse des Salines, Anse Caritan, Anse Meunier, Anse Michel, ….). Bordered by the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, the territory of the municipality of Sainte-Anne offers numerous nautical activities because of its geolocalisation taking advantage of the Atlantic wind (Windsurfing and Kyte surf for example), sailing and fishing on the turquoise waters of the Caribbean.

In its town, the municipality offers a covered market, seaside restaurants and has in its center, a magnificent church (Church of Our Lady of Sainte-Anne) classified historical monument. In terms of services, there is a post office, distributors, numerous shops and a gas station at the entrance to the town.

This territory takes advantage of its attractive environment and invite you to discover the beaches, hikes and seabed.

The hike from Anse Caritan to Salines is part of this great hike known as “La Trace des Caps”. It can be broken down into 5 sections which, added together, give a route of 27 kilometers with at least 11 to 12 hours of walking. You will discover this beach during the last part (Salines – Anse Caritan).

  • Petit Macabou – Cap Macré (5 km, 2h),
  • Cap Macré – Cap Chevalier (7 km, 3h),
  • Cap Chevalier – Baie des Anglais (6 km, 2h30),
  • Anse Trabaud – Salines (5 km, 2h),
  • Salines – Anse Caritan (4,5 km, 1h30)

This last section is accessible to the whole family (baby carrier or child over 6 years old, depending on physical condition). This trail, approximately 5 kilometers long, allows you to discover the Caribbean coastline of the commune of Sainte-Anne. You will not have any major difficulties, the route has a low elevation gain (18m) and will take 2h30 to 3h round trip.

Itinerary

To reach the town of Sainte-Anne, starting from Fort-de-France, join the A1 expressway then head towards the south of the island (N5). You will pass through two roundabouts in the town of Ducos (activity zones) then two other roundabouts in the town of Rivière-Salée. Follow the direction of the commune of Marin. After passing the commune of Sainte-Luce then the town of Marin, turn right towards the commune of Sainte-Anne (D9). Pass in front of the gendarmerie and at the roundabout, always follow the direction of the commune of Sainte-Anne. When you arrive in the town of Sainte-Anne, cross it and follow the direction towards Anse Caritan beach. After a few minutes you will see on your right an information panel next to a lime kiln, the starting point of the hike.

You will not have difficulty finding a place on the side of the road. 

Tip: If there are several of you, take the opportunity to put a car on each side of the hike. Leaving from Anse Caritan (article), you must leave a car at Grande Anse des Salines beach (map below).

Anse Tonnoir – Grande Anse des Salines

Starting point

Once parked, you are in front of the hike information panel. You observe a sign nearby indicating directions. These poles will guide you throughout the hike. Yellow marks will also be observable on the trees

Start the route by taking the road then you will quickly see on your right a forest path to take.

After a few minutes, you arrive in front of a parking lot, you are at Anse Caritan. Accommodations, restaurants and water games are available. This is the most developed part of the Cove.

 

Continue your return, methodically following the posts on your way.

You walk along the road and take the opportunity to admire the panorama of the beach.

Walk along the beach and take the road which takes you to the much more preserved part of the Anse, also with its sand, its turquoise waters and its back-beach vegetation.

You have now arrived at the second part of Anse Caritan. You have the choice of going through the beach or taking the path in front of you which plunges you into the vegetation behind the beach. You will have to recover the wooded path in any case.

A magnificent white sand beach and an even more tempting panorama, a real postcard! 

By the beach

Click on this link to have a first video preview of this beach on our Facebook page.

By the wooded path

 

After about fifteen minutes, you will pass Pointe Dunkerque to gradually approach Anse Meunier.

You discover a small isolated cove at Pointe Dunkerque.

 

Continue your way until you find yourself at the start of Anse Meunier (Anse Moustique).

 

The vegetation behind the beach is magnificent, you can see it all along the beach. You discover the mangrove of Anse Meunier.

Through this vegetation, always this same panorama towards the Diamond Rock and the woman lying down.

A photo of the Cove just for fun!

At the end of the cove, the path is somewhat uneven but not very difficult.

Arriving at this post, you can discover the Chapel of Pointe Catherine and its panorama.

Retrace your steps and head towards Anses des Salines, Petite and Grande.

Click on this link to have a first video preview of the panorama on our Facebook page.

Little Anse des Salines

Join the cove and follow it. For information, this is a nudist beach and therefore it may be prudent to ask the children to look at the clouds ;). The crossing is done quickly and their location is on a small section of the cove.

A photo from the least frequented section of the beach.

Home stretch, the beach of Grande Anse des Salines, one of or the most popular on the island of Martinique.

After about ten minutes, you can make your way through the vegetation to discover the beach.

You can continue by the beach or by the back beach path. It joins the beach car park.

A long straight line lined with vehicles and numerous restaurants.

Arriving at the end of the straight line, you are at the end of the hike. For the more courageous you can continue the Trace des Caps and reach the Savane des Pétrifications and Anse Trabaud.

The return is by the same route or by vehicle for those who followed the advice. Take the opportunity to take a bath or have lunch by the sea. Comfort after exercise!

It’s up to you to discover it now!

En termes de conseils,

In terms of advice, 

Ø  Traffic in Martinique: During the week, you will face traffic jams around industrial or commercial areas, particularly in the morning, in the direction of the South (Rivières Salée, N5) towards the North (Fort-de-France, A1) and from the East (Robert, N1) to the North (Fort-de-France, A1), from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and vice versa at the end of the evening from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Think about your journey the day before in order to adapt to this traffic which can be heavy and easily cause you to waste time. 

Ø Equipment: Slides, swimsuit, towel, beach bag (knife, k-way, cap, sunglasses, sunscreen, mosquito repellent). 

Ø Health: 

–           Difficulty: 5 out of 10, hike accessible to the whole family (baby carrier and children over six years old and depending on conditions). Climbs over short distances. Trail in the sun, be careful of harmful effects. 

–          Quality of the swimming area: Sufficient (Anse Caritan) to Excellent (Source: Ministry of Health, see map); 

–          Accessibility: Easily by car, no disabled access but possible with an adapted wheelchair; 

–         Sun cream obligatory because the beach is well exposed to the sun until late afternoon, even think about lycras for children and adults; 

–          The most important thing, always a bottle of water per person and something to snack on in your bag. 

Miscellaneous: you can visit the nearby town of Sainte-Anne (Market, Church, Chemin du Calvaire, etc.), hike the Piton Crève-Cœur, walk the Trace des Caps or even enjoy the beaches.

Do not hesitate to post you commentaries or to ask for information on contact@domloisirsetculture.fr.

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Dom Loisirs et Culture at your service.

OLIVIER Damien, your humble guide

The Dom Loisirs and Culture team is committed to raising awareness of the protection of the biodiversity of the overseas departments.


2 Comments

Les plages de l’Anse Caritan – Dom Loisirs et Culture · Monday October 7th, 2019 at 06:33 AM

[…] Enfin dernière possibilité, emprunter le chemin de la Trace des Caps pour rejoindre depuis l’Anse Tonnoir ou depuis l’une de ces plages de cette anse, les différents lieux où vous souhaitez vous détendre. Un poteau d’indication est visible sur les différentes plages et au niveau de l’Anse Tonnoir (lien vers le sentier). […]

La Pointe Marin, un lieu unique au delà des barrières. – Dom Loisirs et Culture · Sunday May 17th, 2020 at 09:25 PM

[…] Eglise, Chemin du Calvaire,….) ou effectuer la randonnée du Piton Crève-Cœur ou encore Anse-Tonnoir – Grande Anse. D’autres plages se proposent également à vous dans le secteur de Sainte-Anne côté […]

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