Welcome to the municipality of Ajoupa-Bouillon, commune located in the North of Martinique. The activity of the commune is essentially agricultural. You will find on this commune many sporting activities to be carried out in the tropical forest and in the heights of the island, discover of waterfalls (canyoning) or hiking in the heights of the island. In terms of service, it does not have many food services catering to lunch but has in the surrounding, many places where you can eat in the middle of verdant vegetation. However, the activity proposed here has the advantage of having a restaurant nearby, Les Gorges de la Falaise open daily from 8 am to 5.30 pm (depending on weather conditions). This activity is accessible to the whole family (child over 6 years old but not accessible to disabled people).

 

Itinerary

To reach the Gorge of the Cliff, starting from Fort-de-France, join the A1 then the D41, take the exit direction Balata (N3). This road also called road of Balata will take you in the heights of Martinique with many bends. You will see, as you go along, cotton vegetation that will be more and more luxuriant and dense around you. It will take you from the exit to the reception area of Alma at least thirty minutes. You will come across the Sacred Heart or the Balata Gardens. Continue on your way, past the reception area of the Forest of Alma and some hiking points (such as the Trace des Jésuites). After many bends and 30 to 40 minutes drive, you will arrive at the entrance of the commune of Ajoupa-Bouillon. The road is quite sporty, pay attention to tight corners.

 

Head towards the Gorges de la Falaise by turning left on a concrete road that will take you directly to the starting point of the activity.

You will have no difficulty parking because it is quite spacious. Drive gently as the concrete road ends on a stony path.

 

Les Gorges de la Falaise

 Tip: this is a paid activity; take cash to pay the activity. Please note that a restaurant is located nearby if you wish.  

 

Go to the reception to pay your ticket that you will have to give to the guide waiting for you to guide you (adult: 7 euros / child: 4 euros).

The Gorges de la Falaise are open from 8am to 5.30pm.

The host will show you the way to a staircase at the bottom of the ground to reach the gorges.

 

 

Go down the steps that will gradually plunge you into the moist forest with encounters with hydrophilic vegetation and species (balisiers trees, fougères aboricoles and anolis (lizards)….). Pay attention not to slip, the floor, and the steps can be very slippery.

 

 

After 10 to 15 minutes of descent, you will arrive on a flat path that will be lit between the grass and the guide’s reception area.

 

Show him your ticket in order to get to the gorges. He will take you to the entrance of the gorge and will help you to cross the various obstacles up to the waterfall.

If you want an overview of the course, here is a video of my way in the caves up to the waterfall.

 

The way in the gorge takes about 20 minutes round trip. It is accessible to the whole family (children over 6 years) according to your physical condition. You will need to swim a little and climb using ladder to pass the various obstacles, the guide will help you. Think of an outfit that is resistant to current or that is tightly attached when passing ladders. You may lose your short !

It is a good initiation to canyoning, a foretaste that will allow the whole family to make or to take the next step with a more sporting level (jumping, abseiling along waterfalls).

After the visit, you return to the reception point of the guide and you now have to go up the stairs to return to the parking lot. Be careful again not to slip as you approach the steps.

 

 

TIPS:

Ø Circulation in Martinique:  During the weeks you will encounter many traffic jams from 7 a.m. to 9. 30 a.m. in the industrial and commercial areas. Especially mornings driving from south (Rivière Salée, N5) to the North (Fort-de-France, A1), but also East (Robert , N1) going North , you will find the same traffic jams every evening on the other side from 5 p.m. to 6.30 p.m. Tip, think of the way and time you want to travel in order not to lose time.

Ø Facilities : good pair of hiking shoes or tennis shoes bag with (knife, rain coat, lamp, hats or caps, sun glasses, sun cream and mosquito repellent). Also think to protect you material from water if you take it with you during the hike.

Ø Opening hours: open from 8 am to 5.30 pm – check weather forecasts before. Entrance will cost 7 euros per adult and 4 euros for children.

Ø Sanitary conditions:

–          Difficulty: 4 /10, this hike can be done by the whole family (children over 6 years old but not accessible to handicapped people).

–          Take your time and go as you wish, plan the time that you will need depending on your physical condition. The guide will there to help you.

–          Try to start the hike early in the morning as the heat during the stay can represent a difficulty and requires a minimal sporting activity. A big part of this hike is in the shade in the forest.

–          Important tip: always have a bottle of water per person and a snack in your bag; with the heat any hike can be dangerous especially if you are tired.

Others: you can have lunch in the restaurant nearby the entrance, do the various hikes in the area or after a drive of 30 minutes in the direction of Macouba, visit the J.M Habitation.

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.


6 Comments

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