Welcome to the municipality of Marin, crossing point usually very busy to go to the many beaches of the South of the island. The seaside restaurants and the beautiful Marin Bay are popular places for tourists and mariners. You will also have access to many water activities, paragliding (Morne Gommier) or to a covered market where you will find spices, fruits, vegetables and other homemade confections. Open your eyes to enjoy freshly caught crayfish and fish. South Atlantic side, many walks accessible to all the family (Trace of the Caps) will make you discover the Atlantic coast and these magnificent beaches of white sand
In terms of services, you will easily find a post office, a petrol station, banks and a supermarket in the municipality of Marin.
The “Boucle de Macabou” hike, including the Marie-Catherine loop, is located on a section of the famous trail named “La Trace des Caps“. This track can be broken down into 5 sections that add up and give a route of 27 kilometers with at least 11 to 12 hours of walking.
- 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)
The Boucle de Macabou is a hike of about 8 kilometers with a walking time of 2h30 to 3h. The elevation gain is low and you will only have to climb a few short climbs. It is accessible to all the family. You can also choose to simply do the loop Marie-Catherine with a distance of 2 kilometers and lasts approximately 1 hour. This is a nice seaside promenade for the whole family.
Itinerary
To join the starting point of the hike, starting from Fort-de-France, join the fast lane A1 then go towards the South of the island (N5). You will go 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 municipality of Marin. After crossing the town of Sainte-Luce then the town of Marin, turn right towards the town of Sainte-Anne (D9). Go past the gendarmerie and take the third exit of the roundabout (Cap Macré) to reach the communal road. Go straight ahead and turn right after school (always on direction of Cap Macré). Go straight and observe on your left after a climb the sign indicating the direction of Anse Grosse Roche. Turn left and always go in the same direction to find yourself on the parking of the starting point of the hike.
The parking is spacious and you will not have too much trouble parking. However, consider starting at the earliest on weekends, the beach of Anse Grosse Roche is quite busy and parking is quickly full. Head towards the wooden gate, starting point for many hikes
La Boucle de Macabou
You will have access to different loops more or less long and seaside paths (see photo below). You can also join the great hike of the Trace of the Caps which goes along the seaside South-East of Martinique (course of about thirty kilometers). All these loops and paths are accessible to the whole family. These information posts will guide for all the walks
Head straight towards the side towards the Chapel of the Virgin of the Sailors.
Enjoy the view on the side from the Chapel. Head to the coast and walk to the left.
You will arrive on a small cove that you will have to cross. An information post will show you the different paths to follow.
You can choose to head to Pointe Marie-Catherine to enjoy the view of the Points and Anses around.
Go backwards to go to the path of the Loop Macabou.
You will go along the beach of Grande Anse Macabou, huge white sand beach bordered by the Atlantic Ocean. Unfortunately, she is regularly a victim of Sargassum, which are stranded in abundance in this cove.
You will then see a new sign telling you to follow the back beach trail.
The path climbs a little and you see an intersection. Continue along the seaside (a signposted pole is there).
You arrive on the second cove of Macabou, smaller white sand beach also victim of Sargassum
Go to the end of the beach and take one of the entrances to go to the entrance of the parking lot of the beach. You will find an information board.
Continue straight towards the road, you will reach a roundabout. Take the exit in front of you to arrive on the main road. It is a walk of about fifteen minutes on this road before arriving at the first houses where you will have to take the path that goes on the left.
Then follows a path that will take you through meadows, a bridge and take you to a backcountry forest in the area of Grand Macabou.
The path becomes sometimes muddy and slippery. Be careful.
At the end of this path, the forest becomes less dense and gives way again to a dry xerophilic vegetation. You will also see in the distance the Chapel of the Virgin of the Sailors.
Follow the path and take a right turn to the car park at the starting point.
| 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 Equipment: Good pair of sneakers or hiking shoes, light weight, hiking bag (knife, flashlight, k-way, cap, sunglasses, sunscreen, mosquito repellent). Ø Health: – Difficulty: 5 out of 10, course a bit sporty (length of the course), can be done by the whole family. Watch out for slips while walking in the forest. You can choose to only do the Marie-Catherine Loop for a simple stroll. – In normal times, always start hiking early in the morning. The daytime heat during minimal sports activities can become quite stifling. This hike is in full sun on half of its course. – Take you time and plan how much time you need depending on your physical condition. – – Most important thing , always a bottle of water per person and a snack in your bag. With the heat, all fairly physical hikes can be dangerous with fatigue. Others: you can relax and swim on the various beaches, Grand Macabou and Petit Macabou, Anse Grosse Roche, Cap Macré. You can make the other loops or walk the Trace of the Caps hike. |
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OLIVIER Damien, your humble guide
1 Comment
Le Domaine de Macabou et ses plages – Dom Loisirs et Culture · Monday May 28th, 2018 at 06:30 PM
[…] faire les randonnées de la Trace des Caps, de la Boucle de Macabou ou encore vous baigner sur l’Anse Grosse Roche accessible par les dernières randonnées […]