The Carbet Waterfall

Welcome to the commune of Carbet, a commune located in the North Caribbean of Martinique. This town takes advantage of its seaside location to offer you many water activities (jet skiing, etc.) and discoveries of marine biodiversity (fishing, dolphin outings, etc.). Many restaurants and bars take advantage of this seaside, including a wonderful sunset at the end of the day. Every full moon week, you can take part in the fullmoon which takes place in the town. In terms of services, you will also find a gas station, a post office, banks, a pharmacy, a covered fish market, and a recognized ice cream parlor located in the village next to the church.

Finally, in terms of discoveries, you can visit the Habitation Neisson and explore the surroundings as far as Saint-Pierre to discover its ruins and the starting points for hikes such as that of the Canal des Esclaves (also called Canal de Beauregard).

Another interesting activity is access to a magnificent waterfall. The Carbet River Waterfall is not the best known, however it has nothing to envy its sisters. This waterfall in the form of a natural slide is the perfect place to relax in a natural vegetated setting and relax for a bath in the natural pool it forms.

Itineray (Click on the picture)

To access the starting point of the hike, starting from Fort-de-France (allow more than an hour’s drive), take the A1 towards the north of the island (Schoelcher, Case-Pilote). Pass several roundabouts and here you are on the N2. Continue your road and pass the towns of Case-Pilote, Bellefontaine, Arriving in the town of Carbet, continue straight to cross it and just after the gas station located before the town, turn right (D62). Now all you have to do is go straight along the river. After 10 minutes of driving, you will see the entrance to the old water park. Two starting points are possible, the one in the car park before the water park or the one directly next to the bridge which is located one minute further by car (Attention more uneven road and few places to park next to it).

Tip: If you want to start directly from the path near the bridge, I advise you to park anyway in the parking lot next to the water park and start the road on foot (few places to park).

Entrance to water park

The Carbet waterfall

You have two choices for accessing the Carbet waterfall. you can undertake to go up the river from the old water park to the bridge or to reach the bridge on foot or by car.

– The first solution will be a little more sporty, you will walk in the river for a good half hour to reach the bridge. Watch out for slips. In the end you will take about 1h30 to reach the waterfall instead of 45 min 1h by the path next to the bridge. The advantage is to discover bathing spots and the biodiversity around and in the bed of the river.

-the second solution, the easiest, is to leave by the path just after the bridge in order to follow the unmarked path but well indicated by the traces of the previous explorers and to go up the bed of the river to reach the waterfall. You will take 45 min to 1 hour to reach the waterfall. Watch out for slips.

In both solutions, you will walk in the river. The waterfall is accessible to the whole family (child over 8 years old and depending on physical condition). Only negative point and especially to watch, the weather. You will have one or two areas where the water level may cause you to swim to continue your way.

Plan to reach this waterfall during more or less dry periods so as not to have any problems with the flow and the water level.

By the Carbet river….

From the parking lot of the old park, orient yourself towards the river to make your way through the clearing

You will have no trouble parking in the parking lot of the old water park.

Once in the bed of the river, you just have to go up the stream.

You will discover some magnificent passages that photo enthusiasts should appreciate.

After 10 minutes of walking, you will pass a ford. Also go through the banks to move faster if you want.

You will arrive at the level of the bridge after a good half hour of walking. Do not continue straight but join the path that goes to the right of the point to set off again on the path towards the Carbet waterfall.

From the bridge…..

After reaching the bridge from the river (photos above) or by road (photos below).

View from the road leading to the bridge

As you can see, there are only three to four spaces just before the bridge so as not to obstruct traffic.

Cross the bridge and take the path just after on the right.

You will go up the bed of the river and again encounter little corners of paradise mixing lush vegetation, the sound of water and rocks that are one with the roots.

After a good half hour of walking, you will arrive at a passage where the water level can be high, where you will need to practice a little dexterity or a little swimming with waterproof gear to reach the last passage towards the waterfall.

Here you are in front of the waterfall, you just have to take advantage of the freshness of the waters and the setting to relax.

Click on this link for a first video preview of the waterfall on our Facebook page.

For the return, you just have to take the path in the opposite direction.

You can also discover this hike in video and music on our Youtube channel by clicking on the link. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dfUjYEyxuNo&t=1s

It’s up to you to discover it now !

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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.