La Philippe Forest and Pain au Sucre

Welcome to the town of Sainte-Marie, located in the east of the island of Martinique on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean. This town is known for its distillery, the Saint James House, and its Notre-Dame de l’Assomption Church, which sits atop a staircase overlooking the village. Within the municipality, you will find in terms of services a covered market (next to the Tombolo Pass), banks, gas stations and stations.

Seaside restaurants are also present on the town to delight you with local flavors. In terms of activity, in addition to visiting the cold shop and its train tour in the bananas, hikes and beaches are located close to this town.

Swimming is forbidden near the Tombolo Passage because the currents are too dangerous but the beach of Anse Azerot will make you enjoy a bath in a magnificent scenery. You can also walk to La Forêt La Philippe. It is also the starting point for a hike to the Pain de Sucre and a small corner of paradise for a swim.

Itinerary

To reach the Forêt la Philippe, starting from Fort-de-France, merge onto the A1 expressway and then exit towards the commune of Robert (N1). From this exit, take a 45-minute drive. Follow the direction of the municipalities of Robert, Trinité and Sainte-Marie. The forest is located after the village of the municipality. In the climb, you will have to turn right (“Forêt Domaniale de La Philippe”) to enter a subdivision and go all the way to find a small parking lot in front of the forest entrance.

Here you are in the parking lot in front of the entrance to La Forêt. The parking is small but you will have no trouble finding. La Forêt La Philippe is not very popular.

Here you are at the gate of the Forest of La Philippe. Two choices are offered to you, if you want to visit it, you can choose to go to the right. Otherwise, head straight for the fork leading either to Pointe Tenos or Pain de Sucre.

I chose to discover this forest and then turn to Pointe Tenos and the Pain au Sucre.

The Forêt La Philippe domain is accessible to the whole family, but the journeys to Pointe Tenos and Pointe Pain de Sucre require a longer walking time, a more adapted physical condition and possibly some equipment for young children (child over 6 or carrying baby). The length of the trail is about 3 kilometers (round trip) to Pointe Tenos with a walking time of 1h00 to 1h30.

If you also want to walk to the Pointe Pain de Sucre, you will have to add 2 kilometers of walk (round trip) and an hour to 1 hour 30 of your time.

La Philippe Forest

Entrance of the Forest La Philippe

After the gate, head to the right, on a path that will lead you to the coast. After a 5-minute walk, follow the path to the right.

You will descend to the sea towards Baie Saint-Jacques. You can take nice pictures there. It is difficult to swim there because the sea is dangerous.

Retrace your steps then take the road on your right to resume the walk in the Forest. Follow the loop that will get you to the center aisle.

Pass the bridge, take again on your right, you will observe that picnic tables are available to eat on the central aisle.

After 5 minutes, follow the direction of Pointe Tenos at the intersection. The path descends to the side where you will witness a show of waves throwing themselves on cliffs eroded by time and the Ocean.

You will have different viewpoints along the trail.

The path is quite narrow in places you will have to follow the cliff from the left (opposite the above view) then venture into a xerophile forest and its vegetation lying down.

You will reach a new panorama on Pointe Tenos. The path becomes steeper, take care of the risks of slips.

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

Enjoy this panorama with the sound of the waves, the foam and the shadow of the cliff to observe the Caravelle peninsula in the distance.

Retrace your steps to your last destination, the Pointe Pain au Sucre. You will again have a sign showing you the way to the panoramic view point of Pointe Pain de Sucre”

Panoramic view of la Pointe Pain de Sucre

To reach the Pointe Pain de Sucre, you just have to continue your way to the barrier you will observe in the distance. Cross the meadow, then a stream, then a second meadow. For this second meadow, do not take the path of the trees but head towards the coast. You will find a path in the middle of the vegetation.

The narrow path in the middle of a dry forest descends at the foot of the point. You will there have a first point of view.

At the foot of the point, the show is still there, enjoy this rocky scenery with its crashing waves and majestic cliffs that surround you.

Click on this link to have a first video preview of the Pointe Pain de Sucre on our Facebook page.

A small entrance in the middle of shrubs is on the left of the Pointe Pain au Sucre (opposite it). This path descends to a small corner of paradise far from all visitors. You will enjoy refreshing yourself there.

End of the exploration of the state-owned forest and its surroundings, you only have to retrace your steps to reach the main alley of the La Philippe forest to go back to the parking lot.

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 that grab on to hiking shoes, hiking stick, sports gear (big sock to avoid hives), hiking bag (knife, flashlight, headlamp, k-way, cap, sun bezel, sunscreen, mosquito repellent).

Ø  Sanitary condition :

–           Difficulty : 4 /10, walking with positive drop in height possible in family with baby carrier and child over 6 years (according to physical condition). Watch out for roots and slippery terrain.

• – Take your time and go as you wish, plan the time that you will need depending on your physical condition.

Important tip: always have a bottle of water per person and a snack in your bag.

Normally, always start hiking at the earliest in the morning. The daytime heat during minimal sports activity can become quite stifling. This hike is largely in the shade in the forest except on the course health.

Others : Nearby you can visit, l’Habitation Saint-James, cross the Passage du Tombolo (end february to end of May) or go swimming at the beach  l’Anse Azerot.

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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.