The Gorges de la Falaise, a taste of Canyoning

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.

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.

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

Subscribe on our page on Facebook, where you will discover a new article or video every week.

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.