Cruise on a motorized catamaran from St. Lucia to Martinique for a day of fun in the sun and some serious shopping. In Martiniques Fort-de-France, work your way through the best of French fashion and perfumes, as well as Creole crafts and jewelry. Then swim and snorkel in the serene cove of Anse Dufour. Enjoy a barbeque lunch and complimentary drinks on the boat. During the boat ride, keep your eyes peeled for dolphins, sea turtles and flying fish! Dont miss this chance to treat yourself to a VIP day of nature and shopping.
Start your day trip in Martinique early in the morning. If youre staying at a hotel on the northern tip of St. Lucia, enjoy a personalized pickup. If not, meet your guides directly at the IGY Rodney Bay Marina. Youll board a 60-foot (18-meter) motorized catamaran. Have your passport with you, which youll need for your power-shopping excursions. Youre also welcome to bring your own snorkeling gear, as only snorkeling masks will be provided.
During the 90-minute ride north to Martinique, youll cross the St. Lucia Channel, where frolicking dolphins may greet and follow you. As you scan the water for sea turtles, don't be surprised if you witness some flying fish popping in and out of the water.
When you arrive at Martinique, dive into shopping right away at the duty-free port! After about 30 minutes, board the catamaran and take a short ride to the dock at Fort-de-France.
In Fort-de-France, where youll stay for a little under two hours, swipe that plastic over and over at the boutiques on Rue Victor Hugo and along Le Boulevard General de Gaulle. Alternatively, enjoy culinary aromas and pick up souvenirs at Le Grand Marché Couvert, the Covered Market. This large bazaar houses rows and rows of fragrant herbs and spices, delectable confectionary offerings, handmade wooden bowls, straw hats and Creole jewelry. After the flurry of shopping, stroll through the landscaped gardens in La Savane, Fort-de-Frances main park.
Back on the catamaran, set those shopping bags down and rest your feet during the short ride to the nearby cove of Anse Noir, lined with coconut trees and golden sand. Swim or snorkel in the clear and warm water, or work on a tan from the boat. Feast on the barbeque lunch provided and enjoy complimentary drinks on the boat. You have about three hours to enjoy this postcard-perfect shoreline.
After your idyllic afternoon, its time to head back to St. Lucia. Pull out the designer shades you just bought, sip complimentary Champagne, and bid farewell to the dolphins on your ride back to the Rodney Bay Marina.
Sample Lunch:
