The verdant island of Martinique is rightly known for its natural beauty. Indeed, the island’s original name is often translated in English to ‘Island of Flowers’ from an indigenous language, though this isn’t entirely certain. Nevertheless, two exceptional attractions for visitors stand out and make the catchy moniker seem more than appropriate.
Balata Gardens (Jardin de Balata)
Here is a fantastic example of how one person’s enthusiasm and determination can create a paradise everyone can enjoy. Over 40 years ago, a local horticulturist, landscape gardener, and artist named Jean-Philippe Thoze centred his dream of creating a botanical utopia around his grandparents’ original Creole-style house, preserving it for all generations.
Today, visitors can explore an extensive collection of beautiful tropical and indigenous plants, which includes over 150 species, many with spectacular flowers. After visiting the traditional house, with its unique local roof tiles, authentic furnishings and many other historic features, visitors can wander at leisure throughout the gardens.
Check out the bright red anthuriums, colourful heliconias (which attract hummingbirds), hibiscus in all their glory, beacon trees much loved by bees and butterflies, weirdly shaped dragon trees, and the palm-like pandanus trees. Two ponds filled with exotic water lilies and colourful koi fish provide a place to rest and enjoy a peaceful moment. Fish food is available in the shop.
If that’s not sufficient there’s much more, collected from all over the tropical world, including Africa, Asia, and South America. It’s worthwhile taking a two-hour guided tour for an expert explanation of what’s what.
If the view from the ground isn’t enchanting enough, there’s also a magnificent aerial walkway, to take visitors high above the vegetation. Suspension bridges slung between majestic giant mahogany trees provide amazing views with the panorama of Fort-de-France Bay spread out below and the majestic Pitons on the horizon. It’s safe for all ages above eight years old. As well, there’s a fun playground to keep younger children occupied.
The gardens are situated on the Route de Balata, Fort-de-France. They are open seven days a week from 0900, with the last admissions at 1630.
The Emerald Estate (Domaine D’Emeraude)
These exotic gardens are located in the north of the island with Mount Pelée as a backdrop to its tropical forest location. It has been created by the Martinique Regional Natural Parks department to educate the curious visitor and satisfy the senses with idyllic vistas and exotic plants. The well-curated educational pavilion is a great place to start and provides a detailed background of the island’s ecology, flora, and fauna. One of the highlights is a geophysical map of the island underneath the glass floor. For the hungry, there’s also a highly-rated snack bar where the chef uses entirely local ingredients to create satisfying morsels. The crêpes get a special mention.
Venturing into the formal gardens – beautifully landscaped and maintained – provides many Instagrammable moments among the rare and indigenous species.
Beyond, in the managed forest, there is a choice of three well-maintained paved walking trails to consider, taking either 15 or 30 minutes or an hour to complete, a total of four kilometres at the maximum. Of course, if the visitor stops to take in the tropical splendour, the walks will take longer and offer a more rewarding experience. Guided tours are also available, although it’s great to just wander at one’s own pace amongst the exotic greenery and spot the plentiful birds and butterflies. The place is vast, so there’s little need to worry about encounters with others. Just stop for a quiet moment and take in the tropical scents and sounds of the forest. Birds sing in abundance and the keen eye can spot several unusual species.
The gardens are located on the Route de la Trace, Morne-Rouge, and are open seven days a week from 0900 to 1800.
Learn more about Martinique at https://www.martinique.org/en.
