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Les Anses d'Arlet, Martinique, France
A postcard-perfect French-Caribbean fishing village where a red-domed church aligns perfectly with a wooden pier — and sea turtles graze just offshore.
A postcard-perfect French-Caribbean fishing village where a red-domed church aligns perfectly with a wooden pier — and sea turtles graze just offshore.
Ships anchor in the bay and tender passengers directly to the village quay — you step ashore into the heart of Les Anses d'Arlet.
💡 Pro move: Euro cash is essential for small vendors, water taxis, and beach stalls. ATMs are scarce here — withdraw in Fort-de-France if possible.
Les Anses d'Arlet has no dedicated cruise pier — all ships anchor and tender to the village quay.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Small/luxury ships (Windstar, Ponant, SeaDream) | Anchor in bay, tender to Quai du Bourg📍 | Tendered |
| Large mainstream ships (MSC, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity) | Dock in Fort-de-France; transfer by ferry or excursion📍 | Tendered |
From snorkeling with turtles to black-sand volcanic beaches, Les Anses d'Arlet punches well above its size.
Green sea turtles graze on seagrass in waist-deep water at Anse Dufour — arguably the most reliable turtle encounter in the Caribbean. Bring your own snorkel gear or rent locally.
Find snorkel tours →Swim or snorkel off the main Anse d'Arlet beach, then walk the iconic wooden pier for the classic photo of the pier aligned with Saint-Henri Church and the green volcanic hills behind it.
Explore beach tours →A dramatic pitch-black volcanic beach accessed by stone steps, sitting side-by-side with golden-sand Anse Dufour — a geological contrast found almost nowhere else in the Caribbean.
Find Anse Noire excursions →A longer crescent of golden sand 2.5 km north of the village with lively beachfront bars and restaurants, including Ti Sable beach club. Livelier vibe than the town beach.
Find Grande Anse tours →Clear water and healthy coral just offshore from the village. Local dive shops operate directly from the beach, offering beginner dives and reef excursions for all levels.
Book diving tours →The village is compact and entirely walkable from the tender quay.
Walk from the tender landing along the beach to the wooden pier, stroll to the end for the classic church-pier-hills photo, then double back through the village past Creole restaurants and small shops.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →A scenic but steep walk north over the headland to Grande Anse beach. Worth doing one-way if you're fit; most visitors prefer a water taxi for the return.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Climate normals for Les Anses d'Arlet, Martinique, France (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 79°F / 26°C | 73°F / 23°C | 21 | 6:33 AM | 5:54 PM |
| Feb | 79°F / 26°C | 73°F / 23°C | 19 | 6:28 AM | 6:08 PM |
| Mar | 80°F / 27°C | 73°F / 23°C | 21 | 6:11 AM | 6:14 PM |
| Apr | 82°F / 28°C | 74°F / 23°C | 19 | 5:50 AM | 6:17 PM |
| May | 83°F / 28°C | 76°F / 24°C | 21 | 5:36 AM | 6:24 PM |
| Jun | 83°F / 28°C | 76°F / 24°C | 22 | 5:35 AM | 6:34 PM |
| Jul | 83°F / 28°C | 76°F / 24°C | 25 | 5:42 AM | 6:37 PM |
| Aug | 84°F / 29°C | 76°F / 24°C | 27 | 5:50 AM | 6:26 PM |
| Sep | 85°F / 29°C | 76°F / 24°C | 24 | 5:52 AM | 6:05 PM |
| Oct | 84°F / 29°C | 76°F / 24°C | 25 | 5:55 AM | 5:43 PM |
| Nov | 82°F / 28°C | 75°F / 24°C | 24 | 6:05 AM | 5:31 PM |
| Dec | 81°F / 27°C | 74°F / 23°C | 22 | 6:21 AM | 5:37 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Upcoming cruises that call at Les Anses d'Arlet, Martinique, France. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.