The ‘Trace des Caps’ trail, from Anse des Chevaliers to Grande Anse

To go on this walk, you’ll need to leave one car at Grande Anse beforehand.
Park your^second vehicle in the car park at Pointe Michel.
To get there from Grande Anse: take the D9 to the roundabout near Poirier. Turn right onto the D33, then leave it to pass through Barrière La Croix, then Cap Chevalier, leading to the Anse Michel/Cap Chevalier car park.

(S) Before starting the route, you can climb to the top of a beautiful observation tower here, offering a magnificent panoramic view, particularly of Îlet Chevalier.
Then head right onto the coastal path known as the Forêt Domaniale du Littoral. Follow the coastline without straying from it, taking the lovely wooden footbridges through the mangroves to reach Pointe Marignan.

(1) Pass this point and Pointe Coton, where you’ll catch sight of Îlet Chevalier or Îlet Lézard. Continue along a long circular loop, first to the right then to the left, to reach the northern end of Baie des Anglais.

(2) Head due south again, passing the wayside shrines, then the Chapel of Our Lady of the Coolies, followed by the Chapel of Our Lady of the Sailors. These magnificent headlands offer stunning views, including the ruins of a mill near the first chapel. You’ll then emerge at the Anse Trabaud car park and its splendid, unspoilt beach.

(3) Leave the^PR® here and walk along the beautiful, long beach. About a hundred metres further on, rejoin the^PR® to reach the Savane des Pétrifications and its jagged coastline where the waves come crashing ashore. You will then reach the Pointe d’Enfer.

(4) Continue along the path to reach, in turn, Anse Braham and then Anse Écluse. Next, make your way through a marshy area, cross a ford over very slippery rocks (which may sometimes be submerged) and cross a small bridge. Offshore, you’ll spot the Table du Diable, a small islet. You’ll then arrive at Anse aux Prunes, with Îlet Cabrits—Martinique’s southernmost point—visible offshore.

(5) Continue through the woodland along the beautiful Grande Terre beach, the Pointe des Salines, to finish at the magnificent Grande Anse des Salines beach. Carry on to the Grande Anse car park to retrieve the^second vehicle (E).

There are no water sources (only along Grande Terre), so set off early on your hike; otherwise, make sure you bring plenty of water.
Don’t forget a cap, sun cream, sunglasses and a swimsuit to make the most of the magnificent swimming spots.

Between (3) and (4), this section resembles a desert, a barren landscape devoid of vegetation – an arid, almost desert-like area, apart from a few cacti. This place is known as ‘Pétrification’ due to the large number of petrified trees. Fossils were once collected here and have since disappeared.
Before (E) at Pointe des Salines: this is the time to enjoy the beach and a swim. All along this beach, you can easily grab a bite to eat at small beachside restaurants.