Les Anses d'Arlet cruise port guide

Arrival & Getting Ashore

Getting to the centre: Bourg tender pier to Saint-Henri church square.

• Walk: a practical short walk straight along the pier towards the church and village. Sud Martinique Tourism identifies the beach, pier and facing church; the summary applies only to this landing.

Orientation, not a walking route

Ships remain offshore and bring passengers ashore by boat. Cruise tender use of the bourg pontoon is documented in a local report quoting the regional tourism office, alongside the port authority's current anchorage evidence. Follow the crew's boarding arrangements and keep the working section of the pontoon clear.

Grande Anse is a separate arrival. PONANT sells calls explicitly named Grande Anse d'Arlet, north of the village. Its beachfront is a different destination from the bourg. If your itinerary names Grande Anse, use the ship's landing instructions and arrange any onward journey to the bourg; do not tell a driver merely to meet you at “Anses d'Arlet”.

Discuss tender boarding with the crew if you use a mobility aid. A nearby church square does not make the boat transfer step-free.

About this port

Les Anses d'Arlet suits a day built around a village, a beach and the sea rather than a long island tour. The pier facing Saint-Henri church is the obvious starting point for the bourg, or village centre. Nearby Grande Anse is another cruise anchorage with its own beach; the two names are not interchangeable when arranging transport.

The Grand Port Maritime includes Anses d'Arlet in its ocean-cruise anchorage programme, and PONANT lists the village as a destination. This guide focuses on the bourg landing and explains the separate Grande Anse option where it changes your plans.

Getting Around

For a bourg call, stay around the church, village streets and beach if you want the simplest independent outing. A trip to Grande Anse or the other coves needs a deliberate transport or walking plan.

Morne Champagne has a hiking route linking the bourg beach and Grande Anse. Treat it as a hill walk, with suitable shoes and water, rather than a level waterfront shortcut. Arrange a return driver in advance for more distant beaches.

Public bus warning, checked 2026-10-02: SudLib's operator notice suspends the entire network from 7 September 2026. Old route sheets are not evidence of a working service. Use an arranged vehicle or remain near your landing unless the operator confirms restoration. Suspension notice.

Things to Do

Village and beach: make a short circuit of the church frontage, Creole houses and local craft stalls, then return to the bourg beach. This keeps the tender pier close and lets you decide how much swimming time remains without a road journey.

Lakay underwater trail: this educational snorkelling route lies in the bourg. Interpretation buoys explain the marine life and habitats. Go only in conditions appropriate to your swimming ability, avoid standing on coral and keep clear of boat movements. Seeing wildlife is a possibility, never a guaranteed part of the outing.

Grande Anse or Morne Champagne: choose the neighbouring beach for a change of setting, or the hillside route for views over the village bay. A walk between the beaches creates a return leg too; decide whether you will retrace the route or have transport waiting before you set out.

Getting back to your ship

Return to the same landing assigned by your ship: a Grande Anse call is in a different bay from the bourg pier. Allow for people boarding ahead of you, especially when organised excursions return together. Follow the announced last-tender time and any updated crew instructions. If exploring another cove, agree the return collection before leaving; the bus suspension makes an improvised bus journey a poor fallback.

Practical Information

Bring euros for small purchases, water, sun protection and swimwear beneath a cover-up. French and Martinican Creole are spoken. Wear town clothing for the church and village, and save beachwear for the shore. Keep electronics and your ship card in a waterproof pouch during tender travel. Carry the landing name and ship contact information with you.