The French overseas department is also known as "the flower island" and reflects the tropical character of France – 14 degrees north of the equator and almost 7,000 kilometres from Paris. Don't miss exploring the north of Martinique up to the green rainforest wilderness of Morne Rouge on the Route de la Trace. The church square of Sacré Coeur de Balata offers a breathtaking view of the mountainous tropical island.

A few minutes' drive later, you will reach the botanical garden, which enchants visitors with its intoxicating variety of tropical flowers. Our tip: try the island's speciality – rum punch, which is said to be the best in the entire Caribbean.

For nature lovers, the butterfly-shaped "Emerald Island" of Guadeloupe is a green paradise. Here you can discover the largest national park in the Caribbean with the highest waterfalls in the Antilles, a treetop trail, mysterious mangrove forests and lush flora and fauna. From time to time, we can see the volcanic cone of La Soufrière, which is almost 1,500 metres high, from the deck of the Eye of the Wind. The colour palette of the sandy beaches ranges from the finest snow white to black volcanic sand. Guadeloupe is largely influenced by French, African, East Indian and West Indian cultures. This mixture is particularly evident in the architecture, which ranges from French colonial style to Hindu temples.