Mont Pelée Summit Hike

14° 48.5′ N · 61° 9.4′ W

Climb the 1,397 m active volcano that destroyed Saint-Pierre, Martinique's highest point and a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2023, to the rim of the caldera and the summit dome of Le Chinois.

The Grenadines Grenada St Lucia & Martinique

Practical

Martinique tourism: three routes. (1) The Aileron trail, the easiest and most popular: from the Aileron car park (first refuge) at about 820 m above Morne-Rouge. About 3 hours round trip to the second refuge, or 5.5 hours including the caldera loop and Le Chinois; 7.5 km and about 700 m of climbing. (2) From Le Prêcheur on the Caribbean side: about 4 hours to Le Chinois (680 m climb), very exposed to the sun, so carry at least 2 litres of water each. (3) From Grand-Rivière: 17 km and 1,300 m of climbing to the second refuge, about 8 hours round trip, for the fittest only. The final pitch to Le Chinois is steep and slippery, needing hands on the rock. Cloud usually builds early, so aim to reach the top before 10 am. Bring warm and waterproof layers, never hike alone, check the weather and trail conditions, and avoid it after rain. Guides are available from the hiking committee. Position is L'Aileron (OSM). From the Saint-Pierre mooring it is about 30 minutes by car to the Aileron car park, which is small and fills early. The Refuge de l'Aileron restaurant is at the trailhead.

Best for

The big hiking day of a Martinique cruise

Practical

Best for

Nearby