There's plenty to buy on Martinique, and much of it "naturally" is handmade. Martinique offers a very large selection (and variety) of shops, boutiques, galleries, and arts & crafts. For the shopaholic, there is plenty here to keep you busy!
Arts, Crafts & Clothing
Fiery Martinique' hot sauce, fragrant honey, and handcrafted red clay pottery items are among the most popular souvenirs to take home from Martinique. But there are plenty of small shops and boutiques offering a full line of tropical clothing, swimwear, and colorful men's shirts.
Supermarkets & Superettes
For those interested in a self-catered Martinique vacation or an extended one, there are small "mom and pop" stores around the island, plus larger supermarkets in Charlestown. There's a public market near the waterfront in town, teeming with fresh papaya, mangoes, pumpkin, and ripe tomatoes.
Drug Stores/Pharmacies
There is a wide selection of pharmaceuticals and toiletries available on the island, and stores also offer herbal remedies made from tropical plants. Many medicines are available and prescriptions can be filled here, though it's always the best policy to travel with sufficient refills to all medications.
Gallery Hopping
Visit Martinique' charming small galleries and see artists and craftspeople at work in a personally led tour. Gillian Smith and Ceri Whitfield, owners of Café des Arts gallery/café lead this half-day trip to the galleries. Finish the tour at their Café in Charlestown, where you'll be treated to a delightful lunch and time to enjoy the artwork of Kate Spencer, Rosie Cameron, and other Caribbean artists.
Working Together
Many local crafts are made by members of local cooperatives-groups of craft men that work together to continue the local traditions. One of these is the Martinique Pottery, located near Newcastle, where you can watch the potters create the handsome red-clay pots and other artifacts.
Another is the Martinique Craft Cooperative, where the crafts people weave rugs, make whimsical wooden mobiles, and other wood and ceramics. Their "factory" and store is on the main road just north of Charlestown. Another shop is located in the Cotton Ginnery.
To Market, To Market
For Caribbean-raised produce, fresh spices and homemade hot sauces, visit the colourful City Market near the ferry dock in the center of Charlestown. Sample the wide variety of local produce, like christophene, breadfruit, plantain, tannia, avocados (called "pears" here), yams, and pumpkin, all available in season. The market is open daily except Sunday. The busiest days are Fridays and Saturdays.
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