Mount Pelée

Mount Pelée, the active volcano rising over 1,300 metres to dominate the lush north of Martinique, is one of the most infamous and significant volcanoes in history. In 1902, it erupted catastrophically, sending down a searing pyroclastic flow that destroyed the nearby town of Saint-Pierre and killed some 30,000 people in minutes, one of the deadliest eruptions of the twentieth century and one that gave science the term Pelean eruption. Today, this now-quiet giant, cloaked in dense rainforest and often wreathed in cloud, offers a rewarding and dramatic hike to its summit, rewarding climbers with sweeping views over the island and its poignant volcanic history.

Highlights

• The summit hike - the dramatic climb through rainforest.
• The volcanic history - the story of the 1902 eruption.
• The rainforest slopes - the lush jungle and often cloud-wreathed heights.
• The summit views - the vistas over northern Martinique and the sea.

When to go

December to April, the drier season, for the best hiking conditions, though the summit is frequently cloud-covered whatever the season, so an early start on a clear morning gives the best chance of views; the trails can be muddy and steep. A guide adds safety, insight and access to the best routes on this active volcano.

Practical notes

The hike to the summit is a genuinely strenuous, several-hour climb, often through mud, wind and cloud that can hide the views, so it requires reasonable fitness and, ideally, a guide; the volcano, though quiet, remains active and monitored. Its history is also deeply tragic. For the reward of a dramatic rainforest climb, sweeping views and the powerful, poignant story of one of history's most infamous eruptions, though, Mount Pelée is a memorable highlight of northern Martinique.

Nearby

The ruined town of Saint-Pierre, the rainforest and the north coast are close.

Key facts