Chancel Island sea tour Martinique: Swim, ruins, local tastings

Swim in turquoise shallows, taste rum and fruit at Bathtub of Josephine, meet rare iguanas on island ruins

This four-hour sea tour departs from François fishing port in Martinique to Chancel Island and two white-sand swimming spots, with a local English- or French-speaking guide. You'll encounter the endemic iguana of the Lesser Antilles in its natural habitat, walk among the remains of an old 18th-century house, swim in clear turquoise water, and stop at the Bathtub of Josephine. Tastings of tropical fruit, fresh juice, local rum and traditional salty snacks come at the water's edge. The boat runs on low-emission engines and uses reusable cups and containers to reduce its carbon footprint.

The experience

The tour leaves from the François fishing port and heads straight to Chancel Island, a protected natural sanctuary where you'll encounter the endemic iguana of the Lesser Antilles, a rare species found nowhere else, in the vegetation around the ruins of an 18th-century house. The guide walks you through the site and explains what you're seeing, then the boat moves on to the Trapezium, a sandy shoal in shallow turquoise water where you swim and eat tropical fruit and fresh juice. On the return, you stop at the famous Bathtub of Josephine, then anchor at the white bottom of Thierry Island for a second swim with a traditional salty snack served while you're still in the water.

The boat's engines are labeled for low CO2 emissions, and the operator sources consumables on a short circuit: local suppliers, no long imports. All cups and containers are reusable, not single-use. The guide is a woman who knows the marine ecosystems and speaks both English and French, so the tour works whether you're traveling solo or with French-speaking friends. The group stays small, which is why the atmosphere stays friendly and the rare iguanas don't scatter at the sight of a crowd.

What’s included

• Bottled water.
• tropical fruit juice.
• local rum.
• traditional salty snacks.
• a local guide who speaks English and French.
• all stops at Chancel Island, the Trapezium, the Bathtub of Josephine and Thierry Island.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 08:30 and 12:30

Book up to4h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Infant (under 3)

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish and French

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Sea The Way

Is this one for you?The tour is shared, not private, and runs four hours with two swimming stops and two periods of sitting in the boat. Book this if you want to meet a rare endemic species and taste local food and rum in a small group with a guide who knows the islands, and you're comfortable with a moderate level of physical activity on the water.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English and French.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years); Infant (under 3).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What is the endemic iguana of Chancel Island, and where else can you see it?

The endemic iguana of the Lesser Antilles lives only on Chancel Island and a handful of other protected sites in the region. It is a rare species you cannot encounter on a typical beach day. The tour takes you to the island to see it in its natural habitat among the ruins of the 18th-century house.

How many times do you swim during the tour, and where?

You swim twice: first at the Trapezium, a white-sand shoal with turquoise water where you also taste tropical fruit and juice, and again at Thierry Island on the return, where a traditional salty snack waits for you in the water.

What does the Bathtub of Josephine look like, and what happens there?

The Bathtub of Josephine is a famous shallow spot in the water off Martinique where the boat stops on the return journey. You can swim or wade in the clear water at this landmark stop.

Is this tour private or shared with other travelers?

The tour runs as a small group, not a private charter. The operator keeps group size small to preserve the atmosphere and protect the fragile marine environment.

What drinks and food are included, and when do you eat them?

Bottled water, tropical fruit juice, local rum and a traditional salty snack are included. You taste the fruit and juice at the Trapezium while swimming, and the salty snack comes at Thierry Island, also in the water.

Do I need to bring my own snorkel and mask?

Snorkels and masks are not provided by the operator, so bring your own if you want to use them during the two swimming stops.