Kayaking Robert's Bay Martinique: Independent Navigation Tour

Four hours paddling a sheltered lagoon, swimming when you choose, finding iguanas and starfish on your own schedule

Kayak Robert's Bay, a shallow turquoise lagoon dotted with islets near Martinique, on a half-day rental where you navigate independently with a provided map after a safety briefing from your guide. You set your own pace, stop to swim and explore beaches, and paddle past Chancel Islet's endemic iguanas and white-bottom passages. The morning slot runs 9am to 1pm, the afternoon 1pm to 5pm. Both end with a local snack, showers and changing facilities.

The experience

How do you know where to go if you're paddling on your own? The guide hands you a map marking the key points (Chancel Islet with its ruins and iguanas, the white-bottom shallows, the seagrass beds where starfish sometimes surface), and a safety briefing before you push off. You then have the bay to yourself for four hours, deciding which islets to visit, how long to linger on a beach, and whether to swim or just drift in the calm, sheltered water. An airtight box keeps your snacks and phone dry while you paddle.

Robert's Bay is a lagoon of scattered islets and shallow turquoise passages, nothing like open ocean: the water stays calm and the depth manageable. Chancel Islet draws most paddlers for its historic ruins and the endemic iguanas that live there. Near the islets, seagrass beds hold starfish visible in the shallows on clear days. A beach stop gives you time to swim, rest on sand, or simply sit and watch the water. The pace is entirely yours: some paddlers cover more ground, others anchor in one spot for an hour.

Back at the base, your guide meets you again to hear where you went and what you saw. A snack follows: homemade cakes, fresh juices, and local liqueurs, eaten at a table with other paddlers or alone. Showers, toilets and changing rooms let you rinse off salt and sand before you leave. Coffee or tea waits before departure, and the airtight box is provided so nothing gets wet during the paddle.

What’s included

• Safety briefing and navigation map.
• airtight box for your belongings.
• snacks including homemade cakes, fresh juices and local liqueurs.
• shower, toilet and changing room access.
• coffee or tea before departure.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day except SaturdayDepartures at 09:00 and 13:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (12 to 80 years) · Child (3 to 11 years) · Under 3: can't be booked

GroupUp to 22

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.

ConfirmationConfirmation within 48 h

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Moderate physical effortNot recommended with heart problemsNot recommended with back problems

Operated by BEYOND THE BEACH

Is this one for you?You need your own transport to reach the kayak base in Le Robert, since the operator does not arrange hotel pickup and cruise passengers cannot easily access the spot. If you have a rental car or can arrange a taxi, the independent navigation and four-hour window let you explore at your own pace without a guide trailing behind or a fixed itinerary dictating when you move on.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 11 years). Children under 3 can't be included in the booking.

What's Chancel Islet like when I paddle out to it?

Chancel Islet holds historic ruins and is home to endemic iguanas you can spot from the water or on the beach. It's one of the marked points on the map your guide gives you, and many paddlers make it a main stop during the four hours.

Can I swim during the kayak, or is it just paddling?

Swimming is part of the plan. You stop on a beach of your choice, spend as long as you want there, and swim in the shallow turquoise water. The pace is yours, so you decide how much time to paddle and how much to float or rest.

Do I need kayaking experience to book this?

You need at least a moderate level of physical fitness and should be comfortable in water, but the bay is shallow and sheltered, not open ocean. The guide gives a safety briefing before you start, and you navigate with a map at your own speed.

What happens if I don't have a car to get to the kayak spot?

The operator notes that this activity is not accessible to cruise passengers because of transportation costs to reach the kayak base and difficulty finding a taxi at the cruise port. If you're staying in Le Robert or nearby, a taxi or rental car is needed to arrive at the departure point.

What's included after I come back from paddling?

A local snack with homemade cakes, fresh juices and local liqueurs is served when you return. You also have access to showers, toilets and changing rooms to rinse off and change before you leave.