Le François: White Funds & Josephine's Bathtub Boat Day
Eight hours on Martinique's Atlantic side, island to island, reef to reef
You board a boat at Le François fishing port and spend eight hours moving between shallow sandbars and small islands off Martinique's Atlantic coast. You swim in the White Funds, spot iguanas on Ilet Chancel, and see tropical fish around Ilet Thierry. Lunch and drinks are included, and you return to port by 5pm. Bring your own transport to the port.
Step-by-step itinerary
Boat trip exploring Le François treasures
- Depart from François fishing port
- Explore peninsula and mangrove
- Present islets Lavigne, Frégate, Long, Pelée, Oscar, Thierry
- Visit White Funds of Josephine's Bath
- Discover Ilet Thierry and tropical fish
- Sail along barrier reef
- Visit Ilet Chancel and iguanas
- Explore Trapeze White Backgrounds
- Ascend towards Ilet Madame
- Lunch break on board
What’s included
- Your day includes a full-day boat trip departing from Le François fishing port at 9am, visits to the White Funds, Josephine's Bathtub, Ilet Thierry, Ilet Chancel, and other islets, swimming stops in open water, lunch on the boat, bottled water, snacks, alcoholic beverages, and a driver/guide.
- You return to the port by 5pm.
- Transport to the port is your own responsibility.
Times
- Monday to Friday 09:00
Before you book
Operated by Cote au Vent
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The experience
The boat leaves the fishing port of Le François at 9am, and the first thing you notice is how the water changes color as you move away from shore, from pale green to deep blue, then back to turquoise where the sandbars rise. You're heading straight for the White Funds, the shallow banks that sit between the islets like a natural swimming pool in the middle of the ocean. The boat slows down there, and you slip into water so clear you can see your own feet on the sand below. It's the kind of place that photographs don't quite capture because the light keeps shifting.
After the White Funds, the day moves between the smaller islands: Ilet Thierry with its tropical fish darting around the boat, Ilet Chancel where the iguanas sun themselves on the rocks, and a handful of others (Lavigne, Frégate, Long, Pelée, Oscar) that blur together in the best way. Your guide points out the barrier reef as you sail past it, and there's a moment where you're moving slowly enough to actually see the structure of it, the darker patches where the coral grows thicker. Lunch happens on the boat (nothing fancy, but solid), and the drinks keep coming: water, juice, beer, rum punch if you want it. The snacks arrive between stops, which means you're never actually hungry, just pleasantly occupied.
The trapeze white backgrounds (the shallower sand formations that catch the light differently) come next, and then the ascent toward Ilet Madame as the afternoon starts to soften. By 5pm you're back at the fishing port, and your legs are tired in that specific way that means you've been on a boat all day, not uncomfortable, just aware. The whole thing is eight hours, which sounds long until you realize you've been moving the entire time, stopping to swim, watching the water change, listening to the guide explain which island is which. It's not a rushed day, but it's not a lazy one either.
You need to get yourself to the fishing port of Le François on the Côte au vent side (that's on you, no pickup from your hotel), but once you're there, everything else is handled. The boat takes groups of mixed ages (no children under 3, no pregnant travelers), and the pace assumes moderate fitness: you're climbing in and out of a boat, swimming in open water, and sitting in the sun for hours. If that sounds like your day, it is.
Is this one for you?Right for travelers staying on Martinique's Atlantic side who want a full day on the water without arranging a private boat: the fixed schedule and included meals mean you show up at the port and the rest unfolds. Expect eight hours in the sun and salt water, which is exactly what makes visiting six islands and two major sandbars possible in one day.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Child (4 to 11 years); Infant (under 4).
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 time does the boat leave and return?
Departure is 9am, return is 5pm, from the fishing port of Le François.
Is lunch included?
Yes, lunch is included on the boat, along with bottled water, snacks, and alcoholic beverages.
Do I need to arrange my own transport to the port?
Yes, you must get yourself to the fishing port of Le François on the Côte au vent. No hotel pickup is provided.
What is the White Funds?
Shallow sandbars in the ocean between the islets where you can swim in clear, shallow water.
Will we see iguanas?
Yes, on Ilet Chancel, where iguanas rest on the rocks.
Is snorkeling or diving included?
The itinerary mentions swimming stops and sailing along the barrier reef, but specific snorkeling or diving equipment is not listed as included.
How long is the boat trip?
Eight hours total, from 9am to 5pm, with multiple stops for swimming and island visits.
Le François: White Funds & Josephine's Bathtub Boat Day
7h · FR
from € 85 per person
≈ US$ 97 in your currency
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