Hiking is practised ideally during the dry season (from December to May). The air is more fresh and less heavy with dampness. Above all, the rest of the year, tropical rains turn some courses from northern island to real giant waterslides. From June to October, favour hiking over the Atlantic littoral : Sainte-anne, Chevalier Cape, Caravelle, or be aware of the weather forecast.
Precautions
A few pieces of advice to have successful little trips :
One glance at the map: If you go hiking alone, take an appropriate map with you (Série Top 25) , study it before leaving, and keep it with you.
One glance at the weather forecast : Even during the dry season, a thundery rain can make impassable paths. In particular in the northern island. It is rare, but it occurs. So be cautious and inform yourself here : Martinique weather forecast.
One glance at the watch : The night falls quickly. From 5.30 to 6 P.M. according to the seasons. Plan to leave sufficiently early, and avoid a way back at night.
Be cautious under the sun : The sun beats down, and the risks of sunstroke are real. In the shade of the forests, everything is alright, but be careful with long hiking in exposed areas. Plan to bring one litre of water per person (minimum), take some sun cream and wear something to cover your head.
Be cautious under the "Mancenilliers" trees : In case of rain, don't take refuge under this tree. Water, in sliding down into its leaves, carry with it a corrosive sap that can seriously burn you. Be careful also of its fruits : under deceptive appearances of little green apples, some real poison is hiding. The Caribbean inhabitants used the sap of "Mancenilliers" to poison their arrows.
Avoid the "Fer de Lance" ( spearhead) : The "trigonocéphale" is the only animal that is really dangerous in Martinique. This snake, whose venom can be lethal, has a liking for the fields of can or bananas. The forest also. Fortunately, accidents are rare. By day, so long as you do not step back from the marked out paths, the risks to have an unpleasant encounter are minimal. Usually the "Fer de Lance" takes flight at the slightest vibration. At night, on the other hand, it becomes its territory.
Do not cross swords with "Matoutou" : This big hairy spider, from the family of the trap-door spiders, is impressive. Its bite is not lethal but it is as painful as a wasp’s bite.
Equipement
Light clothing and good walking shoes are sufficient most of the time.
According to the length and the difficulty of the hiking, plan to add
:
The quantity of water necessary.
A sun cream tube and an head gear.
Some cakes, dried fruits, bars with added vitamins.
One sweater and one "K-Way" (light weight nylon blouson) for the courses in altitude, where the temperature is fresher.
And of course, don't forget to slip into your bag :
The map Top 25 of IGN ( French Geographical Institute).
Respect the nature.
A code of good practice has been elaborates by the Country Park of Martinique :
1. Do not overstep the limits of the paths. The repeated action of the walkers out of the paths end up this way : the vegetal ground is scratching so that it desintegrates little by little and bring about irreversible erosions.
2. Keep off the hedges and fences. Even few steps can cause damage to a cultivation. Respect other people’s property. Do not damage neither the hedges nor the fences and close carefully the barriers in order to avoid that the animals escape.
3. Do not pollute the pure water. Avoid washing you car close to a river, a pond lake or a source; do not throw away your wastes and your waste water.
4. Be silent as the nature.
In the mountains, forests or valleys, the sound carries far away. Fauna may be unsettled by the noise pollution, you can not estimate really the damage.
5. Do not pollute the ground.
Do not leave any trace. Bring with you all your wastes or throw them away in the community amenities provided for that purpose.
6. Avoid lighting fires. A thoughtless gesture is able to destroy the fruit of thousands years of evolution. Pieces of broken bottles can turn into incendiary magnifying glass : do not abandon any pieces of glass.
7. Be an example for the others. If you are the witness to a more or less voluntary depredation, try to expose the consequences for the environment to those who have committed it..
8. Do not touch the flowers. Do not uproot them in composing your bunches : cut them and only pick up the contents of one hand.
9. Do not disturb the animals. If anybody disrupts fauna, it moves and may not survive to this exodus. Keep off the nests and the clutches. Avoid frightening them in their shelters. Do not turn over the stones, needlessly, in the mountains or on the seaside.
10. Do not mutilate the trees. Trees are living beings, sensitive and fragile ones. Do not spoil them in writing graffiti on their bark or in lacerating their trunk. Keep off the seedlings which are the future of the forest. Do not go into the plantations. Do not drive into the undergrowth.
One glance at the map: If you go hiking alone, take an appropriate map with you (Série Top 25) , study it before leaving, and keep it with you. 
French Version