Giving you a taste of France in the Caribbean, the island of Martinique is a wealth of culture. By mixing Caribbean cuisine with French influence and doing the same with the culture and language, the island of Martinique is a truly exotic destination for a tropical vacation. While the island certainly offers its fair share of Caribbean beaches, swimming, fishing, and boating, there is more to see than just that. For a truly unique experience that will give the perfect break from your sun worshiping and beach bumming. Make a visit to the Banana Museum.

Located on the Habitation Limbe in Sainte-Marie, the Banana Museum is actually a part of the Habitation Limbe operation estate. The museum acts, as its name implies, as a tribute to the main agricultural resource of Martinique, the banana. With each of the four stops in the museum offering a different perspective on the banana, your trip to the north-eastern part of the island will prove to be both fun and educational.

The first stop is the museum building. After that, you can visit the packaging unit, the Creole shanties, and then finally the park. Each stop is meant to help you learn a new aspect or point of view regarding bananas. Take your time to stroll through each part and enjoy the atmosphere of this real working banana plantation. If that is not enough on your own, there is also a guided tour.

On the tour, you are guided not only through the facility, but also through the story behind bananas and Martinique. You will learn history of the fruit as well as other information like the botany and the properties of the tree itself. In essence, you will find out that there is more to bananas than monkeys and slapstick falls on the peal.

At the end, there is a presentation of and opportunity to purchase many of the products derived from bananas. Some that are included, besides the raw fruit by itself, are dolls, soap and hats. Additionally, you will find out about the way bananas help in the formation of some of the island’s most popular drinks with the island’s famous rum. You will learn that the banana plant is not just the fruit, but is a viable resource from the leaves to the wood, and then to, of course, the famous fruit. The Banana museum will also help you to understand the impact the fruit has on the culture, economics, and landscape of the island of Martinique.

As you can imagine, the Banana Museum is truly unique. Though it is not the first thing you think of when it comes to museums, bananas make this a must-see on your trip to Martinique. Get a little more insight into what your daiquiri is really all about and how those hats you see around the island really do rely on banana trees as well. The beaches are certainly a big reason to visit Martinique, but to truly put a memorable and unique twist on your trip, take a day to visit the Banana Museum. It is well worth the trip.