St Maarten/St Martin

What to do in St Maarten/St Martin

Tour Both Sides of the Island

Join an expert guide for an orientation tour of the French and Dutch sides, their distinct personalities, and what they have to offer. Along the way, take scenic stops, shop at trendy boutiques, and have a bit of a wander through easy tropical trails. St Martin/St Maarten.

Deep Sea Fishing

Anglers find a wide and challenging variety of game fish including marlin, tuna, dolphin, barracuda, and kingfish. Charter boats are available all year at reasonable rates, though some of the fish are only in season from December through March. Still, whenever you cast your line, you've got a great chance to hook something big! St Martin/St Maarten.

Marigot

The charming capital of St Martin exudes a vibrant French culture. A favorite stop is the open-air market on Wednesdays and Sundays at the base of Fort St Louis and along the wharves below, offering a colorful array of homegrown produce, tropical fruits and spices, and freshly caught fish. Additionally, there are many outdoor cafés and an inter-island ferry. St Martin.

Fort St Louis

This imposing, historical monument overlooking Marigot Bay was named for the famous crusading king of France. Built in 1767 to protect the settlement from foreign invaders, the plans were sent directly from Versailles at the order of the soon-to-be-executed King Louis XVI. A steep climb to the top rewards visitors with a stunning panoramic view of the island and sea. St Martin.

Orleans (aka The French Quarter)

This was the original settlement of the French, and some of the original 17th-century structures remain. On the eastern side of the island, just north of the French-Dutch border, this area has not been developed too much, so much of the old atmosphere still prevails. The quiet village with only a few residences and a handful of small shops is a wonderful place to spend a relaxing afternoon in a world gone by. St Martin.

Butterfly Farm

The specially created "Butterfly Sphere" contains a beautiful landscaped garden, a waterfall, koi ponds, and ambient music. As you walk through this tranquil habitat, some of the most beautiful butterflies of the world float around you, performing courting dances, laying eggs, and emerging from a chryalis to take first flight! St Martin.

Diving and Snorkeling

The experience is fantastic, with visibility around the island typically extending 100 feet and often reaching up to 200 feet! Over 30 dive sites between St Maarten and St Barth provide refuge to many coral reefs that support a wide variety of sea life. Off the coast of St Maarten, in the Great Bay, lies the wreck of an English battleship sunk in 1801. Dive shops are everywhere and instruction for beginners is readily available. St Martin/St Maarten.

Beaches

The 30-plus beaches on both sides are admired as some of the most beautiful in the Caribbean, and all are available to the public. There are many different "personalities" among them, so try as many as you can and find your favorite!.

St Maarten Beaches.

Cupecoy Beach is an esoteric place, surrounded by a gorgeous rock formation. If you arrive early enough, you'll have the rare experience of being alone in a sea cave. Also, it is one of the island's "clothes optional" beaches.

Mullet Bay Beach, popular with families, is a bit further south from Cupecoy. Its large shore is surrounded by a hotel and golf course.

Maho Beach is very popular and has the unusual aspect of being on the airport flight path! Bathers actually enjoy watching the jets land as they bathe and snorkel in the excellent waters. Sunset Bar at the end of the beach is a popular happy hour spot.

Guana Bay and Dawn Beach, north of Philipsburg, are never very crowded and are favorites of those looking for privacy.

St Martin Beaches.

The Terres Basses (aka the Lowlands) contain Baie Rouge, Plum Bay, and Longue Baie. On Baie Rouge, you can look across to the neighboring island of Anguilla while sipping a piña colada or walking along a mostly deserted shore. Longue Bay has wonderful rock formations and, as implied by its name, is one of the longest beaches on the island. Though there aren't too many corals to be seen, snorkeling here is great for seeing lots of beautiful fish.

Nettle Bay, Friars Bay, and Grand Case Beach are all calm water beaches, where the waves rarely get big. Food and drink stands are dot the shoreline.

Orient Bay Beach is a favorite for its long, wide, and clean shoreline. It's also the island's most famous "clothes optional" beach. A frequently mighty, but generally safe, surf makes it a focal point for water sports.

Many more beaches line the French shore and inexpensive restaurants are sprinkled along the way. Kon Tiki is a favorite for the island food and people-watching, friendly staff, and weekend music.

Duty-Free Shopping

The fervor for this activity never seems to abate, and this is the perfect place to indulge! Luxury items from all over the world, such as French and Italian clothing fashions, Dutch and Japanese electronics, Indonesian batiks and Chinese embroidery, jewelry, leather, crystal, liquors, and fine porcelain, free of all taxes and customs, are regularly offered at bargain prices. Both sides have a "Little Switzerland," but each has different goods and bargains to offer. The Dutch shops are all aligned in an orderly fashion along dedicated shopping streets, and the French shops meander around town and duck into back streets, adding to the fun of discovery. St Martin/St Maarten.

Kayaking

This is a growing sport on the island, focusing around Simson Bay, one of the Caribbean's largest lagoons. Its rich waters are a refuge to many marine species, which start their lives here before heading out to sea. For bird lovers, kayaking is a great way to view the indigenous species and seasonal migratory birds that call these waters home. St Martin/St Maarten.

Island Hop

Many ferries take you on jaunts to the neighboring islands of Saba, St Eustatius, Anguilla, and St Barthelemy. Each island has a completely different personality and a offers a variety of experiences from climbing a desolate volcano, to the indulgence of a French "jet-set" lifestyle. From both St Martin/St Maarten.