The tiny dual island nation of Saint Martin includes both St Maarten (Dutch side) and St. Martin (French side). Known as ‘The Friendly Island’ is made up of two separate countries, two nationalities, and two unique vacation destinations. Both of these alluring islands offer restful beaches, hidden coves, world-class shopping, award-winning cuisine, and vibrant nightlife.
Nicknamed ‘The Sun-Soaked Islands’ and ‘The Culinary Capital of the Caribbean’ sunseekers and food lovers flock to the islands for year-round sunshine and delectable cuisine. The island is home to upscale beach resorts, year-round sunshine, astonishing natural beauty, magnificent views, and vibrant island vibes. The unique blend of Caribbean, French, and Dutch cultures can be seen in the charming, quaint capitals of Philipsburg and Marigot along with the island's physical diversity with verdant hilly landscapes, sparkling white sand beaches and shorelines, secret caves, and bountiful wildlife.
Things to see and do
Explore the charming colorful Dutch capital of Philipsburg home to the island’s popular cruise port and duty-free shopping. Wander down the authentic narrow alleyways along the cobblestone on Front and Back Street both brimming with luxury shops, souvenir shops, restaurants, bars, and casinos. There's a bustling scenic boardwalk that runs parallel to Front Street along Great Bay Beach.
Soak up the French atmosphere in the lovely capital of Marigot. This pretty colorful colonial town is known for its eye-catching Creole-style houses and colonial architecture, duty-free shopping, and delicious cuisine. Wander down Rue de la Republique and admire some of the island's best-preserved buildings built with stone and mortar bases, wooden upper floors, and handcrafted balconies with friezes. Check out the fabulous stores on Le West Indies, which offer luxurious shopping opportunities on three floors along with high-end restaurants. Stroll along the colorful waterfront and browse the vibrant open-air market selling all kinds of goods.
Check out Bell’s Lookout Point found at Cole Bay Hill for some astonishing views of St Maarten. This vantage point is especially good at sunrise and sunset. There is a seated statue of William Henry Bell II who was a local landowner that the lookout point was named after.
Head up to the historic Fort Louis for another opportunity to take in some sensational 360 panoramic views over Marigot, and Sandy Ground. This historic French-built Fort Louis was constructed in 1767 to protect Marigot’s production of rum, sugarcane, salt, and coffee that was exported from here. What’s left today is just its ruins and some old cannons.
Go Hiking up the two highest points of the island; Sentry Hill is on the Dutch side and Pic Paradis is on the French side. Sentry Hill is one of the highest points on St Maarten rising to 1,125 feet above sea level. Hike up the Sentry Hill trail which is just under 1 mile in length to reach the top for magnificent views. There is also an option to take an easier ride on a chairlift above the lush scenery.
Pic Paradis rises 1,391 feet above sea level it is the highest point on St. Martin the French side. Take the 2.5-mile rewarding hike to the summit along a few routes; either start at Loterie Farm, or the shorter option is from the end of Rue du Pic Paradis road. The views from the top extend over much of Saint Martin and offshore to Anguilla, Saba, and other nearby islands.
Many other hiking options are found throughout the hills and coastlines of the island along awe-inspiring coastal paths or lush verdant hiking trails. There are options for all skill levels with the hike up to Pic Paradise being one of the most challenging. Many accessible trails lead to vantage points providing amazing panoramic views over the island which is very rewarding after a strenuous hike. Hiking to the natural pool between Point Blanche and Guana Bay is a moderate 1.6 mile leading to this pristine natural pool where hikers can take a dip in the watts and capture some impressive views. The South Reward Trail via Hillside Plantation is another popular hike across the border between the two islands.
Go Horseback riding along the picturesque beaches and through the lush verdant hills of the island. Seaside Nature Park is a stunning 30-acre property that offers trail rides through breathtaking landscapes including through the seas!! There is plenty of unique wildlife to spot along the way, it's an ecotourist's dream come true. There is also a playground here and a petting zoo.
Visit the David’s Hole, also known as Trou David or Devil’s Hole on the French side of the island. It is a natural swimming pool and a world-class geological wonder formed by the collapse of a large sea cave chamber over 50 million years ago. It's an 80-foot-in-diameter sinkhole found between Baie Rouge and Pointe du Bluffe with the highest peak at 33 feet, it's an exciting place to visit. The ancient collapsed cave has been eroded into two arches by the force of the sea swell and when the sea is rough it resembles a cauldron of boiling water.
Check out Maho Beach’s unique location directly across from the runway at Princess Juliana International Airport. This is a thrilling once-in-a-lifetime experience while visiting St Maarten where planes land and take off just above your head, they look and feel close enough to touch. Flights land at the popular airport every 15 minutes, the runway is extremely short and is steps away from Maho Beach. There is a bar right on the beach which is the perfect place to sit back and capture this iconic wonder, the bars even have the arrivals and departures on display.
Spend the day at Rainforest Adventures home to the Flying Dutchman,the steepest zipline in the world down Peak Paradise the tallest point on the French Side. The Soualiga Sky Explorer chairlift provides passengers with 360-degree views of the island from the top of Sentry Hill. Thrill seekers will love the Flying Dutchman zip line to take in the astonishing views of the neighboring island.
Visit the treetop lounge that is Loterie Farm for more adventures, it's a nature sanctuary and hidden eco-tourism attraction where you can go hiking through the loverly verdant forest, zipline Pic Paradis, swim in a paradisal pool, relax under a cabana, and dine at the Jungle Room.
Shopping
The island of St Maarten offers some of the best shopping opportunities in the Caribbean. The duty-free bargain shopping here is absolutely insane with so many great buys. There are so many options that can be found throughout the island for shopping time, especially in Marigot, and Philipsburg which are both home to unique upscale boutiques, fine jewelry stores, discounted designer boutiques, vibrant markets, and beachside shops. The island also boasts many charming open-air markets and shops dotted along the beaches where you can pick up local authentic items and souvenirs. The colorful buildings that run along Front Street in Philipsburg Harbor are brimming with leading top-name brand designers like Tiffany's and Tommy Hilfiger, this is a very popular spot for cruise ship passengers who come to get their duty-free shopping in, and Marigot boasts quaint French-inspired boutiques decorated with colorful striped awnings and wrought-iron balconies.
Beaches
St Maarten island is famous for its astonishing 37 beaches, which are the main draw to this tropical idyllic island nation. A lot of the island's accommodations are dotted along the sparkling shoreline and allow visitors access to the spectacular soft white sand, bountiful sunshine, and mesmerizing turquoise waters. Beachfront restaurants and beach bars are an easy find along the waterfront along with many charming cafes and quaint beach shops to explore. From the moment you fly into the island’s unique Princess Juliana International Airport which sits directly across from the iconic Maho Beach where the planes fly right over your head!! There are so many more beach opportunities to choose from you will be stuck for choice in this piece of paradise.
Maho Beach is famous for the fact that it sits just 114 feet away from the end of the runway at Princess Juliana International Airport, and right over beachgoers' heads for Insta-worthy snapshots. Maho is nestled in a curved bay featuring the Sunset Beach Bar with unforgettable views of these massive Boeing planes flying in to land!!
Plum Bay or Baie Aux Prunes is located between Pointe du Canonnier and Falaise aux Oiseaux in Terres Basses, in an upscale neighborhood. The beach boasts some stunning golden sands with sparkling waters that are every shade of blue. This is a beautiful peaceful, and serene stretch of sand with calm waters perfect for swimming and snorkeling.
Long Beach is situated on the Dutch side home to the La Samanna Resort, it's one of the longest stretches of sand on the island and spans from the resort to Pointe du Canonnier. It's a nice quiet beach and great for a long romantic beach walk.
Mullet Bay Beach is at the top of the list on St Maarten, one of the nicest beaches on the entire island with a long stretch of soft white sand, and brilliant blue waters all found in a serene quiet cove. There are many food and drink options along the beach and an 18-hole golf course bordering the beach which is lined with tropical palms.
There are nude beaches in St Maarten, on the French side there is Club Orient Beach also known as Papagayo Beach, and at the southern ends of Prune and Rouge Beaches.
Cuisine
Dining in St Maarten is a dream come true with some of the best food and high-end restaurants in the Caribbean. Both sides of the island offer a combination of almost 500 restaurants with highly trained culinary chefs serving up some of the most delicious food and the best fine dining experiences around. There are numerous beachside restaurants spread throughout the island, hotels also offer upscale dining and there are plenty of American restaurants on the Dutch side including fast-food restaurants like McDonald's and Pizza Hut. Marigot offers some fantastic restaurants along the waterfront at Marina Port la Royale and Philipsburg boasts many fine eateries along the famed Front Street. Freshly caught fish and seafood can be found on many of the menus on the island along with a rich variety of cuisine including high-end French, Lebanese, Italian, Creole, Mexican, Chinese, American, and traditional Caribbean cuisine. There are restaurants, bars, cafes, roadside food trucks, and beachside shacks offering casual dining options and great food at affordable pricing. The famous Sunset Beach Bar at Maho Beach is a popular spot to sip cocktails and watch the planes taking off and landing at the nearby airport.
Nightlife
The island of St Maarten offers a myriad of exciting nightlight opportunities. The first thing to do in your evenings is to find a great spot to capture a wonderful sunset with a sundowner in hand. There are 37 beaches on the island, so finding a beachfront bar is not a difficult task with many nestled right on the soft white sands boasting breathtaking views of the ocean. The nightlife choices across the island range from beachfront bars to casinos, clubs, and entertainment rolling into the wee hours of the morning. Sunset booze cruises or chartered catamarans are big on the list of early evening options. Strolling along the Philipsburg Boardwalk is a treat in the early evening, with bustling restaurants, busy bars, and night shopping to enjoy. Live bands can be found all over St Maarten especially in Simpson Bay and Orient Bay with live music most nights of the week and happy hours to take advantage of. Bamboo Bernie's offers a happy hour that is hard to beat, 30 minutes of free drinking, and after that, the highest-priced drink is a dollar!
