Travel to The Caribbean Island of St. Maarten
♦ Routes (free): Detailed travel itineraries in USA
♦ Tours in St. Maarten for Cruise Ship Passengers
General
St. Martin is a tiny island that offers visitors "two for the price of one": the island is divided between France and the Netherlands, and although the border between its two parts is quite virtual, the differences in style and atmosphere are well felt. You can experience two cultures of two different nations in one day. The Dutch side is much more developed and busy, suitable for people looking for many entertainment and activity options. Philipsburg, the capital of the Dutch side, is full of glitzy casinos, pedestrian malls, and shopping centers, and more closely resembles a touristy American city than a Dutch-Caribbean town. The French side exudes a more relaxed and elegant atmosphere, featuring plenty of boutiques with French fashion and nude beaches. The combination of the two is a winner—on a 2-3 hour tour, you can circle both parts of the island, look out over the beautiful landscapes and beaches across the entire island, and get an impression of the atmosphere in its two main cities: Philipsburg and Marigot, the capital of the French side. The French call the island Saint Martin, while the Dutch call it Sint Maarten. They have shared the island in good and productive neighborly relations for over 350 years. No wonder the island's nickname is: "The Friendly Island."
This is one of the most popular ports in the Eastern Caribbean for cruise ships, and almost all ships sailing to the Eastern Caribbean visit it, as do many of the ships sailing the Southern Caribbean route.
On both sides of the mountainous island, there are wonderful beaches, among the best to be found in the Caribbean. Shopping enthusiasts love the island because all its shops are tax-free.
A wealth of information about the island can be obtained at the local tourism bureaus. On the Dutch side, the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau is located at: Vineyard Office Park, 23 W.G. Buncamper Rd., Philipsburg, phone: 599-542-2337. Another smaller but convenient branch for cruise passengers is located in the city center.
On the French side, the St. Martin Tourist Office is located near the pier at "Marina Royale" in Marigot, phone: 590-875721.
Did you know? St. Martin is the smallest island in the world divided between two different countries.
Recommended Hotels in St. Maarten Located Near Great Beaches
♦ The Villas at Simpson Bay Beach Resort and Marina A 5-star resort located adjacent to Simpson Bay, which has long sandy beaches. The hotel features 5 outdoor pools, 5 restaurants, a spa, a casino, and a marina. Rooms include a kitchen or kitchenette and balconies with sea views. Free internet and parking.
♦ Hilton Vacation Club Royal Palm St Maarten A 4-star resort located in Simpson Bay, which has long sandy beaches. Spacious rooms with spectacular sea views. The hotel also offers two-bedroom suites with a fully equipped kitchen. Outdoor pool, gym, restaurant. Free internet and parking.
♦ Hilton Vacation Club Flamingo Beach Sint Maarten A 4-star hotel located near Simpson Bay. The hotel features a restaurant, an infinity pool, a water sports activity center, and three separate beaches. Free parking and free internet in the business center. Each studio apartment has a fully equipped kitchen, terrace, and balcony.
♦ Holland House Beach Hotel A 3-star boutique hotel with spacious rooms. Located right on an excellent sandy beach. The hotel has a restaurant and bar.
Attractions and Tours on the Island
Tours to book from GetYourGuide.com:
♦ Book tours and excursions tailored for cruise passengers from Viator:
You can take a guided tour of the island including a swim at one of the beautiful beaches and a shopping trip in the city. You can also take a taxi (or rent a car) and circle the entire island within 2-3 hours, including stops at impressive viewpoints of the island and its beaches. On the Dutch side, it's worth stopping to view the remains of "Fort Amsterdam." Not much remains of the fort built in 1631 on a hill west of Philipsburg, but the view of the bay is most impressive. It is also highly recommended to go up to the heights of the fort on the French side, in Marigot, Fort St. Louis, which was built in 1767 to protect the French grain warehouses kept in the structure near the port. After a short climb up a hill, you will reach the ruins of the fort, which include cannons and crumbling walls, but also a magnificent view that justifies the effort. Another viewpoint, reached by car (preferably 4X4) or on foot, is "Pic du Paradis." This is the highest point on the island, at 424 meters, offering a wonderful view of Orient Bay, Simpson Bay, Philipsburg, and Marigot. You reach the viewpoint via a rather rough road starting from Friar's Bay Beach towards the heart of the island.
Marigot, the capital of the French part of the island, is a small and peaceful city with a Southern European flavor. The most popular area for strolling and spending time is the harbor area, which is full of shops, cafes, and food stalls. From Marigot, you can take a ferry to the neighboring islands of St. Barths and Anguilla.
Philipsburg, the capital of the Dutch side, has five parallel streets, but the main activity (shopping is the keyword here) is on Front Street. The central square in the city is Wathey Square; opposite it are the City Hall and the Courthouse. The small St. Maarten Museum is also located nearby.
In addition to visiting the capitals Philipsburg and Marigot, it is also worth visiting "Grand Case," considered the most picturesque town on the island. It is located in the heart of the French part on a seashore at the foot of green hills and pastures. The main street is only a kilometer and a half long, but it is known as the restaurant capital of the Caribbean. It has about 30 restaurants of various nationalities, ranging from French and Italian to Vietnamese and Indonesian.
The Butterfly Farm (La Ferme des Papillons) is a tropical greenhouse where hundreds of colorful butterflies from 40 different species from all over the world fly freely in lush gardens. At the farm, you can learn about all stages of butterfly development. The admission price also includes a guided tour.
Address: Rte. De Le Galion, Quartier d'Orleans, on the French side of the island.
Phone: 590-590-873121.
Loterie Farm is a private nature reserve covering 150 acres, most of which is occupied by a Caribbean forest. The farm offers various activities such as guided hikes on organized trails, cycling, and even yoga and meditation, but the newest and most popular attraction of all is an adventure park called:
Fly Zone, located in the heart of the forest, featuring suspended rope bridges, Tarzan swings, and a series of zip lines considered the longest in the Caribbean. The farm is located at the foot of Pic du Paradis, phone: 590-590-87-86-16.
The Beaches of St. Maarten
St. Maarten has 37 beaches with soft white sand. Entry to all of them is free to the general public. At most beaches, you can rent beach chairs and umbrellas, and some also offer many additional services. The total length of the beaches on the island, in both its parts, is about 16 km. The beaches on the French side of the island are considered the best, although there are also excellent and charming beaches on the Dutch side.
In both parts of the island, it is common to see women "topless," but on the French side, the phenomenon is much more common, as is full nudism on some beaches.
The Beaches on the Dutch Side
The closest beach to the cruise ship pier is "Great Bay Beach." It is located in the center of Philipsburg, a short distance from the pier. The beach, which stretches over 1.5 km, is particularly suitable for those who want to vacation and refresh a bit after shopping in the city. Since it is located in a large city adjacent to the port, the waters are calm but less clear and clean, and the atmosphere is less peaceful and exotic.
"Mullet Beach," west of Philipsburg, is an excellent beach bordering the island's golf courses. Many palm trees provide shade, and the water is clear and calm, suitable for swimming and snorkeling. There is a stand on the beach that rents water sports equipment. This is a popular beach and is usually crowded on weekends.
Adjacent to it is "Cupecoy Beach." This is a picturesque and isolated beach next to limestone cliffs and caves, which serve as an impressive backdrop. Sometimes the waves can be quite high. There are no facilities or services on the beach, and it is suitable for those seeking peace and quiet.
Dawn Beach is located on the Atlantic (Eastern) side of the island, slightly south of the French part of the island, near the Westin Hotel. This is a wonderful beach for swimming and snorkeling, although it can sometimes be wavy. In the past, it was a relatively calm and isolated beach, but due to a development boom in recent years, it has become more popular and crowded.
The Beaches on the French Side
"Orient Beach" in the northeast is the most popular beach on the island. The long beach with soft white sand is nicknamed the "St. Tropez of the Caribbean." Some also call it the "Party Beach." It is a beach suitable for those looking for a lot of activity and also to see and be seen. The beach is full of restaurants, bars, music, and glitzy resorts. The beach offers a wide variety of water sports and recreation, such as: kayaking, windsurfing, jet skiing, and snorkeling, and it is usually crowded with vacationers and revelers. Its northern part is more suitable for families, while its southern part is known as a nudist beach, especially in the Club Orient Resort area.
Galion Beach is particularly suitable for families with young children because it is quiet and shallow. It is protected by a coral reef and is also loved by windsurfers.
"Long Bay" (Baie Longue), located on the French side slightly north of the Dutch part, is the longest beach on the island with calm water and particularly soft and pleasant sand. It borders luxury villas and is suitable for those seeking peace and quiet. There are no facilities or services of any kind on the beach.
Friar's Bay Beach is a quiet and protected bay beach near Marigot. It offers a wonderful view of the neighboring island of Anguilla. There are chairs, umbrellas, and a restaurant on the beach.
Pinel Ilet is a tiny, uninhabited island a five-minute ferry ride from the town of Cul de Sac (a round-trip ride costs $6). This is the best place for snorkeling on the island, but also for swimming and vacationing. The beach is protected, and the water is clear and shallow. There are chairs, umbrellas, and a restaurant on the beach.
Did you know? The name "Pinel" in Portuguese means "crazy." It is said that in the distant past, the island served as a "madhouse."
Shopping
St. Martin is a true paradise for shopping enthusiasts. All shops on the island are tax-free ("Duty Free"), and furthermore, in both its parts, Dutch and French, there is no sales tax. On the Dutch side, which is the busier side, the variety of shops is particularly large; most shops are located in the capital, Philipsburg, and are concentrated along Front Street. The number of jewelry stores there is among the highest in the Caribbean. Since there is no customs duty on the island, prices for cameras, watches, liquor, and cigarettes are about 15-30 percent cheaper compared to the US. On Front Street, you will find boutiques, souvenir shops, and plenty of restaurants alongside jewelry and duty-free stores. On Back Street, which is further inland (as its name implies), the Philipsburg Market Place is located, featuring a variety of souvenir stalls, T-shirts, and handicrafts. Many alleys connect Front Street to Back Street, also bustling with many shops. Prices in large stores are not negotiable at all, but you can try your luck getting a small discount through polite bargaining in smaller family-owned stores. On Old Street at the end of Front Street, there are nice cafes (their specialty is crepes), boutiques, and other shops.
At the Simpson Bay Yacht Club, there is a shopping center called Plaza del Logo with a great selection of shops and restaurants.
On the French side, the main shops are concentrated in the capital, Marigot, especially in the Marina Royale area. Alongside waterfront cafes, you will find fashionable boutiques with the best European fashion, as well as perfume and cosmetic shops, liqueurs, and crystals. Many shops in Marigot take a two-hour lunch break.
The luxury shopping center in the city is West Indies Mall, also located on the waterfront.
The center features luxury European brand stores. There are also high-end designer stores in Plaza Caraibes. Marigot also has a nice market active daily. It is located near the main boulevard, Blvd. de France. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, another colorful market of tropical fruits, local agricultural produce, spices, and fish is held in the city. The market starts near the waterfront and continues up to the hill of Fort St. Louis.
Location and Climate
St. Martin is located in the northeastern Caribbean Sea, about 240 km southeast of Puerto Rico. An area of 52 sq km in its northern part belongs to France, while its southern part, with an area of 44 sq km, belongs to the Netherlands. The weather on the island is tropical, similar to the weather throughout the Caribbean islands. The island has been hit six times by hurricanes in the last twenty years, three of which were strong hurricanes that caused damage to the island; the last among them was Hurricane "Lenny" in 1999.
The wettest months are August to November, but even in the driest months, January to April, there is precipitation. The average high temperature in the warmest months, June-October, is 32 degrees Celsius, while in the cooler (or rather, less warm) months, the average temperature is 29 degrees, making the island one of the warmest in the Caribbean. Pleasant trade winds ease the heat index.
History
The first inhabitants of St. Martin were Stone Age hunters of the Ciboney tribe who arrived on the island as early as 1800 BC. Later, Arawak Indians arriving from South America settled on the island. They called the island "Sualouiga," which means: land of salt, because of the salt deposits that were common on the island.
Christopher Columbus discovered the island on November 11, 1493, during his second voyage to the New World. He named the island after the Christian Saint Martin of Tours, the saint of travels, because the day of the island's discovery was Saint Martin's feast day. He declared the island a territory of Spain, but the Spaniards showed little interest in the island and did not settle it. The Dutch settled on the island in 1631. At that time, the French also built their first settlements on the island. The Dutch began exporting salt from the islands to Europe in the 1620s, but in 1633 the Spaniards captured it again and built the Pointe Blanche outpost there. The Spaniards, and later the French, were also the ones who began slavery on the islands. They brought many slaves from Africa to work on their sugar plantations. The agricultural sectors of coffee, rum, sugar, and salt brought economic prosperity to the island but also caused struggles over it between the various countries that wanted to control it, causing the island to change hands quite frequently. On March 23, 1648, France and the Netherlands agreed to divide it between them. In the first half of the 19th century, the slave trade in the area was stopped, which caused an economic slump that lasted until 1939. In that year, it was declared that the island was duty-free, which contributed to the economic recovery. At the end of the 1950s, an airport was built on the island, and tourism began to awaken.
Current Situation
Since the mid-twentieth century, tourism has been the undisputed leading sector in the island's economy, largely thanks to cruise ships. Sometimes six different ships anchor simultaneously at the island, which has developed entirely, leaving no area untouched by human hands.
The Dutch side is more crowded, and despite its smaller area, 41,000 residents live there compared to 36,000 on the French side. Most of the island's residents are descendants of African slaves, but many French, Dutch, and American citizens live in the beautiful villas and neighborhoods throughout the island.
Language
The official language on the Dutch side is Dutch, and on the French side, French. Most residents in both parts of the island also speak English. Locals also speak among themselves in the local language that developed on the islands: Papiamento on the Dutch side and Creole on the French side.
Currency
The official currency of the Dutch side is the Netherlands Antilles Florin, also known as the Guilder, symbol NAF, while on the French side, the official currency is the Euro.
US dollars can be used almost everywhere, so there is no need for currency exchanges. On the Dutch side, prices are also marked in dollars.