Touring Sint Maarten: to do, know and visit

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Welcome to another island Caribe, today we tell you the best activities, Places you should see and what to do the next time you visit St Martin.

We were a little more than 4 days on the paradisiacal Island of St Martin (San Martín if we say it in Spanish), more than enough time to enjoy its attractions, food, lodging and many airplanes, yes many planes.

Post written by Sil – Instagram: @smc_sock
With photos by Sil and Nicolás

St Martin: a paradise between airplanes, Beaches, food and much more

We fly with Arajet from Santo Domingo towards the paradisiacal island of Sint Maarten, well known for being the culinary capital of the Caribbean and for its famous airport, which is located west of the island where you can see descents and takeoffs of commercial and private planes as part of the show it offers. Maho Beach.

Everything we will tell you in this post and much more can also be seen in this video available on the YouTube channel:

Here I leave you many places that are not so well known among tourists but that we recommend adding to your itinerary since we were lucky enough to know them thanks to the St. Maarten Tourist Bureau (STB) and their excellent guides.

If you are looking for guidance, tours and transport in general, We recommend that you contact the Maduro Travel agency in English on this WhatsApp so that they can help you with all your needs.: https://wa.me/17215889520

Sint Maarten Dutch side

We start the tour on the side of Netherlands, If you didn't know, this island is divided into two governments, the other is french, but on the initial side of the route the currency of use is the Dollar. We start…

First we want to talk to you about transportation, there are two options.: taxi (more expensive) and unofficial public bus. The second option was the one we used the most and it serves you very well to move between Philipsburg – Maho Beach and Marigot, every trip costs $3 per person.

bus public transport sint maarten saint martin price cost options routes uber taxi — These are the small buses / vans to tour the island. They are comfortable, They generally have air conditioning and the driver helps you without problems if you have any questions. Also very safe.

Holland House

We stayed on the Dutch side of the island, in the capital Philipsburg which is located on a beautiful beach with crystal clear water, next to the famous Boardwalk in the Great Bay that attracts locals and tourists for its hotels and businesses with colorful architecture. There are many bars, restaurants, food shops and even the craft brewery called Dutch Blonde, which is a must-see on this trip..

Likewise, hotels rent chairs with parasols for approximately $25 Dollars (Your hotel's own chairs are free of charge) if you want to be relaxing by the beach and there is always something delicious to eat and drink in the Holland House restaurant.

Holland House Beach Hotel Philipsburg Sint Maarten where to stay what to do lodging hotels food rooms Ocean View restaurant Great Bay beach — Hotel facade.

Rainforest Adventure St. Maarten

On this same side, It also has its adventure center at Rainforest Adventure, where the main attraction is the steepest zip-line on the island called the Flying Dutchman. You progressively go up on chairlifts towards the first attraction, which is the Schooner ride., which consists of tubbing where you sit down a hill. It's fun because when you pick up speed, the curves are a lot of adrenaline.

Go back up on the chairlifts, this time to the second hill, Sentry Hill, where they are 2 zip-lines at different angles where you can see various points on the east side of the island in all their splendor.

rainforest adventure tirolesa zip line san martin saint — We start to climb

The main adventure consists of the highest zip-line on the island that leaves from the highest point of the island. when one is there, has a 360º view of St. Maarten and on a clear day you can see the island of St. Barts. This fall of 320 meters is one of the most spectacular since the descent is very fast, but at the same time the view is unmatched.

For those who prefer not to be part of so much adventure, In the lower part it has an educational museum, Emilio Wilson Museum, the one that shows the history of St. Maarten in colonial times to modern times and tours through hectares of endemic jungle.

Indigo Bay & Restaurant

Returning to the Dutch side, It is advisable to pay a visit to Indigo Bay, which is another beach with dreamlike waters.. This is a new area being developed on the island, where the beach is most popular with local people. Nevertheless, It is a quiet beach, without much hustle and bustle and with the Indigo Beach Restaurant where we ate signature dishes with local ingredients… truly a delight. Food highly recommended, drinks, the view of the place and the good service.

Maho Beach

Finally, Nobody can leave Sint Maarten without knowing the very famous Maho Beach, the beach located just on the western side of Princess Juliana Airport. Where dozens of tourists gather to see the landing of planes arriving from Latin America, USA and Europe, being a few meters from the runway, you can feel all the downhill wind. Without a doubt this is one of the most notable places of the trip., since also when large planes are in the process of taking off you also feel all the power of the engines that lift up the beach sand and send some people who came very close flying.. It is a unique and unforgettable experience.

We share the respective video of the photo session on this beautiful beach/airport:

Quietly, This burger with a view of the sea and the planes is the tastiest food ever available at the Driftwood Boat Bar.

Simpson Bay

Simpson Bay Resort is one of those resorts where they have everything inside, gym, private beach, pool, bar, restaurants and also close to everything. Located in Simpson Bay, It was a place to relax and enjoy the most beautiful sunsets in the world. Caribe And the best of all, very close to the main attractions and just 15 minutes from the airport..

Simpson bay san martin — A beautiful sunset from Simpson Bay, Do you see anything additional in the photo?

Saint Martin French side

However we spent more time on the Netherlands side, The French side has a lot to offer and what we were able to discover and recommend is the following:

Coralita / Rotary Point

On the French side of the island, Coralita is found, a place with very shallow waters where you can admire a beautiful and pristine landscape. When the tide goes out, You can walk in the water to explore the nearest keys. In that same place, You can go up to the Rotary Point viewpoint where one can observe nature from a better angle, especially the island's endemic birds.

Orient Beach

Not far from Coralita, we arrived at a beach as paradisiacal as the others, Orient Beach. This beach is also surprising, Its waters are an impressive blue and it extends along the width of the coast. Equally, restaurants offer paid chairs and parasols accompanied by delicious food and cocktails. It is a good opportunity to taste the local flavors with the catch of the day.

As additional information, if they dare, there is a nudist beach very close, but we didn't go 😀

orient beach saint martin — Look at that color of the water, incredible and the photo has no filter.

Farm Lottery

Safety pin, the complex called Loterie Farm, which offers groups of friends or families attractions such as zip-lining or nature walks to admire the natural landscape of the island, its animals and its flora. The zip-line has different degrees of difficulty, from novice to expert so it is a recommended activity for people of all ages.

Lottery Farm Saint Martin — How about this pool?

For those who want to relax there are also swimming pools, relaxation areas, the famous Jungle Room restaurant that also offers refreshing drinks at its bar.

And if you're looking for an epic party that lasts all afternoon, also offers its famous pool parties which are in high demand by tourists and locals. They are parties in the pool and its surroundings where they invite local DJs and there are drinks for all tastes at the bar. So we recommend that if you want to go to one of these parties, you buy the tickets in advance..

Fort St. Louis

Another iconic place on the island is Fort Louis, one high point of the island with an ascending walk around 10 mins to reach the century ruins 18 from where the French militia patrolled the coasts of the island. On a clear day from the highest point of the fort you can see the neighboring island of Anguilla. It is an excellent historical tour with spectacular views of the sea and the capital on this side., Marigot.

Marigot's view is amazing

What's left of Fort Louis

Marigot

The capital of Saint Martin on the French side is the famous Marigot. Famous for its beautiful beaches, its food market and its shops of French brands and designers. You can take a walk through the Baie de Marigot, relax on the beach and taste typical Caribbean food in the traditional market. And for those who like shopping, There are several stores to go on a shopping tour. Ojo, On this side the currency in use is the Euro.

The beautiful streets of Marigot

From the Marigot pier we can see Fort Louis above

You may also encounter wildlife during your visit.

Sandy´s Creole Cuisine Marigot Saint Martin — You can't leave without trying Creole food at Marigot Market, specifically at Sandy's Creole Cuisine.

recommendations

In the middle of summer you always need to have sun protection, usually the sun is always present and the skies are completely clear.
We found the food to be spectacular., No matter which side of the island you are on, they will always surprise you with some haute cuisine dish, even in small restaurants.. It is understandable why they are considered the culinary capital of the region..
Caribbean BBQ is something you can't miss, We ate at Captain Rib Shack and it was very good..
The $25 Dollars paid to hotels for renting beach chairs and parasols in some places also include showers and hotel bathrooms, It is better to ask before renting.
There are ferries that take you from Sint Maarten to the neighboring islands St. Bart y Anguilla, The price per person is approximately $60 via.
If you decide to explore the jungle at the Loterie Farm or the Rainforest Adventure, remember to bring insect repellent.
Tickets for the Loterie Farm pool parties are on sale here: https://loteriefarm.com/jungle-pool/pool-party/
Rainforest Adventure works like any amusement park, You buy a bracelet with the desired attractions. Buy Rainforest Adventure packages here: https://rainforestadventure.com/st-maarten-top-attractions-zipline-sky-explorer-schooner/
In some small stores/mini-supermarkets they sell prepared food by weight., It is a good option for snacks or breakfasts.
To get around the island you can rent a car or take small public buses. (unofficial, but they work very well).
On the French side, pharmacies have all the French brands of skincare so if you are a fan of these products, this is the place!