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St Maarten

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Discovering Saint Martin: An island of many facets

History and culture of Saint Martin

Amerindian origins and European colonization

The island, located in the Lesser Antilles, was originally inhabited by the Arawaks, followed by the Kalinagos. In 1493, Christopher Columbus sighted the island on Saint Martin of Tours' feast day, giving it its name. Over the centuries, the island was contested between the French and the Dutch, eventually leading to the Treaty of Partition in 1648, which divided the island into two distinct territories a unique feature in the Caribbean.

A vibrant and blended culture

Saint Martin's culture is a vibrant blend of African, European, and Caribbean influences, creating a unique and dynamic atmosphere. This fusion is evident in the island’s music, dance, and local cuisine, where flavors and rhythms come together in harmony. Celebrations like Carnival and the Heineken Regatta showcase the island's cultural diversity, providing visitors with a lively and authentic experience that truly captures the essence of the island.

Languages and local traditions

Although French and Dutch are the official languages, English is widely spoken across the island. French-based Creole is also commonly used, bearing witness to its colonial past. Local traditions, such as rum-making and handicrafts, are preserved and celebrated, allowing visitors to immerse themselves in the daily life of the island’s inhabitants.

The natural treasures of Saint Martin

Paradise beaches

The island is renowned for its white-sand beaches and turquoise waters. Orient Bay, often called the "Saint-Tropez of the Caribbean," attracts water sports enthusiasts. Maho Beach offers a unique thrill with airplanes landing nearby, while Mullet Bay charms with its tranquil vibe and breathtaking sunsets.

Exceptional biodiversity

Saint Martin is a true sanctuary of biodiversity, home to a wide variety of flora and fauna, including several endemic species. The island’s nature reserve plays a key role in their conservation. Nature lovers can venture to Pic Paradis, the island’s highest point, which reveals stunning views of lagoons, lush hills, and surrounding coastlines.

Water activities and excursions

The island’s crystal-clear waters are a paradise for water enthusiasts, offering ideal conditions for diving, snorkeling, and sailing. For those seeking further adventure, excursions to nearby islands such as Anguilla and Saint Barthélemy are easily accessible, allowing you to explore even more Caribbean treasures. To cap off your day, indulge in a sunset cruise, creating unforgettable memories as you sail into the vibrant hues of the Caribbean sky.

Staying in Saint Martin: Between luxury and authenticity

Accommodations for every taste

Luxury resorts and hotels

Saint Martin boasts a variety of luxurious accommodations, catering to those seeking an indulgent getaway. The adults-only Sonesta Ocean Point Resort offers an all-inclusive experience, complete with stunning ocean views and top-tier amenities. For those seeking elegance and sophistication, Belmond La Samanna, set on the pristine Long Bay Beach, is celebrated for its unparalleled service, serene atmosphere, and breathtaking surroundings.

Private villas and rentals

For a more personalized and authentic experience, numerous villas and apartments are available for rent across the island. These accommodations combine comfort and privacy, featuring modern amenities, panoramic terraces, and often a private pool. With spectacular ocean views and privileged access to secluded beaches, they’re perfect for families or groups of friends.

Budget-friendly and welcoming options

Travelers on a tighter budget will also find satisfying options in Saint Martin. Hostels, guesthouses, and small family-run hotels offer affordable and comfortable lodging, while giving guests the chance to meet locals and experience the island’s culture firsthand.

Gastronomy and nightlife

A flavorful and diverse cuisine

Saint Martin's cuisine perfectly reflects the island’s rich cultural heritage. It features a delicious fusion of French, Creole, and international culinary traditions, served in both fine-dining restaurants and casual beachfront “lolos.” Grand Case, known as the “gastronomic capital of the Caribbean,” delights food lovers with its authentic eateries and exquisite flavors.

Bars and entertainment

Saint Martin’s nightlife is vibrant and diverse, offering something for every taste. From relaxed beach bars to stylish nightclubs, the island comes alive after dark. A popular spot is the Sunset Beach Bar at Maho Beach, where visitors can enjoy refreshing cocktails while watching planes land just overhead. Its unique setting and lively atmosphere make it a must-visit destination for nighttime fun.

Casinos and shows

For those who enjoy games and entertainment, the island features several casinos, including the well-known Casino Royale in Maho Village. This iconic venue offers slot machines, gaming tables, and live music performances for a fully immersive experience. Themed nights are also held, creating a lively atmosphere perfect for extending the holiday fun.

Shopping and local crafts

Shops and markets

Saint Martin is a renowned shopping destination, attracting visitors with its abundance of duty-free stores and vibrant local markets. In Philipsburg, the bustling capital on the Dutch side, travelers can browse a wide selection of jewelry, fashion, electronics, and souvenirs. Meanwhile, the charming market in Marigot showcases handmade crafts, spices, and regional delicacies, offering a more authentic and cultural shopping experience.

Crafts and souvenirs

Saint Martin's handicrafts reflect a vibrant and blended cultural heritage. Visitors will find a wide range of handmade items: wooden sculptures, shell jewelry, colorful ceramics, and embroidered textiles. Each piece tells a local story inspired by nature and Creole traditions. These unique souvenirs help keep the island experience alive long after the trip ends.

Art galleries and exhibitions

Art enthusiasts will be delighted by Saint Martin’s cultural richness, with numerous galleries showcasing works by local and international artists. These exhibition spaces provide a deep dive into the island’s creative universe, revealing its unique artistic identity. By visiting them, travelers actively support local talent and the region’s dynamic culture.

Conclusion

The island charms visitors with its incredible cultural diversity, breathtaking scenery, and the warmth of its people. A true Caribbean gem, it offers an ideal setting for unforgettable vacations whether you're seeking relaxation on private beaches, gourmet delights, or adrenaline-filled water sports. It's French Dutch duality adds a unique richness to the experience. Take advantage of your stay to explore the surroundings: Antigua’s hidden coves or even a trip to Cuba, with its historical and musical flair, can extend your Caribbean immersion. Saint Martin is the perfect starting point for a vibrant and exotic tropical adventure.

Trip to Saint-Martin

Part of the Lesser Antilles, the island of Saint-Martin is a unique destination of its kind. Indeed, separated into two distinct parts, either the French side, belonging to France, and the Dutch side, belonging to the Netherlands, this small Caribbean island will charm you both with its tasty gastronomic offer and its 37 sandy beaches. breathtaking white, mountainous landscapes, numerous entertainment venues and abundant cultural venues. Here is some practical information as well as some essential not to be missed if you are planning a trip to Saint-Martin.

93 square kilometers of pure beauty

Stretching over 93 square kilometers from east to west, the destination of Saint-Martin is easily accessible by car. In fact, in just a few hours, you can get around this island with its many treasures of unique beauty. If you're planning a trip to Saint-Martin, be sure to hire a car so you don't miss out on all of its charms.

The Sunset Beach Bar and Grill at Maho Beach

On the Dutch side, we are charmed by many attractions, starting with the bar at the Sunset Beach Bar and Grill, on Maho Beach, which offers tourists the opportunity to admire a sunset over the sea while sipping a delicious cocktail, but also to witness the landing of planes of various airlines at very low altitude, which offers a breathtaking spectacle that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world.

Spectacular landings

The landing strip at Princess Juliana International Airport is known to be one of the most difficult to approach, so planes have very little space to land and have to practically land their gear on the beach a few meters from the heads of tourists. A plane landing schedule is even available at the bar so that we don't miss any of these shows. To see: a landing of one of the behemoths of the KLM company!

Contrary to what many believe, seeing these planes land on the beach does not spoil the vacation of tourists; on the contrary, it improves them. So don't hesitate to rent a room at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino for this reason. The hotel is a short walk from this bar.

Maho Beach and Mullet Bay

Besides Maho beach, which is spectacular and very pretty, but small, another seaside resort located a few minutes walk away is worth seeing. This is Mullet Bay, a beach with turquoise waters and white sand that is surrounded by an idyllic setting. The beach offers breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea. Other beaches are worth a visit in Saint-Martin. This is the case with the beaches of Baie Rouge and Baie Longue, to name but a few.

Philipsburg, the capital

Always on the Dutch side, one is captivated by the beauty of Philipsburg, the capital, and its thousand duty-free shops lined up on the edge of a turquoise sea surrounded by mountains and carpeted with pretty small sailboats and other pleasure boats.

On the Front Street promenade, you can stop for a bite to eat in a restaurant or sip a good cocktail under the blazing sun.

In Philipsburg, there are also other tourist spots worth a visit, such as the Sint-Marteen Museum, which offers an insight into the history of the island, and The Courthouse, one of the country's most famous monuments. .

It is also in Philipsburg that the cruise ships that stop in Saint-Martin anchor, so if you are lucky, you will have the opportunity to see one dock and mingle with the large crowd of cruise passengers who will disembark in large numbers to storm the shops on the promenade.

The wonders of the French side

On the French side, many wonders await tourists in search of sublime ocean views and gourmet dinners dominated by stunning sunsets.

Grand Case

The village of Grand-Case, erected northeast of the town of Marigot, alone is worth the trip to Saint-Martin. Indeed, with its turquoise beach and dream villas, pretty sailboats and gourmet restaurants run by internationally renowned French chefs, Grand-Case is the perfect place to treat yourself to a romantic dinner. No doubt you will remember it for the rest of your life if you go!

The Old House

If you pass through Grand-Case, do not miss to visit The Old House, an old house still furnished with period furniture, and its famous rum museum. You will also have the opportunity to taste rum in a former plantation and see photos from the time of Christopher Columbus's journey when he landed on the island. Lovers of rum and history, this is the place to go if you are planning a trip to Saint-Martin!

Marigot

Also on the French side, the largest city of Saint-Martin, Marigot, is a must-see. Dominated by the ruins of Fort Louis, the destination is full of terraces, restaurants and luxurious boutiques where you can stop for a bite to eat or shop.

There are boutiques in Marigot that sell some of the most luxurious jewelry in the Caribbean. There is no doubt that you will find the diamond of your dreams if you wish to ask your lover or your lover in marriage!

The forts

Besides Fort Louis, other forts such as Amsterdam and Willem 1 are also worth seeing if you are planning a trip to St. Martin.

Among the other must-see attractions in Saint-Martin, we find the Pic Paradis, the highest mountain in the country. Its summit rises to 424 meters and offers a breathtaking panoramic view of the Caribbean Sea and the surrounding mountains.

Excursions to other islands

As Saint-Martin is located near other islands, several tour operators offer excursions to other destinations for tourists. This is the case with Anguilla, which can be explored from Saint Martin by boat. Have a nice trip !

Interesting links

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the population of Saint Maarten?

In 2019, the population of the island of Saint Maarten, on the French side, was estimated at 38,002 inhabitants, while in Saint Maarten, on the Dutch side, the population was estimated at 42,878 inhabitants.

How many beaches are there in Saint Maarten?

Saint Maarten is the island 'with 37 beaches', spread over more than 70km of coastline.

How can we get to Saint Maarten?

In high season, it is easy to reach Saint Maarten by air by direct flight; our Canadian carriers, Air Transat, Air Canada, WestJet and Sunwing Airlines, offer all-inclusive stays, making travel plans easier. Saint Maarten is also accessible by cruise ship to the Eastern Antilles.

What are the souvenirs to bring back from Saint Maarten?

Saint Maarten is a destination for duty-free shopping; It is therefore easy to find the little souvenir to bring back: local products such as spices, madras, rum, coconut, rattan articles, but also luxury products such as jewelry and perfumes.

Why isSaint Maarten divided into two sections?

The Saint Maarten Tourist Office explains why the island is divided in two; it all started with the discovery of the island by Christopher Columbus in 1493, the very day of the feast of Saint Maarten; in the 16th century, privateers and buccaneers, both French, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch and Flemish, coveted the island for its protected anchorages and its salt deposits. Between 1627 and 1631, the Dutch settled there to operate salt mines. In 1648, the French and the Dutch signed a treaty and thus divided the island into two parts, without physical border. In the centuries that followed, the Dutch and French had to defend themselves against relentless attacks from English settlers and privateers. https://www.st-martin.org/decouvert/histoire

What is the best time of year to go to Saint Maarten in the Caribbean?

The best time of the year to go to the island of Saint Maarten is from mid-December until April, when it is the high season but also the dry season, with little of precipitation. Saint Maarten is accessible year-round, but during the low season, from May to December, rainfall and the risk of hurricanes or cyclones can be high.

What is there to visit in Saint Maarten?

Saint Maarten is first and foremost a seaside destination with multiple white sand beaches, and a cruise destination in the Eastern Antilles; Marigot, the capital, will charm you with its colorful local market; Loterie Farm, nestled in the heart of a tropical forest, offers outdoor activities for the whole family, zip lines, tree climbing, hiking, and even evening entertainment, in a chic and relaxed atmosphere. Visit Fort St-Louis, the seat of several battles between French and English, for the overview of Marigot, Anguilla and the bay, but you have to climb the 91 steps that lead there. This is the place par excellence for sunsets!

Are there sharks in Saint Maarten?

As in all the oceans and seas of the world, it is possible to see certain species of sharks inSaint Maarten. It is always a good idea to check with the authorities in place, organizations and hoteliers before diving or swimming in unsupervised places.

Who owns the island of Saint Maarten?

The Dutch part located to the south of the island is an autonomous state of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, while the French part located to the north of the island belongs to the French overseas collectivity in the same way as French Polynesia. , Saint-Barthélémy and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.

Who discovered the island of Saint Maarten?

It is the Spanish navigator, Christophe-Colomb, who on November 11, 1493 discovered the island of Saint Maarten. See the story of his discovery on the following site: https://www.st-martin.org/decouvert /history

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