Visit Saint-Martin / St.Maarten > Beaches and other activities

Beaches
With 37 beaches, every visitor can find the ideal spot for swimming in the Caribbean’s warm waters and soaking up some rays. Options range from secluded, private beaches to nude beaches on Orient Beach on the French side of the island.

One beach not to miss is Maho Bay Beach, which is adjacent to the end of the airport’s runway. There, large aircraft fly mere feet over sunbathers’ heads moments before landing, providing a spectacular view (and some splash from the surging waves).

Sailing
Since St. Martin is surrounded by water, tourists have ample opportunities to travel around the island and to neighboring islands, including Antigua and Saba, by boat.

In March, the Dutch side hosts the annual Heineken Regatta. This race draws more than 300 competitive sailboats from around the world.

Other activities
The island is full of outlets offering traditional water activities including deep sea fishing, jet skiing, kite surfing, and windsurfing. Due to its rapid increase in popularity, several companies now offer kayaking excursions.

St. Martin is also popular with scuba divers since the water temperature rarely dips below 70°F and, on a good day, water visibility can be clear to a depth of 120 feet. Check out more than 40 good dive sites that range from wrecks once explored by Jacques Cousteau to sheltered barrier reefs and coves.

Divers can explore an 1801 British frigate, the coral-covered HMS Proselyte, which sits a mile off the coast. Visitors can lounge on the beach or spend time mountain biking, horseback riding, hiking, playing tennis, or participating in watersports. Adventurers may want to try kiteboarding and operators on the island can also arrange for parasailing, windsurfing and Wave Runner excursions with instruction. Sailing is very popular; experience the thrill of the daily 12-Metre Challenge, a three-hour staged version of the America’s Cup race. Sailors of every skill level can serve as a member of the crew aboard the boats.

After the beach, take a “walk on the wild side,” and visit the St. Maarten Zoological and Botanical Garden. For those that would like to get back to nature, hike the numerous trails scattered throughout the island, horseback ride on the sun-swept beaches, or snorkel from a 60-foot catamaran.

Play the night away in St. Maarten’s many clubs, bars and casinos. Hot spots abound but are clustered in Philipsburg, Cupecoy, Simpson Bay and Maho. If your late night turns to an early morning, point your sandals to Dawn Beach and greet the new day’s sun as it emerges from the Atlantic.

Carnival
The island boasts two Carnivals. On the French side, the festival begins before Lent. On the Dutch side, Carnival takes place during the last two weeks of April.

Though both feature parades, music competitions, and large feasts, the Dutch Carnival is the larger of the two. During that celebration, locals erect the Carnival Village, which consists of more than 100 booths offering local delicacies including conch dumplings, Johnny cakes, and barbequed chicken. In addition, local as well as international calypso performers take the stage.