Tintamarre Island
Tintamarre Island The island of St Martin (on the southern end of which St Maarten sits) has had its fair share of land disputes, as you would expect from an island that is split into two territories, one French and one Dutch. The tiny island of Tintamarre just off the coast is no different and is
Shoal Bay
Shoal Bay Anguilla is famous for its picturesque beaches, and even on an island ringed by fabulous sand, Shoal Bay takes the prize. Often lauded as one of the best beaches in the Caribbean, Shoal Bay’s pristine white sand is lapped by clear-blue waters and makes the perfect spot for a day lounging
Prickly Pear Cay
Prickly Pear Cay If you like the idea of getting marooned for a day on an idyllic desert island in the Caribbean, join a boat trip to the Prickly Pear Cays. This pair of uninhabited islets sits six miles northwest of Anguilla, boasting exquisite white-sand beaches, and fringing reefs protected as
Pinel Island
Pinel Island Ocean lovers and outdoors adventurists love the little island of Pinel. Located just off of the St Maarten coast, Pinel Island is a safe haven of white sand and clear water that is perfect for kayakers, stand-up paddle boarders and those who want a tranquil escape from the modern worl
Pic Paradis (Peak Paradise)
Pic Paradis (Peak Paradise) While nothing’s far from anything else on modestly-sized Saint Maarten, the island’s highest point, Pic Paradis, is in a surprisingly inaccessible spot in the mountainous interior. However it’s worth the effort: from the 1,391 foot (424 meter) summit you’ll se
Philipsburg Courthouse
Philipsburg Courthouse The centerpiece of the Philipsburg is the courthouse on Watney Square, at the heart of the Front Street shopping area. The historic wooden building is bright white with a bell tower that sports a clock and small spire with a pineapple at the top, which symbolizes welcome. It
Oyster Pond
Oyster Pond While numerous Caribbean islands are still controlled by distant European powers, St Maarten or Saint Martin is the only one split between two, the smallest territory in the world to be so divided. But at the point where French Saint Martin meets Dutch St Maarten on the islands east co
Orient Bay Beach
Orient Bay Beach One of the most developed, popular and beautiful beaches in all of St Maarten, this clothing-optional spot is a top attraction. At Orient Beach you’ll find great views of the bay, clear water and many excellent restaurants and bars that let you dine with your feet in the sand.Cert
Marigot
Marigot As the capitol of French St. Martin, Marigot offers a beautiful fusion of French and West Indian foods and culture, with a profusion of cafés, bakeries and wine shops. Take a stroll through the town streets to shop local boutiques nestled among the Creole houses. Rue de la République is on
Happy Bay Beach
Happy Bay Beach Spend a day enjoying one of St. Martin’s best off-the-beaten track beaches. Happy Bay Beach is a small, secluded stretch of white sand on the island’s northeast coast, and because it requires a short hike to get there, the crowds tend to go elsewhere. You won’t find any beach bars
Great Bay Beach
Great Bay Beach When you’re in Philipsburg, you’re never far from the sand because Great Bay Beach fronts the entire length of the town, and the proximity means it’s loaded with amenities. Beach bars abound, as do walk up rum shacks and street carts serving up ice-cold beers. The recently complete
Front Street
Front Street Philipsburg’s Front Street, or Voorstraat in the local Dutch, is the hub of this Caribbean capital. It runs for about half a mile along the inside of the bay, overlooking the waterfront. Front Street is home to some the island’s finest shopping and restaurants. Visitors in the market
Fort Amsterdam
Fort Amsterdam To get an up close look at the very beginning of St. Maarten’s colonial history, head to the peninsula on the western side of Great Bay, where you’ll find the ruins of Fort Amsterdam. Built in 1631, Fort Amsterdam was the original colonial fort built on the island when the Dutch fir
Dolphin Discovery Anguilla
Dolphin Discovery Anguilla Take the opportunity to dive into the blue Caribbean alongside friendly, trained bottlenose dolphins at Dolphin Discovery Anguilla. You’ll find these intelligent mammals frolicking in their ocean enclosure near the ferry dock in Blowing Point. You can enjoy a variety of
Creole Rock
Creole Rock From Grand Case Bay you can enjoy easy access to one of the best snorkeling destinations on the island. Creole Rock is a small rocky outcropping just offshore, at the north end of the bay, where you can slip into the 30-feet deep water to explore the reef and fish life that are protect
Cove Bay
Cove Bay If you’re looking for an idyllic beach escape while visiting St Maarten, consider chartering a boat and setting sail for nearby Anguilla, where Cove Bay is one of the only beaches without any resort development to mar the picturesque scenery. Some helpful amenities are available in Cove B
Butterfly Farm
Butterfly Farm Get an up close look at some of the world’s most beautiful and exotic butterflies at the Butterfly Farm on the east side of St. Martin. The farm has a collection of more than 40 species of butterflies and moths—including rare species like the Central American postman and Brazilian b
Baie Rouge
Baie Rouge One of the most famous but under-visited beaches in St Maarten, Baie Rouge (Red Beach) is picturesque with its signature red sand and rock formations. Found in the Lowlands area of the country, these shores are in a neighborhood residential area, which means it remains relatively quiet.
Anse Marcel
Anse Marcel The northern, French portion of St Maarten is less developed than the south, and its verdant hillsides make for a fascinating, constantly changing landscape as you travel along winding roads. And when those roads lead you to somewhere like Anse Marcel, it’s the cherry on the cake. This
Anguilla
Anguilla Low-lying Anguilla makes an interesting contrast to mountainous St Maarten. This British-controlled island is less developed than some of its neighbors, even though its beaches compare with the best in the world. There’s the usual range of Caribbean activities on offer – golf, diving, fis
