The Caribbean island of St. Maarten might be small, but it offers something different on every single inch it has. On its small 37 square miles you can find a varied topography, beautiful beaches, mountains, picturesque towns, and two countries. What?!! Two countries? Yup! Two completely different countries. Half of St. Maarten is Dutch and the other is French.
So, you must be wondering, what language do they speak? Well, It all depends on which part of the island you are. Although English predominates, the official language on the St. Maarten side is Dutch, and on the St. Martin side is French. How confusing might that be! But don’t worry, these two countries put together are a vacationer’s dream. The relaxed vibe on this small island is perfect to enjoy clear water beaches, gourmet restaurant, casinos, and duty free shopping (yup, the whole island is tax free and duty free).
There are many things you can do in St. Maarten/St. Martin, like: boating, hiking, mountain biking, golfing, deep-sea fishing, horseback riding, windsurfing, kite boarding, scuba diving, and more. I have to say, if you love being active, this place was made for you. Here I’ve done some of the best water-sports in my life! I rode jet-skis at dangerous speeds, did the crazy banana boat (they are insane), water trampoline, snorkeled, parasailed, and what not. Beaches like Mullet Bay Beach, Little Bay Beach, Dawn Beach, and Guana Bay Beach are perfect for all these activities.
What about the nightlife? Lets put it this way, this is not a sleepy island where bars close at 11pm; nightlife is BIG here. Casinos, bars, clubs, and live entertainment run all night… nonstop.
From my own experience, this place is perfect to renew your passion for life. There is so much you can do and so much to experience in such an easy chill environment (the perfect chill pill!). No wonder these two countries coexist like ying-yang. They make the perfect blend of European sophistication with Caribbean charm.
Fun Fact: Did you know that cows are the rulers of St. Maarten/St. Martin roads? According to their traffic law, cows have the right-of-way on the island. So, you will have to sit and wait for these “milkers” to move, who often take their time crossing the road.
Tip… For an unusual sight, go to Maho Beach (on the Dutch side), where you can see all the planes landing literally at your head! Careful with those toupees, they might en up in the water!
This is Crazy!!!!
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You did good on this one. I was out this way about 15 years ago and loved it. Great pics.
Thank you Soul of Japan! I’ve been a couple times to St. Maarten (both countries), and it always leaves me wanting to go back. It’s such a great place to have a good chill time.
We were in St Marteen last week as one of our cruise stop. We all had a great time doing the water sports and playing at the clear waters of the beach.
I’m sure you had a lot of fun there… St. Maarten is perfect for all those water sports and to spend time at the beach. By the way, going by cruise is a great way to visit the island.
Beautiful photos in this post. I have yet dipped my toes in the sands of St. Martin. All in good time. This post just might have kicked my butt gear.
Cheers!
Thank you Ryan!
Dipping your toes in the sand at those beaches feels amazing. I love St. Maarten beaches! Good to have kicked your butt gear… lol
cheers!
These photos of the plane right above people’s heads have always been a thrill. Is it dangerous? any incidents occured already?
Standing there at the end of the runway is a thrill. It is not dangerous, but of course, there is always the chance of something happening since you are standing right in the middle of the planes’ travel path. But, according to wikipedia and general knowledge, so far no accidents have been reported.
While it is truly difficult to determine the so called best beaches on the Island, it is also true to say that some are more frequented than others. My favorite beach is the Orient beach. There’s always some activity going on there. There’re restaurants with toilets, beach chairs, water sports taxis and the whole lot. In addition to all of the above there is the clothing optional beach club on one end of the beach. If you’ve been there and done that, then you might be looking for something a bit more tranquil. In this case I suggest Simpson’s bay beach where tourists never seem to go.