Things To Do and Activities on St. Martin

The westernmost point, Terres Basses, includes the coastline from Sandy Ground, south of Marigot, to Cupecoy Beach and includes some of the prettiest beaches: Baie Rouge, Plum Baie, Baie Longue, and Cupecoy.

The capital of the French side, Marigot, is a charming town of brightly colored buildings with gingerbread-trim and wrought iron balconies - the sort of place where you'll want to take your time. The town has some of the best bistros, boutiques and a waterfront crafts market. The pace is a little slower here - at night it's a wonderful place to sit and linger in the open-air cafés. On the road to Grand Case, there's a turn-off to Pic du Paradis, or Paradise Peak. A bumpy, shaded road takes you up 1,278 feet to the highest point on the island.

One of the prettier towns on the island, Grand Case is nestled between verdant hills and a beautiful stretch of crescent-shaped beach, at the northern tip of the island. Approaching town a sign claims it's The Gourmet Capital of St. Martin. It's certainly true, with more than 20 restaurants lining the main street, Boulevard de Grand Case. There are a number of choices for the gourmand: French, Italian, Vietnamese, and seafood among others, both elegant and casual.

Continuing on, you'll traverse the northern tip of the island to reach Orient Bay, one of the most beautiful stretches of white sand beach on the island. While well known as a clothing optional beach, it also offers all of the water sports you could ever wish for.

Orleans, or the French Quarter, is the oldest settlement on the island. Here you'll find many West Indian-style houses, the native architecture. A scenic, windy road takes you from Orleans to Oyster Pond. A popular port for sailing yachts, Oyster Pond has several good hotels and restaurants along the beautiful horseshoe-shaped bay. Nearby Dawn Beach is a favorite of snorkelers.

The heart of St. Maarten is Philipsburg, the Dutch capital. Its activity - and there is a lot of it - is centered around Front and Back Streets and the small alleys that run between them. Front Street runs parallel to Great Bay, and along it are restaurants, duty-free shopping, and historical and cultural attractions.

Beaches

Baie Longue
Mile-long stretch of white sand bordering the turquoise waters in a stunning setting.

Baie Rouge
Considered one of the most beautiful beaches on the French side.

Grand Case Beach
On the lee side of the island, this beach is usually calm and protected. It borders one of the best towns on the island for delicious fare.

Orient Bay Beach
This beautiful, crescent-shaped beach offers an array of activities including snorkeling in an underwater marine reserve, and windsurfing on the crystal clear waters. It is also well known as one of the best Caribbean nude beaches.

Plum Bay Beach
This small strip of sand is bordered on one side by a cliff and on the other by an outstretched piece of land. The beach is quite secluded, and topless bathing is optional; there are no facilities.

Cupecoy Beach
Lined with sandstone cliffs, which block the wind; strong surf at times.

Dawn Beach
Premier snorkeling beach with a reef just offshore. Great views over to St. Barts!

Great Bay
Right in Philipsburg, this mile-long beach is surprisingly clean and calm and offers a peaceful respite near town.

Guana Bay
One of the prime surfing spots. This beach has strong surf, so swimmers are advised to be cautious.

Oyster Pond
Near Dawn Beach, this is a great place for bodysurfing; the waves can be big, but not overwhelming.

Simpson Bay Beach
This long half-moon of sugar-white sand is one of the island's prettiest beaches and fills up quickly - get there early!

Water sports

Scuba & Snorkeling
With water temperature generally in the 80s and visibility about 60 feet, underwater viewing is pristine for both scuba and snorkeling. Numerous dive sites - shipwrecks and coral reefs - can be found around the island. There are several diving operations available for certified scuba divers as well as for those who want to learn. For snorkelers, Dawn Beach is considered to be one of the best places, with a reef just offshore, as well as the western end of Maho Bay. Snorkeling trips for families and kids are available out of Pelican Marina in Simpson Bay. On the French side, Creole Rock at Grand Case is very popular, while Orient Bay is a designated underwater marine reserve. Take a ferry from French Cul de Sac to Ilet Pinel, a favorite destination of snorkelers.

Windsurfing
With a steady trade wind of 15 knots, this is a perfect place to practice your gibe or learn how to windsurf - the warm water makes falling a bit more appealing! Little Bay Beach and Orient Bay are the beaches favored by windsurfing enthusiasts. Equipment rentals are available at both places.

Sailing
For those looking for some on-the-water competition, try the St. Maarten 12-Meter Challenge. Run out of Philipsburg, this exciting racing program provides team competition in a friendly setting. These boats were built for America's Cup races in the Ô80s but are still in racing tune and fun to sail. The Heineken Regatta is an annual event that attracts grand-prix sailors from around the world. Professional and amateurs alike look forward to this regatta in early March, which has become one of the top regattas in the Caribbean.

Fishing
Half and full-day deep-sea fishing trips are available from Simpson Bay. Marlin, wahoo, dolphin, shark and sailfish abound in these waters - take the day's catch to Lee's Roadside Grill and they'll cook it up right there for you!

Land Sports

Golf
Mullet Bay has an 18-hole championship course, the only course on the island. Several of the holes are along Simpson Bay Lagoon, and the back nine are considered quite challenging.

Tennis
Nearly every hotel has at least one court, and some of those are lighted for night play. If you need to improve some strokes, the island's tennis pro offers clinics and lessons at several properties.

Horseback riding
Why walk when you can ride? On horseback is a fun way to visit the secluded beaches and enjoy some spectacular ocean views. Several stables offer beach rides, including the Bayside Riding Club and the OK Corral, for beginning and experienced riders.

Hiking & Mountain Biking
Hiking trails crisscross the island, inviting exploration. La Lottery, a 1700s sugar plantation, has trails that lead to Pic Paradis, as well as through a tropical rain forest and provides spectacular views. The island terrain offers good mountain biking for all levels - a loop from Port de Plaisance to Marigot offers advanced cyclists long climbs and descents, as well as a close-up view of local fauna.

Shopping
St. Martin is one of the best Caribbean islands for duty-free shopping, both for the number of shops and the quality and prices, which can be up to 50% less than the U.S. and Canada. Marigot is a pleasant town for shopping: look here for French perfume, Swiss watches, European fashions, and cameras and electronics. The main shopping area in Philipsburg is along Front Streets.