Top things to do for one week in St. Martin/Sint Maarten

8 min readDec 8, 2022

Dates visited: November 2022
Time Needed: One week

General Information

The Caribbean island in the West Indies is not one but two separate territories. One side, St. Martin, is owned by France, while the other, Sint Maarten, is owned by the Netherlands. The capital of St. Martin and Sint Maarten are Marigot and Phillipsburg respectively. Both were hit very hard during Hurricane Irma in 2017 and are still working to rebuild. The effects of the hurricane are still evident throughout.

As legend goes, when the two territories were drawing borders, they decided that a representative from each would start on opposite ends of the island and walk until they met each other. The Dutchman was slightly drunk and took his time so the Frenchman walked further than him. As a result, St. Martin has slightly more land at 20 square miles than Sint Maarten at 14 square miles.

Consider a couple of key details while traveling and planning for both sides:

Most places are closed on Sundays, including bars and restaurants. Many grocery stores close around 2pm or don’t open at all.
Bathroom systems are very limited, so do not flush toilet paper or any other product down the toilet. Establishments will often remind you with numerous signage.
Chair and umbrella rentals are available at most beaches. Many charge around $25/day for two chairs.

Communication

Unsurprisingly, the French side speaks French and the Dutch side speaks Dutch, and both speak English very well.

Payment

The French side accepts Euros, while the Dutch side uses the local currency, Guilders. Some grocery stores on the Dutch side list everything in Guilders, so keep that in mind while shopping. Both accept dollars.

Debit and credit cards are accepted approximately 50–75% of the time but cash is king for some bars, restaurants, and shops. Visit your local bank before leaving to get the best conversion rates.

Weather

The island’s weather is very balmy and sunny, with temperatures ranging from 74°F to 88°F throughout the year. Rainy season runs from July to November, with hurricane season occurring from August through October so avoid vacationing during this time.

Places to stay

I stayed with a friend in Cay Hill on the Dutch Side so I can’t speak to specific places to stay, though there are numerous resorts and Airbnbs across the island that are exceptional. Overall, St. Martin is a bit more relaxed and known for its nude beaches, gorgeous views, and French Caribbean cuisine. Sint Maarten, a little rowdier, is known for its casinos and nightlife. Both have amazing beaches and hikes.

Traveling around

When arriving on the island, guests land at The Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch side. The best way to get around from there and in general is to rent a car or hire a taxi, both of which are widely available. Driving is done on the right hand side, just as it is done in America. Uber is not an option.

Note: One can hail a taxi from directly outside the airport or call one upon arrival. However, the airport offers only thirty minutes of free WiFi service, so keep this in mind when connecting and making arrangements.

Walking paths on Pinel Island, St. Martin

Top things to do in Saint Martin, the French side of the island-

Pinel Island — Visiting Pinel Island is a must do. Park for free at the Cul-de-Sac jetty and board a five-minute shuttle-boat that comes every thirty mins for $12 USD or 10 Euros. Once on the island, dine at Karibuni, a bit pricey but delicious restaurant right on the beach. Then explore the tiny island via walking paths — but be aware of the oversized iguanas everywhere! After, purchase a chair on the shore or hop in the ocean for a calm and gorgeous dip. The last boat back to the mainland leaves at 4:30pm.
Pic Paradis — This 2.8 mile roundtrip hike leads to incredible views and takes about two hours to complete. View more information about the hike here.
Loterie Farm — Loterie Farm is a nature reserve and sanctuary with a ‘jungle pool’ area with cabanas as well as a ziplining park and 135 acres of hiking trails. It is directly next to Pic Paradis so pair these two together. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Happy Bay Beach — Park at Friars Bay Beach (and grab a bite at one of the two beach bars) then walk 10 minutes through the little forest trail to get to Happy Bay Beach. Secluded and quiet, this nude beach is one of my favorites on the island.
Orient Bay Beach — Orient Bay was destroyed during Hurricane Irma and although charming, isn’t as attractive as it once was. Regardless, spend a couple hours here enjoying the beach. Clothing optional.
Grand Case — Pronounced ‘kaz’, Grand Case has fun boutiques and yummy restaurants. The beach, however, is less impressive as it’s very small and limited, especially at high tide. Spend a half day walking around, but enjoy the ocean elsewhere.
Hit the bars and restaurants -

Lulu’s Corner — Dine at Lulu’s on Sunday mornings for a $25 three-course brunch special that is to die for.
Rainbow Cafe — Located in Grand Case, the Rainbow Cafe is a chic boho restaurant right on the water.
Le Cottage — Le Cottage is another delicious restaurant in Grand Case.

Note: Avoid Marigot, the French capital, especially on Sundays when everything is closed. The town offers very little to do, is a bit run down post-hurricane, and at times, doesn’t feel safe.

Top things to do in Sint Maarten, the Dutch side of the island-

Philipsburg — The Dutch capital of Philipsburg is a small town with a large cruise port. On a typical day, anywhere between one to six cruise ships could be docked at the port. Don’t fret — the crowds make the place more positively lively. Spend an hour or so perusing the high end shops and boutiques on the two main streets, Front Street and Back Street. Hit up Dutch Blonde Beach Bar, a fun sports bar in a large windmill, or rent a chair and umbrella across the street at Great Bay Beach.
Devil’s Cupper Natural Pools Hike — A ninety minute round-trip hike to Devil’s Cupper (or the “Natural Pools”) in Guava Bay is a must-do. Type in “Hotel Ruin Guana Bay’’ into Google Maps to understand where to park. Walk along the cliffs with spectacular views of St. Barts before hopping into the natural pools right on the ocean. Bring closed-toed shoes and a change of clothes as cacti tend to pop out at your feet and you’ll want to avoid walking back to the car in wet clothes.
Mullet Bay Beach — This beach is very low key but gorgeous. The clear blue water is breathtaking — but don’t let the strong current take your breath away all the same!
Maho Beach — Located next to the airport, Maho Beach isn’t really a beach anymore due to climate change and erosion. However, this is the best place to watch planes fly (VERY) closely overhead. Spend a sunset watching the flight patterns while sipping on cheap cocktails at Driftwood Boat Bar or Sunset Bar and Grill.
Kim Sha Beach — Kim Sha Beach isn’t a very exciting beach in comparison to the others, but it is worth going to for the Buccaneers Beach Bar. The bar shows childrens movies every Friday on the beach and has a great daily happy hour.
Soggy Dollar Latin Night — The Soggy Dollar is an open air, cash-only bar near Kim Sha Beach in Simpson Bay. Visit on Latin Night — a weekly event every Tuesday with free salsa lessons at 7pm followed by a Latin DJ to close out the night.
Hit the bars and restaurants -

Shiv Shakti — Sint Maarten has a large Indian population so make it a priority to dine on traditional Indian cuisine. Shiv Shakti is a great option. Call ahead for takeout to avoid waiting.
Lagoonies Bistro & Bar — At the marina on Cole Bay Lagoon, Lagoonies offers a great happy hour with $2 rum punch and beers from 5–6pm as well as brilliant sunset views. Closed Sundays.
Gizmo’s Bar & Grill — Gizmo’s at Divi Resort on the beach offers a daily happy hour from 5–7pm.
Indigo Beach Restaurant — Indigo is a bougie beach bar and restaurant worth every penny. Go for lunch and enjoy fresh seafood and drinks while sitting steps from the ocean on comfy couch chairs. After, walk the beach for additional beautiful views.
Nowhere Special Rum Bar & Grill — Near Palapa and Soggy Dollar, Nowhere Special is a fun bar with good food, live music, and games.
Palapa Grill Steakhouse — Treat yourself to a fancy dinner at modern Palapa, with exceptional food and even better espresso martinis.

In addition to everything available on the island, consider taking one of these three day trips -

Anguilla is a British territory just a twenty-five minute ferry from Sint Maarten. The best and most luxurious way to get there, apart from renting a private charter, is to buy a round trip ticket for $100 USD with Calypso Charters at the Ferry Terminal next to the Princess Juliana Airport. Ride over on a small boat with free beer, water, and juice and land at the Blowing Point Ferry Terminal in Anguilla. Other options are listed here. Don’t forget a passport, as all passengers must go through customs upon arrival.

This island is best seen by car, so rent one with Junie’s Car Rental, D&D, or Andy’s, the only three companies that allow day rentals. Small cars are available for $40 USD plus an additional $15 USD for a temporary Anguilla driver’s license. Book ahead of time if possible, though you could get lucky by simply showing up and requesting a vehicle. Residents drive on the left hand side with the steering wheel also on the left.

It takes about one hour to drive the entire island. Take your time exploring by stopping at the numerous bays and beaches. Rendezvous Bay is one of the best as it has a lovely white sand beach as well as the fun and lively SunShine Shack. Purchase a drink and appetizer to enjoy a chair and umbrella for free. Closed Tuesdays.

Shoals Bay is a great place for lunch and a dip in the ocean. Dine at Madeariman, a beachside establishment with delicious food, friendly staff, and live music, then walk along another white sand beach.

Other places to explore include Meads Bay or more secluded areas like Savannah Bay, Sandy Hill Bay, and Droplet Bay.

When leaving the island, prepare to pay the $19 USD exit tax at customs.

The other two day trips are Tintamarre (a small island part of greater St. Martin) and Saba (a separate municipality of the Netherlands). I didn’t get a chance to explore them on my trip, but they come highly recommended by locals should you have an extra day or two.