St. Maarten is a magnificent island in the Caribbean where many people travel to make memories that they will remember for the rest of their lives. There are a vast array of activities that a traveler can experience during their trip to St. Maarten that will leave them wanting to come back to “the friendly island” for more.
St. Martin is an island where couples, families, solo travelers, and visitors of all kinds can enjoy activities like sailing, ziplining, going to famous beaches, doing distillery tours, visiting nearby islands on the ferry and so much more. The memories that a guest of St. Maarten can make during their trip will no doubt last a lifetime. The memorable things to do in St. Martin / St. Maarten are listed and explained below.
- Sailing, Yacht, and Boat Tours
- Ride the world’s steepest zip line
- Relax at Loterie Farm in St. Martin
- Watch planes fly over Maho Beach
- Sip boozy samples at Topper’s Rhum Distillery
- Soak up the sun at Mullet Bay
- Make your own perfume
- Wander around St. Maarten’s capital, Philipsburg
- Enjoy a sunset sail
- Explore the pretty French side of St. Martin
- Island hop around the Caribbean
1. Sailing, Yacht, and Boat Tours
Sailing on a yacht or sailboat is definitely one of the most memorable things that can be enjoyed on the island of St. Maarten. Many people love the experience of being enveloped with the salty sea air and soaking in the gorgeous blue waters of the Caribbean sea from all sides. Tourists also love dancing the night away on an evening sunset sail as they gaze and the swirling orange and yellow sky as it slowly turns to dusk.
St. Maarten is located centrally to many other islands in the Caribbean such as Anguilla, Saba, and St. Barts. Many of the sailing companies on the island have routes to these neighboring islands. These day sails or specialty boat tours offer special things like snorkeling, scuba diving, waterskiing, parasailing, and more. Some of the sailing tours are designated for the evenings and involve guests listening to music, having delicious local dinner, and watching the sunset.
There are many tour companies in St. Maarten that allow tourists to book these sailing tours in advance. Some of the companies that offer yacht and sailboat tours include Soualiga Destinations Boat Tours and Captain Alan’s Boat Charters. Many sailing tours start in the town of Simpson Bay and the prices range from $125 to $215 (€125 to €215) per person depending on the tour you book. The times of the tours vary depending on the company that you choose to book your sailing tour with.
2. Ride the world’s steepest zip line
St. Maarten is home to the world’s steepest zipline which is called “The Flying Dutchman”. This zipline is 1,050 ft (320 meters) long and 2,800 ft (853 meters) in elevation. Tourists who have tried this zipline in the past have been known to reach speeds of 56 mph (90 km/hr). This thrilling experience is one that a visitor to St. Maarten will surely never forget.
Tourists who try the “Flying Dutchman Zipline” can rest assured that there has been extensive work into making the zipline tour safe for many to enjoy. The Flying Dutchman Zipline is also accompanied by other amazing attractions at Rockland Estates such as the Soualiga Sky Explorer which is a four-person chairlift, and the Sentry Hill zipline. From all of these vantage points, tourists can see the beautiful scenery of the entire island of St. Maarten which is sure to be a memorable and breathtaking experience for anyone visiting St. Maarten.
The base price to experience the Flying Dutchman’s Zipline is $99 (€99) per person. The other experiences at Rockland Estates such as the Soualiga Sky Explorer and the Sentry Hill zipline range in price from $52 to $139 (€52 to €139).
3. Relax at Loterie Farm
Loterie Farm is a private nature reserve located on the hillside of Pic Paradis in French Saint Martin. Loterie Farm is a serene nature sanctuary with 100 acres (404,686 sq meters) of lush greenery that attracts many tourists who are looking to have a relaxing day surrounded by swaying palm trees and multiple turquoise pools. Those who choose to spend their day here will undoubtedly create vivid and unforgettable memories.
Loterie Farm is a perfect location for all types, whether a tourist prefers to relax and lounge by the pool or take an exciting and vigorous hike. There is an activity here for every type of traveler. There are many different cabanas for lounging in the sun, many different pools and jacuzzis throughout the premises, ziplining courses, hiking trails, and obstacle courses, as well as many poolside restaurants and bars. Many tourists from all ages and backgrounds come to Loterie Farm to enjoy the beautifully relaxing nature, scenery, and wildlife.
Loterie Farm is open Tuesday through Sunday from 9 am to 3:30 pm. Prices for the different activities can vary. Access to the hiking trails costs around $6 (€5) per person or $30 (€26) per person with a guide. Ziplining courses normally cost around $46 (€40) per person. There are options to rent Cabanas for couples for $98 (€85) or up to 10 people for $256 (€220). No matter what you decide to do at Loterie Farm, it will no doubt be an unforgettable experience during your trip to St. Maarten.
4. Watch planes fly over Maho Beach
One of the most memorable experiences that any tourist can have while visiting St. Maarten is watching the planes fly over Maho Beach. Maho Beach is the most famous beach on the island and is really unlike any beach in the entire world. Maho Beach is located right at the end of the Princess Juliana International Airport runway near Simpson Bay. On this beach, it is possible to see airplanes flying directly overhead and landing on the runway just behind the beach. Many tourists like to take pictures of the airplanes, admire the magnificent sights and feel the force of airplanes and jets taking off into the sky.
Maho Beach is a must-see spot in St. Maarten. Maho Beach is quite small and often gets quite busy and full of tourists. Most who visit usually spend about 30 minutes to an hour here. Entry onto the beach is free. There are many beachside restaurants where tourists can order food and watch the planes from nearby the beach. Some even have flight arrival and departure times written so you know exactly when to take pictures.
5. Sip boozy samples at Topper’s Rhum Distillery
A visit to St. Maarten would not be complete without visiting the Topper’s Rhum Distillery. Rum has a long history in St. Maarten and has been a staple of the cuisine of the island for decades. Topper’s Rhum is the only spirit distilled and exported from Saint Martin, it is locally manufactured at the Topper’s Rhum Distillery in Cole Bay, Dutch Sint Maarten. Exploring the distillery and tasting the delicious boozy rum samples at Topper’s Rhum Distillery is sure to instantly become a memorable moment for any tourists visiting St. Maarten.
The Topper’s Rhum Distillery offers tours of the facility where you can learn about the history of rum and get a behind-the-scenes look at how the handcrafted rum is made and bottled. The distillery has 50 different flavors to sample such as banana vanilla cinnamon, jalapeno lime, bacon, maple syrup, and more.
Tourists who visit Topper’s Rhum distillery in St. Maarten can enjoy unlimited tastings of rum, try their famous rum cake, and learn how to properly taste rum. There is also a gift shop on-site with limited edition specialty rums that are only available to purchase at the distillery. Prices for tickets to the distillery are $25 (€21) for those 18 and up, and $12.50 (€10.79) for children over 12. Children under 12 are admitted for free. The average price for a bottle of Topper’s Rhum is $16.99 (€14.67). Topper’s Rhum Distillery is open Every day from 8:30 am to 10 pm.
6. Soak up the sun at Mullet Bay
Mullet Bay is one of the most popular beaches on the entire island of St. Maarten and is a favorite among those who visit the island and even locals. Mullet Bay is known for its breathtaking scenery that includes crystal clear water and powdery white sand which is surrounded by lush green palm trees. Mullet Bay Beach is protected by small coves along the beach which makes it the perfect location to enjoy laying on the beach while enjoying the cool shade.
Entry onto Mullet Bay is free. There are many vendors on the beach who sell snacks and meals for those to enjoy while lounging on the beach. The beach is also surrounded by an 18-hole golf course for those who would like to enjoy an afternoon golfing. Many enjoy memorable activities such as swimming, playing beach volleyball, jet skiing, and more on Mullet Bay Beach. A day at Mullet Bay Beach will surely be a memorable time for families, couples, or even solo travelers who choose to visit.
7. Make your own perfume
One of the most memorable and unique experiences available for tourists to enjoy while in St. Martin is making their own perfume at Tijon Parfumerie. Tijon Parfumerie is located in the town of Grand Case, French Saint Martin. At Tijon Parfumerie tourists can make their own custom fragrances and have them made into a perfume, cologne, lotion, massage oil, or linen mist. This is a great way to express creativity and make memories on your trip to Saint Martin.
At Tijon Parfumerie there is a perfume-making class where the staff guides each visitor through selecting their scents from 300 different oils and then crafting them into their very own fragrance. No experience is necessary, lab coats are provided, and each guest has the ability to make 3 different fragrances. Each class is 60 to 90 minutes. The prices of the perfume-making classes range from $99 to $165 (€85 to €142) per person. Tijon Parfumerie is open from Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 5 pm.
8. Wander around St. Maarten’s capital, Philipsburg
Philipsburg is one of the top places where tourists love to explore during their trips to St. Maarten. Philipsburg is the capital city of Dutch Sint Maarten and the most populated city on the entire island. Philipsburg has many exciting and memorable activities for tourists to enjoy such as visiting the nearby Great Bay Beach, walking the boardwalk, shopping on Front Street, having a delicious meal at one of the restaurants in town, and more.
Philipsburg is home to “Great Bay Beach” which is one of the most popular beaches on the island of St. Maarten. This beach is 2 miles (3.2 km) long and has a plethora of watersports and beach activities for tourists to enjoy such as jet skiing, parasailing, surfing, sailing, and more. There are also wonderful museums and historical influences in Philipsburg such as the heritage museum, churches, Fort Amsterdam, the famous courthouse, and more. Front Street is known for its duty-free shopping where tourists have the opportunity to buy different products such as alcohol, cigars, clothing, art, perfume, jewelry, and more for a discounted rate.
Philipsburg is also home to the cruise port of St. Maarten. This port receives thousands of cruise ship passengers every day who are looking to soak in the sights of Philipsburg and get a taste of the culture of St. Maarten before reboarding their ships. Even in the short time the cruise ship passengers spend on the island, they will make memories in Philipsburg that will last a lifetime.
9. Enjoy a sunset sail
A trip to Saint Martin wouldn’t be complete without taking in the magnificent views and stunning sunsets on the island. One of the most popular ways to do this is by taking a sunset sail. There are many tours and excursions that are available so that visitors can experience this. Most of the sunset sail tour boats depart from Simpson Bay and Phillipsburg in Dutch Sint Maarten. These tours are perfect for couples, families, and anyone looking to enjoy the beautiful golden orange sunsets.
The prices of these Sunset Sail tours range from $55 to $150 (€47 to €129) per person. These sunset sail tours usually last from 2 to 6 hours and some of them even offer dinner and delicious cocktails to enjoy while soaking in the sunset on the boat or catamaran. Some tours also feature onboard dance parties which are perfect for groups to enjoy while cruising along the coastline. This is an unforgettable experience that will definitely have you planning your return trip to St. Maarten.
10. Explore the pretty French side of Saint Martin
The French side of St. Martin is known for having a more rugged and natural beauty, having more of a European influence, and being less populated than Dutch Sint Maarten. Many tourists who visit this city feel like they are visiting France for a day. Many of the towns in St. Maarten are very quaint and scenic with many brightly colored buildings, charming restaurants, and fancy boutiques lining the streets.
Some memorable and exciting places to visit on the French side of the island of Saint Martin are Fort Louis, the Marigot market, the Roland Richardson Gallery, Tijon Parfumerie, Grand Case, Baie Rouge, Orient Bay, and Anse Marcel Beach. All of the art, shopping, delicious food, historical sites, and beautiful scenery and beaches make the French side of Saint Martin more than worthy of exploring during your stay in St. Martin.
11. Island hop around the Caribbean
There are many amazing islands surrounding the island of St. Maarten that can provide tourists with memorable experiences during their trip. St. Maarten is a popular spot in the Caribbean for those who enjoy island hopping due to its proximity to islands such as Anguilla, St. B