8 Things to Do in Sint Maarten

The island of Saint Martin is known throughout the Caribbean for being full of fun and amazing activities for people of all kinds to participate in such as snorkeling, ziplining, sailing, surfing and so much more. Saint Martin is a relatively small island located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea and is approximately 190 miles (300 km) east of Puerto Rico. Many tourists come from all around the world to experience the unique and entertaining things that St. Maarten has to offer.

With all of the amazing activities available in St. Maarten, it can be challenging to decide what exactly to do with your time during your visit. Below is a list of the most exciting and popular activities to do in Saint Martin.

  1. Snorkeling and Scuba diving
  2. Ziplining down the steepest zipline in the world
  3. Watching planes at Maho beach
  4. Relaxing at Loterie Farm
  5. Visiting the French town of Marigot
  6. Try samples of rum at Topper’s Rhum Distillery
  7. Making your own perfume
  8. Taking a sunset sail along the coast

1. Snorkeling and scuba diving

Snorkeling and scuba diving are definitely some of the most exciting and adventurous activities to participate in while visiting St. Maarten. St. Maarten is one of the best snorkeling and scuba diving spots in the entire Caribbean and is known for clear water, calm seas, and its vibrant coral reef teeming with sea life, all of which are ideal conditions for snorkeling and scuba diving. What makes this area unique is that the government protects the waters surrounding St. Maarten which are populated by schools of brilliantly colored fish, so when in Saint Martin you get the most natural snorkeling and/or scuba diving experience possible.

The tropical weather in St. Maarten is also very optimal for snorkeling and diving throughout the year because the temperature on the island ranges between 72 to 89 F (22 to 32 C). The surrounding waters are pleasantly warm, and the temperatures range from 75 to 85 F (24 to 29 C).

The cost of snorkeling in St. Martin varies depending on how you decide to acquire the gear needed. Purchasing snorkel gear normally costs between $40 to $110 (€34 to €94) per person, renting snorkel equipment for the week can cost from $18 to $42 (€15 to €36) per person, and renting snorkel gear for a half-day snorkel tour can cost $38 to $160 (€32 to €138) per person. Snorkel gear is available to rent on most hotels and beaches throughout St. Martin. The best beaches for snorkeling in Saint Martin are listed below.

  1. Cupecoy Beach
  2. Kim Sha Beach
  3. Mullet Bay Beach
  4. Little Bay Beach
  5. Indigo Bay Beach
  6. Baie Rouge
  7. Tintamarre Island
  8. Pinel Island
  9. Friar’s Bay Beach
  10. Happy Bay Beach
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In Saint Martin, scuba diving is available to people of all skill levels. It’s an exciting experience to explore underwater shipwrecks and swim through schools of fish and colorful coral reefs. There are more than 50 known dive sites throughout the island of Saint Martin. There are many diving tours available on the island that normally cost around $40 to $120 (€34 to €103) per person. The best places for scuba diving in Saint Martin are listed below.

  1. Gregory Wreck
  2. Creole Rock
  3. The Maze
  4. The Fish Bowl
  5. Carib Cargo
  6. Proselyte
  7. The Bridge
  8. La Renee Shipwreck
  9. Fuh Sheng
  10. Turtle Reef
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2. Ziplining down the steepest zipline in the world

Saint Martin is home to the steepest zipline in the entire world. Located in Rockland Estate Eco-Park in southern Dutch Sint Maarten is the Flying Dutchman Zipline. This zipline is unlike any other ziplining experience in the world. This is an experience that many travelers who are looking for an exciting and action-packed vacation journey from all around the world to St. Maarten to enjoy.

This zipline is more than 1,000 ft (304 meters) high and is more than 2,800 ft (853 meters) of cable. From this zipline, you can see spectacular and panoramic views of the island of St. Martin. The ride lasts for about 45 seconds and the price is $114 (€98) per person. This is an exhilarating experience for those who are looking for an action-packed getaway and definitely something that you have to experience while you’re in Saint Martin.

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3. Watching planes at Maho Beach

 

Maho Beach is the most famous beach on the island and is really unlike any location in the 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 incredible sights and feel the force of airplanes and jets taking off into the sky one after the other.

This is a must-see spot in St. Maarten. Maho Beach is fairly small and often gets quite busy and full of tourists, most usually spending 30 minutes to an hour here. Be careful to secure loose items on the beach because the wind from the airplanes and jets could blow them away. Entry onto the beach is free. There are many beachside restaurants that you can order food at and watch the planes from nearby the beach. Some even have flight arrival and departure times written so you know exactly when to take your pictures.

4. Relaxing at Loterie Farm St. Martin

Swimming pool at Loterie Farm

Loterie Farm is a private nature reserve located on the hillside of Pic Paradis in French Saint Martin. Loterie Farms is 100 acres of lush greenery and is a serene nature sanctuary that attracts many tourists who are looking to have a relaxing day surrounded by swaying palm trees and multiple turquoise pools.

Loterie Farm is a spot for all types, whether you prefer to relax and lounge by the pool or take an exciting and vigorous hike. There is an activity here for everyone. 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 cost 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.

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5. Visiting the French town of Marigot

Person at market in Marigot

Visiting the French town of Marigot is definitely something you’ll want to do during your visit to St. Maarten. Marigot is the capital city of the French side of St. 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.

Marigot is a very quaint, scenic, and culturally rich city with many brightly colored buildings, a picturesque harbor, charming restaurants, and fancy boutiques lined along the streets. There are so many exciting things to see in the town of Marigot such as the Marina Royale, the West Indies Shopping Mall, Fort Louis, the Marigot market, the Roland Richardson Gallery and so much more. All of the art, shopping, delicious food, historical sites, and beautiful scenery and beaches make Marigot more than worthy of exploring during your stay in St. Martin.

6. Try samples of rum at Topper’s Rhum Distillery

Taste samples at Topper’s Rhum Distillery

Rum is the most popular liquor in the Caribbean and especially in St. Maarten. Rum has a unique history in Saint Martin and has been one of the staples of the culture 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. Visiting this distillery is a fun experience for people of all types. Many from all over the world enjoy Topper’s Rhum and visit this distillery. No trip to St. Maarten is complete without bringing a bottle of this signature rum home.

Topper’s Rhum is one of the most unique distilleries on the island of St. Maarten. A visit to this distillery is a must because there are 50 different flavors to sample such as banana vanilla cinnamon, jalapeno lime, bacon, and maple syrup, and many more. The 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 at Topper’s Rhum distillery is made and bottled.

At Topper’s Rhum Distillery you 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)

7. Making your own perfume

Parfum making at Tijon Parfumerie

One of the most unique experiences available to do in Saint Martin is to make your own perfume at Tijon Parfumerie, which is located in Grand Case French Saint Martin. Here you can make your own custom fragrance and have it made into a perfume, cologne, lotion, massage oil, or linen mist. This is a great way to express your creativity, remember your trip to Saint Martin and it’s a great souvenir to bring home for a loved one.

There is a perfume-making class at Tijon Parfumerie 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.

8. Taking a sunset sail along the coast

A trip to Saint Martin wouldn’t be complete without taking in the gorgeous views and breath-taking 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.

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 of the 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.

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What are the best restaurants in St. Maarten?

St. Maarten is known for having delicious food and being one of the culinary capitals of the Caribbean. There are over 300 restaurants on the island of St. Martin all of them are unique and represent different cultures that exist on the island of St. Maarten. The best restaurants in St. Maarten are listed below.

  1. Bacchus
  2. Bamboo
  3. Big Fish
  4. Cynthia’s Talk of the Town
  5. Hidden Forest Cafe
  6. La Cigale
  7. Le Marocain
  8. Friar’s Bay Beach Café
  9. Pineapple Pete’s
  10. Mario’s Bistro

Which hotels are the best in St. Maarten?

There are many different hotels to stay at in Saint Martin. Each hotel offers something for everyone and can accommodate different needs for your stay and more. Some of the best hotels in Saint Martin are listed below.

  1. Belmond La Samanna
  2. Hotel L’Esplanade
  3. La Playa Orient Bay
  4. Holland House Beach Hotel
  5. Hotel La Plantation

Which tourist tours are the best in St. Maarten?

One of the best ways to see the island of St. Maarten is to take a tour of the island. This enables you to see many things in one day and make the best use of your time. There are a variety of different tours that are available in Saint Martin. Some of the best tours in Saint Martin are listed below.

  1. Sky Explorer Flying Dutchman Schooner Ride and Sentry Hill Zip Line: This tour involves going to Saint Martin’s highest point and seeing the excellent views of the island from the zipline. Two zipline rides are included, all costing $139 per person.
  2. The Best Catamaran Day Sail in St. Maarten: This is a family-friendly 5-hour yacht excursion from Simpson Bay. You will go to both the French and the Dutch sides of the island visiting several famous beaches. You can go snorkeling, paddle boarding, and swing from a Tarzan swing. The tour provides a locally made lunch from the bar and costs $119 per person.
  3. Captain Bob Most Popular Speed Boat, Snorkeling, and Beach Tour with Lunch: This is a 6-hour speed boat tour. Visiting both the French and Dutch sides of Saint Martin. On this tour, you can go snorkeling, relax on the beach, sip drinks, and have unlimited snacks all for $129 per person.
  4. Maarten Luxury Catamaran Full-Day Group Charter SXM Tour: Spend a full day cruising on a luxury catamaran visiting different shores. Taking in the views and swimming and snorkeling. See the planes take off at Maho Beach. Go fishing and kayaking and enjoy lunch on board mid-day. There is an open bar with unlimited snacks and refreshments. This costs $186 per person.
  5. The Original Eco Tour Full-Day Around the Island of Sint Maarten: You will take a full-day cruise around St Maarten with stops at Grand Case, Creole Rock, and Tintamarre Island. Explore the lovely natural beauty of Tintamarre, enjoy an open bar and see the island’s lovely sights. The price of this tour is $133.00 per person.

What are the best places to see in St. Maarten?

Saint Martin has a vast amount of popular tourist destinations and beautiful things to see. Some of the best places to see in St. Martin are listed below.

  1. Fort Louis
  2. Loterie Farm
  3. Seaside Nature Park
  4. Friar’s Bay
  5. Grand Case
  6. Pinel Island
  7. Maho Beach
  8. Orient Bay
  9. Red Bay
  10. Cupecoy Beach