The island of Sint Maarten has many incredibly beautiful beaches on both the Dutch and French sides of the island including the gorgeous white sandy beach called Anse Marcel. Anse Marcel Beach is situated on the northern coast of the French side of Saint Martin.
The secluded Anse Marcel Beach is a calm and tranquil location with breathtaking views of lush green vegetation that carpets the surrounding hills as well as turquoise blue waters extending out from the shore. Anse Marcel Beach is tucked away in a small, sheltered bay in Saint Martin called Anse Marcel Bay.
The scenic Anse Marcel Beach offers comfortable accommodation, some fun water activities, and some of St. Martin’s tasty Caribbean cuisines at the surrounding restaurants in this location. Anse Marcel Beach is generally less populated than other beaches in Sint Maarten and is ideal for some relaxing sunbathing or lunch and fresh tropical drinks on the beach.
The waters at Anse Marcel Beach are shallow enough for inexperienced swimmers and children to enjoy time in the sea. The currents at Anse Marcel Beach are also calm because the hills that shelter Anse Marcel Beach on both sides protect it from the wind. This calm peaceful setting at Anse Marcel Beach makes it suitable for activities such as snorkeling, kayaking, paddleboarding, and much more.
Where is Anse Marcel Beach?
Anse Marcel Beach is situated in a secluded cove that is located in the northern tip of the island of Saint Martin. Anse Marcel Beach is located at least 7 km (4 miles) from Grand Case Airport and 23 km (14 miles) from Princess Juliana International Airport. The coordinates for Anse Marcel Beach are 18°06’46.4″N 63°02’26.4″W.
How long is Anse Marcel Beach?
Anse Marcel Beach is at least 400m (1312 ft) long.
What are the features that can be found on a map of Anse Marcel Beach?
The map above shows the secluded cove of Anse Marcel Beach in the northern tip of the French side of Saint Martin. The green arrow points towards the town of Cul-de-Sac which is situated to the southeastern side of Anse Marcel Beach. The map also shows the locations of the different hotels and boat charter rentals as well as the National Nature Reserve of St. Martin near Anse Marcel Beach.
What does a video of Anse Marcel Beach show?
Below you’ll find a YouTube video that shows an overview of Anse Marcel Beach, St. Martin.
How to go to Anse Marcel Beach?
There are a few ways to go to Anse Marcel Beach. Transportation in St. Maarten is generally accessible from different locations. Some of the ways to get to Anse Marcel Beach are listed below.
- Car: Visitors who are staying in Saint Martin can drive from anywhere on the island to Anse Marcel beach.
- Boat: There are boats that sail from different docking stations around St. Maarten to Anse Marcel Beach. The nearest beach where visitors can charter a boat is in the French town called Grand Case in the northern region of St. Martin.
- Walking: Visitors who would like some adventure can walk from any one of the hotels that are close to Anse Marcel Beach. Long-distance trekkers can also attempt the 30 to 40-minute walk and hike from the town of Grand Case to Anse Marcel Beach.
What is the distance of Anse Marcel Beach to the important locations in St. Maarten?
Some important locations in Saint Martin can be found within close distance to Anse Marcel Beach. Some of the important locations that are close to Anse Marcel Beach are listed below.
- Petite Plage is 1km (0.6 miles) away from Anse Marcel Beach.
- The National Nature Reserve of St. Martin is at least 350 m (1148 ft) from Anse Marcel Beach.
- Red rock, which is a hiking area in St. Martin, is situated at least 1.1 km (0.7 miles) from Anse Marcel Beach.
- Anse Marcel Marina is located at least 350 m (1148 ft) from Anse Marcel Beach.
- Secrets St. Martin Resort & Spa Hotel is situated within 150 m (492 ft) walking distance from Anse Marcel beach.
- Anse Marcel Beach Resort is located within 150 m (492 ft) walking distance from Anse Marcel Beach.
- Blue Sail Hotel is located at least 300 m (984 ft) from Anse Marcel Beach.
- Princess Juliana International Airport is located at least 23 km (14 miles) from Anse Marcel Beach.
- Grand Case Airport is located at least 7 km (4 miles) from Anse Marcel Beach.
- The French capital of Saint Martin called Margot is situated at least 11 km (7 miles) from Anse Marcel Beach.
- Simpson Bay on the Dutch side of St. Maarten is at least 19 km (12 miles) from Anse Marcel Beach.
- The Dutch capital of Sint Maarten called Philipsburg is located at least 14 km (9 miles) from Anse Marcel Beach.
- Orient Bay is located at least 6 km (4 miles) from Anse Marcel Beach.
- The Cul de Sac ferry station to Pinel Island on the French side of St. Martin is located at least 2.3 km (1.4 miles) from Anse Marcel Beach.
What is the best time to go to Anse Marcel Beach?
The best time to go to Anse Marcel Beach is during the months of January through to March, particularly March when the weather is pleasant with minimal rainfall. The weather at Anse Marcel Beach is ideal for relaxing activities on the beach as well as fun activities in the water.
The humidity at Anse Marcel Beach during the months of January through to March is at least 77%. The temperature at Anse Marcel Beach during the month of March ranges between 26°C (78.8°F) to 27°C (80.6°F) which is ideally cooler for swimming as well as sunbathing, in comparison to the hotter months that have temperatures ranging between 27°C (80.6°F) to 29°C (84.2°F). The month of March is also the driest month in Anse Marcel with at least 44mm (1.7 in) of precipitation which is much less compared to 131 mm (5.2 in) of rainfall in the wettest month September. The image below shows the annual weather in at Anse Marcel beach.
What is the entrance fee for Anse Marcel Beach?
There is no entrance fee to Ansel Marcel Beach. Anse Marcel Beach is accessible to the general public through any of the hotel entry points along the beach. The parking at Anse Marcel Beach is free and securely gated. The costs that can be incurred while visiting Anse Marcel Beach include the cost of umbrellas, lounge chairs, and beach towels as well as the cost of food at the restaurants or other amenities offered at the hotels on Anse Marcel Beach.
What are the facts about Anse Marcel Beach?
There are some interesting facts about Anse Marcel Beach. Some of the facts about Anse Marcel Beach are listed below.
- Environment: Anse Marcel Beach is a nestled cove in Saint Martin that is surrounded by green hills.
- Size: Anse Marcel Beach is at least 400 m (1312 ft) long.
- Marina entrance at Anse Marcel Beach: The entrance for the marina that is next to Ansel Marcel Beach is only 9 m (29 ft) wide and 3 m (9 ft) deep.
- Entrance to Anse Marcel Beach: Anse Marcel Beach can only be accessed using the hotel entry points on the beach.
- Weather: The weather at Anse Marcel Beach is typical of a tropical savanna climate with low wind currents due to the protection provided by the surrounding hills against the strong eastern Atlantic winds.
- Culture: The ambiance at Anse Marcel Beach emanates the French culture as this beach is situated on the French side of Saint Martin.
- National Nature Reserve: The National Nature Reserve of St. Martin which is a 5-minute walking distance from Anse Marcel Beach hosts diverse wildlife including iguanas, brown pelicans, frigate birds, and other sea-bird species such as terns.
What are the features of the weather at Anse Marcel Beach?
The weather features of Anse Marcel Beach have the characteristics of a tropical savanna climate. The weather at Anse Marcel beach is generally humid and hot with mostly sunny days and occasional rain throughout the year.
The temperatures on Ansel Marcel range from 24°C (75°F) to 29°C (84.2°F) with humidity levels ranging between 77% and 80%. The wind speeds at Anse Marcel Beach are generally below 30 kph (18 mph). The surrounding hills at Anse Marcel Beach create a buffer against strong winds that usually blow from the Atlantic Ocean on the eastern side of Saint Martin.
It is good to know that the tropical savanna climate at Anse Marcel Beach often results in a yearly hurricane season from the months of May through to November. This hurricane season results in the heavy rains that occur in Sint Maarten with monthly precipitation levels ranging from at least 188 mm (7 in) to 229 mm (9 in).
Did Hurricane Irma affect Anse Marcel Beach?
Yes, hurricane Irma has affected Anse Marcel Beach. The impact of Hurricane Irma was felt throughout the entire island of Sint Maarten including Anse Marcel Beach after it occurred in 2017. Some of the hurricanes that have affected Anse Marcel Beach in Saint Martin are listed below.
- Hurricane Bertha in 1996
- Hurricane Georges in 1998
- Hurricane José in 1999
- Hurricane Maria in 2017
- Hurricane Irma in 2017
Hurricane Irma damaged some of the property at Anse Marcel Beach including some restaurants that were completely destroyed and closed down indefinitely. The formerly popular hotel called “Riu Palace St. Martin” which was situated at Anse Marcel Beach sustained significant damage.
The recovery of the infrastructure at Anse Marcel Beach has resulted in a few changes. The formerly called Riu Palace hotel has been renovated and replaced by a new hotel called “Secrets St. Martin Resort & Spa”. The water at Anse Marcel Beach has also been cleared of the debris that polluted the bay after Hurricane Irma struck Saint Martin.
Anse Marcel Beach has significantly recovered from much of the damage that occurred from Hurricane Irma in Sint Maarten. Anse Marcel was fortunate to still have working water and a fuel supply after Hurricane Irma struck the area in 2017.
Is Anse Marcel Beach safe?
Yes, Anse Marcel Beach is safe. The access points to Anse Marcel Beach are through the hotels that are situated on the beach. These hotels provide free gated parking to day-trippers who have traveled from other areas in Saint Martin to Anse Marcel Beach.
The white sandy Anse Marcel Beach is also well protected from strong winds by the hills that are situated on both sides of the cove. This protection allows for calm currents in the shallow waters at Anse Marcel Beach which makes the water suitable for families and individuals that would like to swim during the day or at night.
Visitors should take caution when they are driving to and from Anse Marcel Beach because the roads are very steep and there is poor lighting at night making it challenging for drivers to see the road clearly. It is safer to travel to Anse Marcel Beach during the day when the roads are well lit by the bright sunlight. Drivers who are looking to visit Anse Marcel Beach may want to use a vehicle with an automatic transmission that can navigate through the steep hilly roads that lead to and from the beach.
Is Anse Marcel Beach family friendly?
Yes, Anse Marcel Beach is family friendly. There are restaurants, fun water activities, and hiking that can be enjoyed during a visit to Anse Marcel Beach.
Parents and their c