St. Maarten is an island in the Caribbean that has a lot to offer tourists. One of the best things about visiting St. Martin is the variety of cruises, sailing tours, and water tours available to nearby islands that are available for visitors to take. While on vacation in St. Maarten, tourists can visit and experience six different islands. Tourists can opt for a snorkeling excursion around the islands near St. Maarten, or a boat cruise that stops at several different beaches on the neighboring islands. There are many companies in St. Maarten which offer amazing boat trips that include breakfast, lunch, and snacks for guests. Six of the nearby islands to visit near Saint Martin are listed below.
- Saba
- Anguilla
- St. Barthelemy
- Pinel Island
- Tintamarre
- St. Lucia
Table of Contents
1. Saba
Saba is the smallest island in the Caribbean that is owned by the Netherlands. The island of Saba is home to a volcano called Mount Scenery. Mount Scenery is 2,910 ft (887 meters) in height and is the highest peak on the island of Saba and the entire territory of the Netherlands. Saba has a land area of 53 sqft (5 sqm). Saba is known as the “unspoiled queen of the Caribbean” and is located 15 miles (24 km) from the island of St. Maarten.
Tourists can easily visit Saba via ferry or plane from St. Maarten. The flights from St. Maarten to Saba are usually around 20 minutes. There are 4 flights that are scheduled each day through the WinAir airline that leave from Princess Juliana International Airport and land in Saba. The price of the flights from St. Maarten to Saba range from $57 to $100 (€52 to €91) one way and $100 to $200 (€91 to €183) round trip.
The ferry to Saba from St. Maarten takes around 2 hours depending on weather conditions. There are different restaurants and activities available in Saba for tourists to enjoy such as hiking Mount Scenery, going to the local beaches, engaging in water sports such as jet skiing and surfing, and more.
Saba is also famous for its delicious local cuisine. Some restaurants to eat at while visiting Saba are listed below.
- Brigadoon
- Chez Bubba Bistro
- Tropic’s Café
- Swinging Doors
- Queen’s Gardens Resort Restaurant
There is a wide array of activities to participate in while visiting the island of Saba. Some activities to do in Saba are listed below.
- Hiking
- Diving
- Snorkeling
- Fishing
- Saba National Marine Park
2. Anguilla
Anguilla is a British overseas territory in the Caribbean that lies east of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. Anguilla is located 5 miles (8 km) directly north of the island of Saint Martin. Anguilla is known for its pristine and white sandy beaches, cooling breezes, and turquoise-blue waters. Anguilla has the second largest barrier reef in the world. Tourists don’t need a visa to visit Anguilla from St. Maarten.
Taking the public ferry is the cheapest way to get to Anguilla from St. Maarten. The first ferry from St. Maarten to Anguilla leaves at 8:15 am and subsequently every 45 minutes until the last ferry leaves at 7:00 pm. The first ferry from Anguilla to St. Maarten leaves at 7:30 am and subsequently departs every 45 minutes until the last ferry leaves at 6:00 pm. The price of the public ferry from St. Maarten to Anguilla is $20 (€18) per person one-way and $40 (€36) per person for a round-trip ticket. There is an additional fee of $18 (€16) per person for a port fee.
Some famous restaurants to eat at in Anguilla are listed below.
- Sharky’s Restaurant
- SandBar
- Blanchards Beach Shack
- Artisan
- Elvis’ Beach Bar
Some activities to do in Anguilla are listed below.
- Hiking
- Horse riding
- Kitesurfing
- Snorkeling
- Kayaking
- Exploring sea caves
- Stand-up paddleboarding
3. St. Barthélemy
St. Barthélemy, also known as Saint Bart’s, is one of the islands in the region known as the Lesser Antilles in the Caribbean Sea. The capital of St. Barthélemy is called Gustavia, this is also the only town on the island. St. Barthélemy is 11 miles (17.5 km) long and 2.5 miles (4 km) wide and has a maximum elevation of 921 ft (281 m). Saint Barthélemy is mountainous and fertile despite receiving relatively little rain. Some of the things that St. Barthélemy produces are cotton, tropical fruits, and salt.
There are multiple ways to go to St. Barthélemy from St. Maarten. Some tourists need a visa to go to St. Barthélemy. Tourists have a few options when visiting St. Barthélemy from St. Maarten. Tourists can use the ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barthélemy and they can also charter their own private boat in St. Maarten and visit St. Barthélemy for an average of $950 (€872) for a 7-hour charter. Tourists can travel to St. Maarten by air and fly 15 minutes from Sint Maarten to St. Barts via Princess Juliana International Airport. The WinAir airline offers flights for $80 (€73) per person for a one-way flight and $150 (€137) per person for a round-trip flight.
Some restaurants to eat at in St. Barthélemy are listed below.
- Nikki Beach Saint Barth
- Le Tamarin
- Baz Bar
- L’Esprit
- Bonito St Barth
Some activities to do in St. Barthélemy are listed below.
- Surfing
- Snorkeling
- Fishing
- Kayaking
- Kitesurfing
4. Pinel Island
Pinel Island is a small uninhabited island that is part of the French Marine Reserve of St. Martin. Pinel Island is located just 0.8 km (0.5 miles) away from the northeastern Coast of French Saint Martin. Pinel Island is a great place to engage in watersports such as snorkeling because of its stunning calm and blue waters. Visiting the sheltered cove and watching the water roll onto the wild beach will allow tourists to see some of the most beautiful marine creatures.
Tourists can visit Pinel Island in a few different ways. Tourists can paddleboard for $40 (€35) per person or even kayak from St. Martin to Pinel Island for a price ranging between $34 and $97 (€30 to €85). Tourists also can board a ferry from the town of Cul de Sac in French Saint Martin to Pinel Island for $6 (€5) per person for a one-way trip and $12 (€10) per person for a round-trip ticket.
Some of the restaurants to eat at on Pinel Island are listed below.
- Yellow Beach Restaurant
- Karibuni Restaurant
Some of the activities to do on Pinel Island are listed below.
- Paddleboarding
- Kayaking
- Hiking
- Snorkeling
- Visit the Karibuni and Yellow Beach Restaurants
5. Tintamarre Island
Tintamarre is a small island with an area of approximately 8.61 sqft (800,000 sqm). Tintamarre is located in the Caribbean Sea, just 1.86 miles (3 km) from the coast of the island of St. Martin. Tintamarre has no inhabitants at present, but between 1946 and 1950, it was the base of a former airline, the Compagnie Aérienne Antillaise, and by that time about 20 people lived on the island. Thanks to its clear blue waters, the beach at Tintamarre is perfect for snorkeling.
There are no places to eat on Tintamarre island. Tourists can purchase a trip to Tintamarre island for $129 to $142 (€119 to €131) per person, the price may vary depending on the type of tour selected. Many of the tours to Tintamarre Island include lunch in their packages, tourists also have the option of packing their own food. Some activities to do on Tintamarre are listed below.
- Snorkeling
- Swimming with turtles
- Explore unspoiled beaches
6. St. Lucia
St. Lucia is the home to a variety of naturally beautiful landscapes such as rainforests with waterfalls, reef-diving sites, impressive volcanic beaches, volcanic mud baths, and more. The island of St. Lucia measures 27 miles (43 km) long and has a maximum width of 14 miles (23 km). The capital and major port of St. Lucia is called Castries. Tourists do not require a visa if they present a return ticket to St. Maarten, but tourists will need a passport with six months of remaining validity to get in and out of St. Lucia.
Tourists can visit St. Lucia by plane. A direct flight from St. Maarten to St. Lucia is 3 hours long. The WinAir airline usually offers 21 different flights weekly from Princess Juliana Airport to St. Lucia and back. The price of the flights to St. Lucia from St. Maarten usually costs $24 (€22) per person. There are many options for transportation on St. Lucia, including taxis and water taxis around the island. The best way to get around St. Lucia is by car or minibus, though taxis are also available.
Some restaurants to eat at in St. Lucia are listed below.
- Tao
- The Cliff at Cap
- Jacques Waterfront Dining
- Rainforest Hideaway
- The Great House
Some activities to do in St. Lucia are listed below.
- Snorkeling
- Boat Safari
- Visit the dark sand beach of Anse Chastanet
- Visit the dark sand beach of Anse Cochon
- Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens and Mineral Baths
- Visit The Pitons (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
What are the things to know before going to the islands near St. Martin?
Tourists should know that in order to visit the islands near St. Maarten they will need either a visa or passport. Tourists should also know that some islands require a ferry ride from St. Maarten, ferries depart every 45 minutes, and the entrance fee is $20 to $40 (€18 to €36) per person plus $18 (€16) per person for a port fee per person. Some nearby islands to St. Maarten are best reached by plane. Tourists can rent an excursion to visit several islands in a short time and most of these excursions include food.
What are the activities to do on the islands near St. Martin?
There are plenty of awesome activities to do on the islands near St. Maarten. Some of the activities to do on the islands nearby St. Maarten are listed below.
- Hiking
- Diving
- Snorkeling
- Fishing
- Surfing
- Kitesurfing
- Boat Safari
- Horse riding
- Exploring sea caves
- Stand-up paddleboarding
- Swimming with turtles
- Explore unspoiled and rugged beaches
- Saba National Marine Park
- Visiting the dark sandy beach of Anse Chastanet
- Visiting the dark sandy beach of Anse Cochon
- Visiting the Karibuni and Yellow Beach Restaurants
- Diamond Falls Botanical Gardens and Mineral Baths
- Visiting The Pitons (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
What are some things to bring to the islands near St. Maarten?
There are important things to bring to islands close to St. Martin to take advantage of all the activities available. There are many things to do in St. Maarten and a few things that are needed in order to enhance the experience of vacation while visiting the neighboring islands to St. Maarten. Some of the things to bring to the nearby islands to St. Maarten are listed below.
- Cash
- Sunscreen
- Beachwear
- Shorts
- Cap / Hat
- Sunglasses
- A water protector for the cell phone
- Passport
What islands near St. Maarten need visas prior to entry?
Depending on where a traveler is from most of the surrounding islands near St. Maarten do not require visas to visit. However, it is important to note that travelers must show their passports and provide a return ticket when they are entering the nearby islands to St. Maarten such as Saba, Anguilla, St. Barthélemy, Pinel Island, St. Lucia, and Tintamarre Island.
Those traveling to the nearby islands to St. Maarten during their trip may wonder what to pack when visiting the neighboring islands, it is important to remember to pack their passports so they can enter freely.