Things to do In Saint Martin and Sint Maarten

We look forward to our trips to the island. We count the days until we are resting on a  beach lounger enjoying the ocean views, a good book and a cool drink. We also like to  roam the island in search of new experiences, local culture, a good buy and of course a  great meal. You are sure to find something to do whether you are looking for some well needed rest, good food or some island adventure.  

Spend Some Time on the Beach  

 There are 37 beaches around the island. Some are lined by restaurants with  beach loungers and umbrellas. Watersports like jet ski rentals, parasailing, wind surfing  are also available. There are some beaches that are more remote with little or no  services available. Baie Longue and Bay Rouge are two beaches that don’t have any  services but offer some of the best ocean views you will find anywhere. Pack a cooler  and throw down your beach blanket for a truly peaceful beach experience. The sunsets  are amazing. Some of the beaches where you will find restaurants, beach bars and  other amenities are in Grand Case, Orient Bay, Mullet Bay, Maho, Mullet Bay and  Simpson Bay. 

Mullet Bay

The first beach we visited when we first arrived in Sint Maarten was Mullet Bay  Beach. Popular with locals and tourists alike, the crystal-clear blue water, majestic  ocean views and great food have been bringing us back year after year.  

Orient Beach

A row of restaurants like Orient Beach and they serve up fabulous food, cocktails  and cold beer. This is where you will also find watersport rentals if you are looking for  some adventure. A great beach to spend the day with the family and enjoy some food  and fun. There are so many choices when it comes to a day at the beach. These are just a few of our recommendations. Go out and explore some of the beaches around the island and find that special place.  

Explore The Island  

 Take time during your visit to explore the island. You may want to hike to Pic  Paradise, the highest point on the island and best suited for the experienced hiker. A  more casual hike to Fort Louis in Marigot will provide spectacular views. You can spend  a day shopping and sightseeing. Phillipsburg has shops, restaurants and locations of  cultural history. Talk with the locals, restaurant servers, bartenders and resort or rental  staff. They are friendly and are always willing to share insight on places to go and things  to do.

Marigot and Fort Louis

Phillipsburg

Spend the day in Phillipsburg and take advantage of duty-free shopping. Front  Street is lined with designer clothing boutiques, jewelry stores and liquor shops. Two of our favorite places to shop are Joe’s Jewelry and Lola Flowers Boutique. Then take a  walk along the boardwalk and stop for lunch at one of the many restaurants.  

Parrotte Ville Bird Park

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parrotte Ville Bird Park is a bird sanctuary where you can interact with and feed  the large collection of tropical birds. We had fun and look forward to taking our  grandchildren there.  

Be Adventurous 

 If you seek adventure, you are sure to find it. On land and on the water, there are  many tours and activities that will bring some excitement to your time on the island. ATV  and Jeep yours are a great way to explore the island. Boat tours will take you around  the island, snorkeling and swimming. Some will take you over to neighboring islands for  a day visit. If you are really feeling adventurous you can try zip lining. Check with your  resort guest services or rental concierge for details and assistance in making the  arrangements. 

Boat Tours

There are plenty of choices if you like fun on the water. Watersport rentals are available on Little Bay, Mullet Bay and Orient Beach. You will find jet skis, parasailing, windsurfing and more. There are many boat charters that offer fishing, snorkeling, diving and island tours. We enjoyed a day out with Boomerang Boat Tours. They took us around the island with several stops for swimming and snorkeling and then over to the neighboring island of Anguilla. Lunch and drinks were included. Spirit of St Maarten has some fun daytime and dinner cruises. We went out on a spectator tour during the Heineken Regatta and had a up close view of the boats in action.

 

Rainforest Adventures

We never thought that we would be zip lining but yes, we did it. At Rainforest Adventures we hopped on the Sky Explorer Lift and rode our way up the mountainside enjoying the amazing view. After a few shorter lines we worked our way to the top. Then we mounted The Flying Dutchman and zipped 1000 feet down to the bottom. To say it was exhilarating would be an understatement. Liquid courage is served at the top and you can also choose to ride the Sky Explorer down if you do not want to zip line.

Enjoy the Nightlife

In the evening, after a nice meal, why not check out some of the nighttime entertainment. You may want to enjoy some live music or try your luck at one of the casinos. You can do some shopping in Maho Plaza. Maybe head back to your home base and have a late-night swim. Afterall, a day of exploring can be tiring.

Music

 

The evening air is full of live music. In Maho there is The Hole in The Wall, Mimosa Skylounge, Three Amigos and more. If you are in Simpson Bay, you can stop at The Red Piano or Nowhere Special to name a few. Try SXM Live Music on Facebook for more information on live music and where to find it.

 

Casinos

There are quite a few casinos in Sint Maarten. There are no casinos in French Saint Martin. You will not find a mega Las Vegas type casino. Some have table games like blackjack and roulette along with slot machines while other casinos only have slots. Casino Royale is one of the larger casinos on the island and has slot machines, draw poker and table games. It is in Maho Plaza and there are many restaurants nearby. Hollywood Casino in the Simpson Bay Resort also has tables and slots and shares the space with Isola. A popular Italian Restaurant.

 

Unwind

Our absolute favorite thing to do when we visit our special place is quite simply NOTHING. We take the time to unplug, relax and reenergize. Whether you decide to stay on the French Side or Dutch Side, at a resort, condo or villa, just put on the sunscreen, grab a cold drink, a good book, lay back and enjoy the sun, sea and sand.