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St Maarten / St Martin
 
  
  • America's Cup race - Stars & Stripes
  • Happy landing!
  • Pretty butterfly
  • Zesmeralda beach
  • Aerial view
  • Beach
  • Bee on flower
  • Turquoise water
  • Arawak mall - Marigot
  • Beach at Phillipsburg
  • Big iguana
  • Zesmeralda beach
  • Butterfly farm
  • Sailboat in blue waters
  • Harbor view
  • Sailing and swimming in turquoise
  • Fort Louis above
  • Ft Louis in Marigot - 1st fort
  • Grand Case beach
  • Up close to the cruise ships
  • Harbor
  • Parasailing
  • Casino at Maho bay
  • Saba hiking path
  • Hobiecat on turquoise
  • Jewelry shopping street - Phillipsburg
  • View of villas beachside
  • Humming bird
  • Palms
  • Little donkey
  • Saba rainforest - view from up high
  • Maho bay area
  • Marigot harbor
  • Old Street
  • One eye
  • Shipwreck in Grand Case
  • Saba jungle
  • Road on Saba Island
  • Saba rainforest
  • Sailing
  • Santa mon!
  • License plate
  • Sunset at Cupe Coy
  • View from above of Saba
  • View of villas
  • Welcome!
  • A few butterflies
  • Boardwalk in Phillipsburg
  • Buttefly farm
  • Danger - jet blast!
  • Ft Louis - Marigot
  • Fresh bread!
  • Saba rain forest
  • Friars bay
  • Marigot harbor at sunset
  • Terraced homes - Marigot
  • Old street - Phillipsburg

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St Maarten / St Martin Travel Guide: Reviews, photos, & videos

At 37-square miles, St. Maarten / St. Martin is the smallest landmass in the world to be shared by two nations—France and the Netherlands Antilles. Find out why the French say the food is better in St. Martin than in France in the gastronomic heaven of Grand Case on the French side, where the restaurants that line the main street offer nothing less than excellence and views of the bay and Anguilla in the distance. Shop till you drop in the French couture shops in Marigot, and then climb the road to the fort on top of the hill for the most magical sunset views of Marigot and the west side of the island. Find some amazing deals on diamonds in the jewelry shops that line Philipsburg’s cobblestone streets on the Dutch side. Get your party on in the casinos and clubs in Maho Bay. Dance till dawn at hip outdoor club Bliss, with the stars above and a cool Caribbean breeze coming in from the ocean.

  • Beach, Boating, Caribbean, Family-friendly, Fishing, Horsebackriding, Island, Night-life, Ocean, Over55, Relaxing, Romantic, Sailing, Scubadiving, Shopping, Surfing, Warm/tropical, Wedding, Worldclassrestaurants
  • 92%

 
 
link18.0649235153-63.058776855511St Maarten / St Martin
link18.0832009033-63.018951416Orient Bay
link18.0962550151-63.0560302734Grand Case
link18.0401154468-63.1210899353Maho Beach
link18.091033487-63.0546569824Loterie Farm
link18.0845063582-63.018951416Butterfly Farm
link18.0649235153-63.058776855511St Maarten / St Martin
link18.0492556688-63.131561279310Terres Basses, St. Martin /St. Maarten
 
 
 
 

   

 Directions 

Estimated travel time: 3 hours, 20 minutes by plane (from Miami, FL)  
 
International flights arrive at Princess Juliana International Airport, 10 miles northwest of Philipsburg in St. Maarten. The airport is served by twenty carriers, which connect the island to Atlanta, Charlotte, Chicago, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, New York, Newark, Philadelphia and Washington, DC in the United States, Toronto in Canada, Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Paris, France.

 

   

 Weather 

  • Current conditions

    Cond023

    Mostly cloudy. Warm, Humid. Temperature of 80.74°F. Winds ESE 15.04mph. Humidity will be 82% with a dewpoint of 75° and feels-like temperature of 86.31°F.
    Hi: 81° F, Low: 80° F.

  • Tomorrow's forecast

    Cond023
    Scattered showers. There is a 20% chance of precipitation. Cloudy. Warm, Humid. Temperature of 81.32°F. Winds ESE 18.03mph. Humidity will be 80% with a dewpoint of 75° and feels-like temperature of 87.19°F.
    Hi: 81° F, Low: 80° F.


    • Weatherbug's weather page.
 

   

 Attractions 

Add Attraction
Orient Bay
 
  
  • Sailing in blue waters
  • Turquoise
  • Beach
  • Parasailing

Orient Bay

Certain words go together so perfectly you often wonder why they’re ever said apart from one another. “Peanut-Butter” and “Jelly,” is a good example. “Salt” and “Pepper” is another one. “Nude” and “Beach,” however, might be the best example. That’s why, if you happen to be a fan of those two words, you should drop everything (including your clothes) and find your way to Orient Bay, the most popular beach on all of St. Maarten, and perhaps in all of the Caribbean. Picture, if you will, two full miles of coral white sand, limitless crystal blue water, and hundreds, if not thousands, of naked people soaking up sun in places that rarely see sun. Widespread nudity a bit too awkward for you? Thankfully, there are sections of the beach where clothing is more encouraged, however, there is no clothing mandatory section, so keep the kids away (or make them wear blinders). The island is also popular for its world class snorkeling and parasailing, but when you’re known as a nude beach, that’s kind of what people tend to remember.

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Grand Case
 
  
  • Sailing and swimming
  • Grand Case Beach
  • Hobiecat on turquoise
  • Beach in St. Martin

Grand Case

If you find yourself fortunate enough to be vacationing in Grand Case, located on the French side of St. Martin, you're likely to hear people raving about one specific thing: the food. That's because the main road in Grand Case is lined with wonderful, quaint restaurants featuring the world's finest cuisine. With restaurants featuring food from America, the Caribbean, Italy, the Orient and, of course, France, there's something for everyone (who happens to be hungry) in Grand Case. There are even tiny barbecue shacks called Lolos, where local women grill fresh lobster, chicken and spare ribs for hungry folks in need of a quick food fix. Yum! For many years, Grand Case was simply a small sleepy village with roads barely wide enough for one lane of traffic; however, the town soon became known for its culinary excellence and several of the old houses began transforming into the world class restaurants. Of course, a restuarant in Grand Case wouldn't be complete with out a majestic view of the lush country side or the teal blue water just off the horizon. So come to Grand Case with an open mind, a full wallet and an empty stomach.

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Maho Beach
 
  
  • Plane over beach
  • Casino in Maho Bay
  • De plane
  • Maho bay area
  • Spectacular low landing KLM 747 St. Maarten Maho BeachPlay

Maho Beach

What type of things does one usually expect out of a great tropical beach? Gorgeous blue water and white sand – Check. A bar serving daiquiris, cold beer and piña coladas within walking distance – Check. The sonic roar of a Boeing 747 – Che…WAIT. What? Well, this is the normal if you’re visiting Maho Beach, located on the Netherlands Antilles portion of the island and immediately adjacent to the Princess Juliana International Airport. That’s right, one of the most stressful places in the world – the airport – is located right next to the place you’re supposed to escape stress – the beach. You might think this would deter people from visiting Maho; however, you’d be wrong. The jet blast from the airplane’s engines creates semi-large waves in the clear waters, thus making the beach popular for windsurfing and skimboarding enthusiasts. Maho Beach is also one of the few places in the world where one can watch an aircraft land and take off at such a close distance. In fact, watching the planes has become so popular for tourists that the daily arrival and departure times are displayed on a board at most of the bars and restaurants. So grab a chilled drink, kick back in the sun, and enjoy the soothing sounds of a two hundred ton metal bound juggernaut landing a couple of hundred yards away.

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Loterie Farm
 
  
  • Aerial view

Loterie Farm

The wind swooshes your hair back as the dense foliage below becomes a blurry green streak. A yelp of fear and excitement races out of your mouth. You’ve never felt this sensation before. You are flying. Not by your own doings of course. We know that’s impossible. However, through the engineering and creative brilliance of those at Loterie Farm, a 154-acre private nature preserve in St. Maarten, you can experience this exhilarating sensation when you “fly the trees” on their tree top zip line and canopy tour. However, there’s more to just flying at Loterie Farm. The entire farm is considered an eco haven, and visitors are encouraged to hike, bike or even practice mediation and yoga all throughout the preserve’s gorgeous “hidden forest.” Trek to the top of the 1,400 foot mountain to the highest point in all of St. Maarten, Pic Paradis, and snap a picture of paradise. And then, if you’re hungry, enjoy the delicious cuisine of the Hidden Forest Café or the Tree Lounge. But whatever you do, when it comes to the flying, remember what the old Saturday morning cartoons taught you: don’t try this at home. Go to Loterie Farm.

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Butterfly Farm
 
  
  • Bee on flower
  • Butterfly farm
  • Humming bird
  • Pretty butterfly
  • Walking around the Butterfly farm
  • Butterflies

Butterfly Farm

  • Category: Butterfly Park / Farm

    St Maarten / St Martin, Caribbean
    Le Galion Beach Road, Quartier D'Orleans, 97150 St. Martin

    Visiting Details
    The farm is open daily from 9 to 3 and the cost is 12 dollars.

     

Before visiting the Butterfly Farm in St. Maarten, I assumed by the name alone that scientists had somehow discovered a method to make butterflies actually farm crops. As you can see I like to take things literally. So, imagine my surprise when I entered the Butterfly Farm expecting to witness a cavalcade of butterflies tilling and plowing a wheat field only to see hundreds of these delicate creatures fluttering about against a gorgeous backdrop of tropical landscaped gardens, exotic flowers and ponds teeming with Japanese fish. After overcoming the initial shock I realized that this type of butterfly farm is much better (and more realistic) than what I had imagined. The atmosphere is absolutely tranquil as hypnotic music almost serves as accompanying music to the butterflies rhythmic like flight patterns. There is also a guided tour where I learned about the evolutionary cycle from microscopic eggs, to caterpillars, and eventually to the most majestic and magical of all insects. And if you arrive early enough, you’ll very likely witness a butterfly actually emerge from its cocoon. You won’t see them farm however.

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 Reviews(Average Rating: 92% for 5 reviews) 

  • sunjewel
    sunjewelReviews: 1
    Posts: 0

    Hiking, Ziplining and more at Loterie Farms, St. Martin

    10/06/2009

    99%

    St Maarten / St Martin

    Our adventure began as we manuevered down the steep driveway down into St. Martin's only forest and nature preserve. From the views of the old plantation house to driving under the lush Mango, Mahogany and Flamboyant trees - the cameras were just clicking away. We had our choice between hiking through the remains of the old sugar cane plantations and ziplining on one of the three adventure-packed zipline courses. From beginner's for children to the obstacle-filled Flyzone intermediate course to the Extreme Zipline ("extreme" says it all) - there was something for everyone in our group. We chose the Intermediate zip line and never has a workout been so much fun. Mix in a little Indiana Jones and a good heaping of Tarzan (complete with a few monkey sightings) and you have the recipe for some wild fun!! Not for the faint at heart or out of shape. Not to be missed nor will it ever be forgotten.

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  • sherlockhomeboy
    sherlockhomeboyReviews: 1
    Posts: 0

    Good Getaway

    08/13/2008

    75%

    St Maarten / St Martin

    St. Maarten is a medium-size Caribbean island, divided into a French side and a Dutch side. You don’t have to stop at a customs station to cross from one side to the other. The island itself is rocky and hilly, covered with lush tropical vegetation. This usually would indicate frequent rainstorms, but the locals tell me that it doesn’t really rain much except in September, so there’s lots of reliable sunshine. Other than the many modern hotels and resorts, the Dutch side of the island is seems a bit shabby and run-down. Streets are narrow and barely maintained. This is in striking contrast to the French side, which seems cleaner, has fewer hotels and resorts, and smoother, wider roads. The beaches are typically clean and lovely, and you can’t beat the combination of Dutch and French cuisine: Delicious cheeses and pastries, excellent restaurants. And best of all, Heineken is everywhere.

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    Good Getaway
     
      
    • Fresh seafood
    • Well-developed resorts
    • Popular cruise ship destination
  • hamiltonwhitney
    hamiltonwhitneyReviews: 1
    Posts: 0

    Island Atmosphere

    07/30/2008

    85%

    St Maarten / St Martin

    I was only able to spend about half a day in St. Maarten as part of a Royal Caribbean cruise. Being on a budget, my wife and I spent most of that time wondering the streets picking up a few souvenirs and seeking out freebies. In a bid to get customers into their shops, many stores were giving out free gemstones or other fun gifts. If you don't mind the occasional "we know you're just here for the free stuff" looks by some of the staff and like a treasure hunt it can be quite fun. The island atmosphere is amazing and one glance at the open water leaves no doubt that you ain't in Kansas no more. The food, as one can expect at any tourist destination, was on the pricier side on the beach and amongst the shops. We opted to eat upon returning to the ship instead though the array of restaurants certainly was enticing. It is also worth mentioning that unlike some of the other island destinations we visited, St. Maarten seemed much more open and less crowded. Whether you're looking to shop till you drop in the duty free stores, laze on the pristine beach, try out the local beverages and other specialties or just absorb the island with open arms an afternoon in St. Maarten is sure to please. I am confident that more time to explore, and maybe a little less penny pinching, this island destination is sure to yield fun and secrets of all kinds.

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  • Sandy Snyder
    Sandy Snyder
    • Top member
    Reviews: 11
    Posts: 21

    More than just another Island

    07/17/2008

    100%

    St Maarten / St Martin

    If you love island beauty, European flavor, nightlife, casinos…you will fall in love with St. Martin/Sint Maarten. It might not happen on your first visit, but you will be intrigued enough to come back. Once you’re back, you’ll make friends, you’ll discover more about the island you love. It’s an addiction. I first visited Sint Maarten on a cruise. Never made it past Phillipsburg and thought is seemed like a nice enough island. I went back purely by circumstance in 2005 with a group of friends for a weekend getaway. We had the time of our lives. We happened to be there during the Heineken Regatta which is a once a year event, in which the island becomes one big party – you don’t have to be a sailor or someone from Heineken to join in on the fun – it’s open to everyone! We’ve returned every year since. I loved the authentic Caribbean feeling of the island and the casual way tourists wandered around. So many places to visit and discover. The people who live and work on the island are a unique sort. Very down to earth and easy to talk to – we made friends instantly and I just had a feeling this was the start of something for me. With each year, we return and greet our old friends and meet new ones – we discover new restaurants, new shops and new excursions. A unique experience is the Ziplines at Loterie Farm, which combine adventure and some mighty fine cuisine…exactly like the island itself. In summary, I will say the island is divided in two; both have beautiful beaches and scenery. There is a French side, there is a Dutch side. The French is for those who enjoy quiet, relaxation, gourmet dining and (ahem) nude beaches. The Dutch is for those who love nightlife, shopping, fun, and excitement. For a little of both, no worries, stay on the Dutch side (for the nightlife) and explore the French side during the day. It really has something for everyone and it’s my favorite place in the world .

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  • VacationHmQueen
    VacationHmQueen
    • Top member
    Reviews: 24
    Posts: 6

    The Europe of the Caribbean

    06/22/2008

    100%

    St Maarten / St Martin

    I could live in St. Martin -- it is just that amazing! St. Martin is half French and half Dutch and is really the best combination of two great cultures. You get the amazing jewelry shopping on the Dutch side - nice variety of colors of diamonds....all at a discount. On the French side, you get amazing fashion and cuisine. Its a little piece of heaven! The white sand beaches and turquoise waters are really beautiful as well. The best beaches are on the East side of the island, where we stayed. We actually stayed by Oyster Pond, which was nice because it had a quiet calm about it. Even during big storms, it was pretty tame. The place was close to everything we needed, which was nice. The food in Grand Case is to die for! Nearly every day we were there, we headed to Grand Case for the sure bet of excellent food at every restaurant. We galloped horses on the beach. We went sailing. We jet-skied all the way around the island. It took 3 hours. We went waterskiing. The island has something for everyone. We also went on a sailboat race around Phillipsburg harbor on a real America's Cup boat, which was really cool..... and won! Another great thing about St. Martin is if you get island fever and want to get away from your get away, you can island hop over to Anguilla and see some of the most beautiful powder sugar white sand beaches you will ever see (check out my other review). Or you can go to St. Barths where you can experience more French cuisine, ultra high end shopping, and more beautiful beaches! St. Martin is fantastic! For the first time ever, I had real thoughts about not going home ever! Oh yes! And those guava berry pina coladas are really yummy and go really well with a view of a turquoise beach.

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    The Europe of the Caribbean
     
      
    • Eye eye Cap'n!
    • Salt water horse ride
    • Phillipsburg behind me
    • Avoiding the boom
    • Marigot so pretty
    • Another view of Marigot at sunset
    • Me at sunset
    • Between the walls of the fort
    • Lovers quarrel at the fort
    • Me and my cat at Oyster Pond
 

   

 Bookmarks (2) 

 



 
 

   

 Top reviewers 

  1. VacationHmQueen
  2. Sandy Snyder
  3. hamiltonwhitney
  4. sherlockhomeboy
  5. sunjewel
 

   

 Photos from flickr 

  • Philipsburg - Capitol of Dutch Sint Maarten
    CBGB_Hoser
  • Air Fraance in St. Maarten
    complexify.

This product uses the Flickr API but is not endorsed or certified by Flickr.

 

   

 Top bookmarkers 

  1. VacationHmQueen
 
 
 
 
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