10 Most Important Things To See On St. Maarten
St. Maarten has received many accolades for its lively array of activities when on holidays and things to do when visiting on a cruise. But what are the key things you must have seen when on St. Maarten / St. Martin?
It is a daunting task to create a list of must sees as the island is known for its very different areas and its variety is considered a forte. The more difficult a challenge it is as the intention of this top 10 is to deviate from the must see monuments or must do lists.Taking into account the desires of both the history buff traveler, the beach lover as well as the thrillseeking visitor, making selfies of this list of landmarks will truly show you have been on island, in random order:
1. Philipsburg (ao Courthouse)
As 10 must see locations is a very short list for St. Maarten / St. Martin, #1 combines three important reasons why to put Philipsburg in your itinerary.
Firstly, the town is centered around the key island landmark of the Philipsburg Courthouse. This former government building is of so much importance that it is both part of the St. Maarten flag and the government emblem.
Secondly, shopping on St. Maarten is a phenomenon and especially in Philipsburg. Many fiancées choose the many jewelries in Front Street to seal their marriage with a precious ring.
Last but not least, Great Bay Beach and its boardwalk are a very popular spot for a seaside afternoon with eateries, bars and shops.
2. Maho Beach
Maho Beach is without exaggeration the most famous beach of the Caribbean. Not just because of its iconic (and popular) spectacle of airplanes flying closely over it or its famed nightlife areas nearby, but also as it is a plane spotters heaven. Manually guided Webcams from all over the world keep track of this unique sandy shore live, Flight Simulator adopted a digital version of the runway as unique wannabe pilot training run.
3. Concordia Monument
Though Philipsburg and Maho Beach are unique on their own merits, nothing beats the fact St. Maarten / St. Martin is the smallest landmass divided by two nations. Open borders and the dominant Caribbean feel all around does not make one notice the difference when traversing the border, unless you do so between Cole Bay and Marigot. Here you find the 1948 monument remembering the Treaty of Concordia being signed three centuries previously, also known as the Border Monument. This needle is one if many symbols in the St. Maarten flag, but the sole one represented in the binational unity flag.
4. Fort Amsterdam
Fort Amsterdam is also a must see for various reasons. Friends of nature will appreciate the fact that there is a large and very active colony of the national bird, the Brown Pelican, to be found here. History fans will have a good time exploring the forts ruins and explanatory signage, as the fortress was the decor for fierce Dutch battles with the Spanish. Thirdly, gorgeous Little Bay Beach next to the fort is a fantastic base for a beach day and water activities.
5. Fort St. Louis
The landmark castle of the French side is without a doubt Fort St. Louis. This towering complex rises steeply over French side capital Marigot and makes it a good combination for a half day trip.
6. Rainforest Adventure Park
Rainforest Adventure Park is home to the steepest zipline in the world, but the main reason it is listed here is the amazing view of the parks’ top deck over St. Maarten, St. Martin and many of the surrounding islands. In addition, the Emilio Wilson Museum will enlighten you about island history.
7. Under Water SXM
Brand new, but an immediate landmark status is nonetheless obtained by Under SXM, an underwater statue park near Fort Amsterdam. Sculptures not just represent historical island figures, the statues were casted from members of the current population. Under Water SXM can be reached with Aqua Mania tour boats.
8. Pinel Island
A somewhat off the beaten track but locally very popular activity is visiting gorgeous Pinel Island. This tiny nature reserve called after shipwrecked Pirate Pinel boasts two beaches and two beach bars.
9. Amuseum Naturalis
The volunteers keeping this gem of a museum in play deserve a spot in this list. In a (free!) one hour visit to Amuseum Naturalis, hosted in an old plantation house, you will know everything about St. Maarten / St. Martin nature, history and building styles. Important is not to forget to walk to the back for a spectacular view over the Atlantic.
10. Orient Bay
Next to Maho and Great Bay Beach, Orient Bay Beach is the most visited beach on the island. The beach has a southern France vibe to it with many restaurants along the beach, as well as a clothing optional part.
An important closing note to this list is that experiencing St. Maarten / St. Martin is not just about seeing, but also about sensing. Close to all activities above, you find restaurants that brought the island the nickname Culinary Capital of the Caribbean. Go find out why!
For how to get to above locations, see our overviews of buses, taxis and car rentals.
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