The Pelican area clearly is named after the national bird of Dutch side St Maarten, also placed on its flag. Its uphill Billy’s Folly area got its name after a certain Mr. William who bought the property located near Pelican, hoping to become rich from exploiting the manganese mines and guano found in the limestone caves. Did it work out? No, it was not profitable, hence the name Billy’s Folly. For best things to do in Pelican, see Simpson Bay.
Pelican nowadays is one of St Maarten’s most bustling tourism areas, with many of its largest resorts located under Billy’s Folly hill. Atrium Resort & Spa, Simpson Bay Resort & Marina, LaVista Beach Resort, Royal Palm Beach Resort and Flamingo Beach Resort. Restaurants vary from the more intimate Hideaway and Juliette’s Bistro, to the seaside cosmopolitan La Patrona and Replay Bar. Aquamania operates all your watersport desires from the same waterfront, including departures to Saba.
Along the one mile Pelican area, you find the Pelican key as well as Kim Sha Beach. The Pelican area also boasts a large amount of villas at your disposal. NGO EPIC has set out an itinerary if you want to climb Billy’s Folly.
If you are into hiking, try the westcoast trail leading from Kim Sha beach to Mullet Bay, passing by no less than 5 beaches bordering the Caribbean and the Simpson Bay Lagoon.
Pelican is in walking distance of the Simpson Bay area.
Find the Pelican area on the map below!
• Spend a day on the water with Eagle Tours
• Explore the waters of Sint Maarten with Aqua Manias Boat Tours
• Go all sport and let Tri-Sport guide you on a scavenger hunt, or one of its other Simpson Bay based adventures!
• Take a “Wave Runner” jetski out, and tour the waters!
• Take a Pyratz Gourmet Sailing lunch boat out to sea!
• Take a Kayak Lagoon Tour to learn about the nature and mangrove forests of St Maarten / St Martin.
• Visit and learn from the visitors center / laboratory of local cosmetics multinational St. Maarten Nectar!
• Take a ferry for a day trip to Saba or St Barths!
• Taste the delicious local rum of St Maarten at Toppers Rhum Distillery.
• Enjoy your Sports events at Replay Bar!
• Take a hike on the Billy Folly & Pelican hiking trail!
• Enjoy a handcrafted cocktail while listening to nice music at Kingsman.
• See what sailing activities are going on at the St Maarten Yacht Club!
• Spend a day at Simpson Bay Beach or Pelican Key Beach!
• Pineapple Pete’s / Wasabi Charlie’s
• The Boon
• Al Pasha
• Jai’s
See our overview of St. Maarten taxi rates what pricing is in place from Pelican to your place of departure.
