Best Lookout Points for Panoramas of St. Maarten / St. Martin
The fact that the island of St. Maarten / St. Martin rises steeply out of the sea, allows for some great island views from its hills. In random order, see our tips for some great locations for selfies, blog and panoramic holiday pictures below.
1. Harold Jack
A very well known location to shortly pause on your way from the Cole Bay area to Philipsburg is Harold Jack. This elevated point gives an amazing view of amongst others cruise ships passing by and Seaside Nature Park in front. Make sure to do this trip when you come from the direction of Cole Bay / Simpson Bay and not from the Philipsburg side, because this road is a main St. Maarten artery and does not allow well to turn your car from the other side into the Harold Jack parking lot.
2. Rainforest Adventures Park 360 Degrees Viewpoint
St. Maarten’s Rainforest Adventures Park has one of the best panoramas around, as it shows a 360 degrees view of no less than 5 surrounding Caribbean islands. Chairlift Soualiga Sky Explorer takes you all the way up, with an option to go down (very) swiftly with the worlds steepest zipline The Flying Dutchman. But before you leave, take some hours to explore the magnificent views on all platforms and sides. It offers information panels of the many neighboring islands St. Barths, Anguilla, Saba, Statia, St. Kitts and Nevis.
3. Pic Paradis (Paradise Peak)
Pic Paradis on French side St. Martin is the highest hilltop of the island. It especially offers gorgeous views of the Atlantic side of the island towards St. Barths. Reaching this island summit combines well with visiting Loterie Farm just down below and taking a 30 minute hike up.
4. Fort Amsterdam
Bulwark Fort Amsterdam was intended to strategically overlook the salt trade going out from Philipsburg. As the salt ships over time made way for cruise ships, nowadays the fort is a great point to be amazed about the sheer size of these vessels rounding their corner into Philipsburg’s Great Bay. Just as important for nature photographers : its western side offers great views of colonies of brown pelicans nesting on the rocks on the side of Little Bay. The Fort can be freely accessed via Divi Little Bay Resort.
5. Fort Willem
As the reach of cannons increased over time, the Dutch started building a new fortress far higher than Fort Amsterdam on the same slope. Though few elements of what was to become Fort Willem still stand, it is a popular destination for hiking fans.
6. Fort Louis
When talking fortresses, we would be amiss not to mention the great vistas of Fort Louis too. This impressive stronghold overlooks Marigot from its town center, elevated on a steep hill. This fort can be freely visited by using the stairs behind the West Indies Mall starting at the seafront.
7. Tower at Baie L’ Embouchure
The nature reserve of Baie Lucas / Baie L’Embouchure offers a lookout tower co-financed by the European Union. This tower provides picturesque views over the little islets, beaches and mangrove forests of this nature area.
8. Amuseum Naturalis
Amuseum Naturalis is not just a very informative and freely accessible museum on nature and history, its back garden explaining architecture styles and local plant species also enables great views of Orient Bay and Le Galion beach.
9. The slopes of Pinel Island
Popular day trip destination Pinel Island is also a nature reserve. There is hiking routes and hills on the middle of this island, offering nice views of Anguilla, Pic Paradis, the Atlantic and St. Martin.
10. Naked Boy Hill
For the experienced hiking fans, try Naked Boy Hill. This high elevation close to Philipsburg provides panoramas over Great Bay, the St. Maarten capital, Guana Bay Beach and more. A path starts from Guana Bay.
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