Best St. Maarten Beaches for Watersports
St. Maarten is a famed watersports mecca, both for sailing and many other activities on the water. Though the island is especially known for famed yearly watersports events like the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta and the Caribbean Multihull Regatta, did you know St. Maarten also has a foiling championship, kayak tours and you can get your PADI diving diploma here? E-foiling, kite surfing and jet skiing are also popular activities along St. Maarten shores.
St. Maarten has 37 beaches to choose from, varying from the tranquil to ones with lively nightlife. If you are an active water sportsman, consider the following beaches especially to have some sporty water fun.
1. Little Bay Beach – Sailing and Diving Tours, Jet skis
As gorgeous Little Bay Beach is close to the St. Maarten cruise port (10-minute taxi ride), this is a great location when you are looking for things to do on a cruise. Aqua Mania has a base here and the name predicts a wide range of paddle boards, jet skis, diving and sailing tours are available from here.
2. Great Bay Beach – Jet skis, Diving & Sailing
From diving at Dive St. Maarten, sailing boat trips with Eagle Tours to jet skis along the Philipsburg Boardwalk, Great Bay Beach has multiple nautical activities going on. This beach is even in walking distance from Port St. Maarten.
3. Kim Sha Beach – Kayaking
Scenic Caribbean Kim Sha Beach is base of departure of kayak tours of St. Maarten’s all round sports fanatics Tri Sport. You can do both shorter tours along the beach and bay area only, or a longer one into the Simpson Bay lagoon telling you about St. Maarten nature.
4. Orient Bay Beach – Kite Surfing, Kite Foiling, Wing foiling & Parasailing
If you like it higher and drier, cosmopolitan Orient Bay Beach offers kite surfing and parasailing options. Should you want to enjoy your water fun in full freedom: the southern side is an internationally famed clothing optional area.
5. Le Galion Beach – Wave surfing
Family friendly Le Galion Beach has various types of surfing going on, including wave surfing with some help getting you to the best waves.
6. Simpson Bay Lagoon – Yachting & Sailing Charters
Alongside one of the largest natural lagoons of the Caribbean, the Simpson Bay area is a regional yachting hotspot. If you are a sailor and ready for some “serious fun” as the tagline of the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta goes, this is your place to be. From little sailing boats at the St. Maarten Yacht Club to fully manned private sailing ships at <Renegades>, the Simpson Bay Lagoon will be your place of departure. Aqua Mania also has tours departing from here. Your tours here combine well with a Simpson Bay Beach splash, dinner and / or drink.
7. Pinel – Kayaking
If you think of going to do a Pinel Island day trip, consider if you want to take the ferry or be a sport. Kayaks are available at the boat harbor in French Cul-de-Sac. Paddling your way to this scenic nature reserve with two restaurants takes you 10 to 15 minutes.