Seas The Day
Finding the perfect beach on St. Maarten/St. Martin is a shore bet.
Around every corner there’s a beach to explore on St. Maarten/St. Martin. There’s a beach, in fact, for each of the island’s 37 square miles; and all are kissed by the inviting waters of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.
Each beach has its own character and amenities. Sand embraces a range of colors and textures, from sparkling white and coral pink to volcanic black, as soft as powder or as sensual as sifted sugar. Best of all, variety is the spice of beach life on the island. You’ll discover beaches to suit every sort of shore lover, from sporties to spooners and families with kids.
Here are some of our picks for best beaches on the Dutch and French sides of this multifaceted island. No matter which you choose, you won’t go wrong. On St. Maarten/St. Martin, there’s no such thing as a bad beach day.
BEST BEACH FOR FAMILIES
St. Maarten
Little Bay Beach: The Fort Amsterdam peninsula separates Little Bay from Great Bay, making the waters of this southwestern beach calm. The area is a haven for birds, thanks to conservation efforts. The powdery, white-sand beach offers several sporting options, such as paddleboating, jet-skiing and parasailing. You’re also close to the shops, restaurants and historic attractions of Philipsburg.
St. Martin
Le Galion/Galion Beach: Take your cue from locals. Parents and kids who make their homes on the island tend to flock to this eastern beach for holiday celebrations. The beach, whose shallow water is protected from rough ocean currents, features all sorts of activities for grown-ups and kids alike, including kayaking, canoeing and windsurfing.
BEST BEACH FOR ROMANCE
St. Maarten
Cupecoy Beach: Dramatic ochre-colored cliffs embrace a richly carpeted coral-sand shore at the southwestern corner of the island. Magnificent sunsets wash across cave-peppered sandstone formations towering 20 feet above the surf. If you’re lucky, you may catch a glimpse of the fabled Green Flash as the sun sinks below the horizon. Legend has it that those who spot this fleeting atmospheric phenomenon will enjoy everlasting love.
St. Martin
Lovers’ Beach: The beach owes its name to a local wit who noted that it was barely big enough to accommodate more than one couple at a time. To reach this small stretch of sand on the northeastern edge of the island, you have to follow a trail and amble down a steep incline, but the secluded ambience is a mood enhancer.
BEST BEACH FOR SNORKELING
St. Maarten
Dawn Beach: Rent your gear here on the eastern side of the island and swim out to a spectacular coral reef. Later, you can relax under a beach umbrella on sugary sand as you enjoy the hilly skyline of neighboring St. Barths. Come at sunrise if you need proof that this beach is aptly named.
St. Martin
Ile de Pinel/Pinel Island: Head for Cul de Sac on the north side and hop aboard a traditional boat called a saintoise for a five-minute ride to this protected point of sand surrounded by pristine, shallow water. Follow the snorkel trail to explore the coral reefs. Or simply stretch out and relax, as locals do on weekends.
BEST BEACH FOR SURFING
St. Maarten
Mullet Bay: Waves curl and crash against this wide, moon-shaped stretch of white sand fringed by shady palms and sea grape trees on the western coast. Its crystalline waters are excellent for swimming, but bring a buddy if you’re venturing farther out, where rip currents are periodically reported.
St. Martin
Baie aux Prunes/Plum Bay: Locals like to ride the swells at this secluded golden-sand beach at the western tip of the island near Baie Longue/Long Bay. There are no amenities here, unless you count the enchanting view of Saba.
BEST BEACH FOR FOODIES
St. Martin
Plage de Grand Case/Grand Case Beach: You won’t go hungry on the French northern end of the island, which is famed the world over for its wealth of gourmet restaurants and local grills known as lolos. Eateries line Grand Case Boulevard at the heart of a picturesque fishing village. Walk the mile-long beach and work up an appetite as you take in the sunset and spectacular views of Anguilla.
St. Maarten
Simpson Bay Beach: More than a mile long, this wide, flat, white-sand beach has a secluded feel but is within close range of a number of restaurants, bars and casinos. It’s in the southwest, near Princess Juliana International Airport, but not under the flight path of noisy jets coming in for a landing.
BEST BEACH FOR SHOPPERS
St. Maarten
Great Bay: Just four streets deep and one mile long, Philipsburg offers duty-free shop after shop along the Boardwalk that fronts this heart-of-town beach. This is the place to pick up island crafts or goods imported from the Netherlands.
St. Martin
Anse Marcel: You’re in no danger of maxing out your credit card if you visit this white, sandy beach on the northwestern coast. But the full-service marina here is worth a stroll for its café, convenience store and handful of boutique shops.
BEST BEACH FOR PEOPLE WATCHERS
St. Maarten
Maho Beach: Carry a camera or use your phone to capture the awed expressions of tourists who teem here in late afternoon when jumbo jets fly right over you as they touch down at adjacent Princess Juliana International Airport. Hang onto your hat or lose it to the blowing blast of a Boeing or Airbus.
St. Martin
Baie Orientale/Orient Beach: You also may want to snap away if you visit the northeastern St. Tropez of the Caribbean, a Riviera-like stretch of white powder that tends to attract celebrities and jet-setters. But bag the camera if you decide to venture to the far southern end of the two-mile-long beach, where unclothed fellow sun worshippers are found. Water sports reign supreme, while most bars and restaurants right on the sand are being rebuilt after the hurricane.
BEST BEACH FOR CREATURE WATCHERS
St. Maarten
Geneve Bay: Reaching this rugged black-rock beach on the southeastern coast near Philipsburg requires an hour-long hike from Guana Bay through evergreen shrub land. You’ll be rewarded for your effort with photogenic geological formations, brown pelicans and melon-shaped melocactus plants.
St. Martin
Petites Cayes: To get to this pristine northern spot, you must take a boat or take on a challenging 35-minute hike along the coast or across the cliffs and rocks of a nature preserve. Hillside views of the beach and Anguilla are sure to please photographers.
BEST BEACH FOR GETTING AWAY
St. Maarten
Guana Bay: Picturesque and unspoiled, this quiet, secluded beach northeast of Philipsburg hugs a long, wide bay. Supply yourself with sundries. There are no amenities here, but you’ll get a great view of St. Barths, just 15 miles off shore. Don’t try to swim there, though. Currents can be strong in deep waters.
St. Martin
Baie Lucas/Lucas Bay: Exposed to Atlantic swells and strong winds, this white-sand beach on the southeastern coast draws few visitors even though it’s not that far from urban development. Snorkelers will enjoy coral and rock formations in water sometimes shallow enough to permit walking to a small island offshore.
BEST BEACH FOR PARTIERS
St. Maarten
Simpson Bay Beach: Bars here serve up magnificent sunsets with guavaberry coladas, making this extension of Simpson Bay Beach a great choice for happy hour gatherings. Of course, happy hour on this island is any time you say it is. Karakter Beach Bar and Restaurant is a great place to raise a glass with old pals and toast new friends.
St. Martin
Anse des Peres/Friar’s Bay: By day, it’s a small, family-oriented beach with good views of Anguilla. But after the sun goes down, restaurants and bars draw crowds to the sheltered northwest coast for live music and not-to-be-missed full-moon parties. Let yourself howl!