(Header photo courtesy of Rainforest Adventures)
See for a full overview of activities the things to do on St Maarten activities page.
St. Maarten’s fame derives from its nature – a combination of transparent light blue seas, lagoon, pristine beaches and last but not least its towering hills with magnificent views on many other Caribbean islands close by.
Hiking trails for all experience levels can be found on either side of The Friendly Island, each providing the hiker with a unique experience. Try hiking to the top of Pic Paradis, the highest point of the island. The climb is not that hard, and the view is magnificent. You also may enjoy a hike to the Natural Pool. Reward yourself with a refreshing dip in the water of this natural hole.
From amazing multi-island views from the top of its hills to the mangrove forests below and from the pink cliffs of Cupecoy to the unique natural arch of Pointe du Bluff near Long Bay, St. Maarten / St. Martin has highly different landscape treasures often off the beaten track.
The hikes vary in difficulty and are rated as easy, moderate or challenging. Some trails are flat, while others have steep ascents to high points on the island. The 10 trails are Billy Folly, Cay Bay to Little Bay, Fleming Property, Guana Bay, Fort Willem, Naked Boy Hill, Pointe Blanche, Sentry Hill, West Coast (Kim Sha) and Vineyard. See below for a listing of choosing, level of difficulty and route of your day of St Maarten hiking!
The island’s subtropical climate fosters a wealth of plant and animal species. Sterns, frigates and brown pelicans thrive on hiking trails along the coastline and in mangroves, and lizards and iguanas are always to be found sunning on the rocks. What’s more, the island recently expanded its hiking offerings.
When in nature, look for St. Maarten’s national symbols the brown pelican and the sage flower as you can find in the Dutch side flag. Just as special a national symbol is the red flamboyant tree.
For those people interested in more in-depth information on St Maarten / St Martins nature, we suggest to pay a visit to the Dutch side Heritage Museum in Philipsburg or the French Side’s Amuseum Naturalis.
For the best hiking in St Maarten / St Martin , it is recommended to go to the nature before or after the afternoon sets in as this marks the hottest time of the day. A partially clouded day will provide for a more pleasant hike than a sunny one. See our daily weather outlook to pick your best day.
EPIC, an organization that helps protect the Caribbean environment through research and community-based action, selected a mix of urban, coastal, grassland and secondary forest trails for improvement, providing visitors with an opportunity to enjoy the biodiversity and natural beauty of St. Maarten. See below for a listing of choosing, level of difficulty and routes! Also, see our event calendar if any nature hike is planned soon!
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