The island of St. Maarten/St. Martin has 37 beaches - each with its
own personality and character. From the secluded and serene, to the
active and lively, each locale has something special to offer.
Regardless of who owns the property adjacent to the water’s edge,
island law guarantees that the public has access to the sea which
washes the shores.

Below are some of the island’s most popular beaches:

Dutch St. Maarten

Cupecoy Beach
Lined with sandstone cliffs and caves, which affords privacy along this usually narrow beach; the surf can be strong, though the wind is often blocked by the rocks; far end of the beach is clothing optional.
Dawn Beach
Excellent snorkeling; reef runs parallel to the beach offering protection for the shore, as well as for the life beneath the waters. Enjoy lunch, dinner, or a snack with a cool, refreshing beverage at Mr. Busby’s Beach Bar as you look out over the ocean and St. Barths.

Great Bay
Over a mile long, the waters in Great Bay are kept calm by the protection of the bay.

Little Bay
Never more than 25 meters wide.

Maho Bay
White sand, rocks at either end. On most days, you can look across the water at the island of Saba.

Mullet Bay
Shaded by palm trees.

Simpson Bay Lagoon
Sandwiched between the fishing village and the murmuring sea, the calm waters of the lagoon offers the perfect venue for a variety of water sports.

Oyster Pond
Home of the Oyster Pond Marina.

Guana Bay
Rugged, secluded; the Atlantic surf can be quite strong.

French Saint Martin

Orient Beach/ Baie Orientale
A huge crescent of sand cradles a turquoise cove and offers a fabulous view of the sea and Pinel Island; the bay is an underwater marine reserve; this beach is clothing optional and is the playground of the nudist resort, Club Orient.

Grand Case Beach
Narrow, quiet, pristine; good snorkeling in the south end; calm waters

Long Beach / Baie Longue
Nearly deserted; topless optional.

Prune Bay Beach
Small strip of sand, cliff on one end, no facilities, secluded; topless optional.

Rouge Beach/ Baie Rouge
Pink coral sand, expansive cove, turquoise water.

Friar’s Beach
Good snorkeling

Pinel Island
A small islet off Orient Beach, a ferry brings you from French Cul de Sac to the private seclusion of Pinel Island in minutes. Beautiful white sandy beaches and excellent snorkeling. Jet ski rentals are also available. Pack a picnic lunch for one of the easiest and most relaxing daytrips on St. Maarten.

Tintamarre
A deserted four square mile island off the north side of St. Martin, this is a beautiful destination of many day sail trips. One side of the island is splashed by calm waters and excellent snorkeling can be experienced off the shores. Remnants of an old farmhouse and a dilapidated airstrip can be seen as you walk across the island, also called Flat Island, to see the more savage waters found on the other side.

Water Sports

With 37 square miles of island surrounded by water, there is no shortage of activities, the possibilities are endless.

Motorized and Non-Motorized Water sports
Try out Orient Bay for various water sports activities to include rentals of catamarans, sea kayaks, windsurfers, wave runners, laser boats and more. Lessons are also available. Also take advantage of the Parasailing opportunities.

The ideal windsurfing and surfing beach on the island is Le Galleon located next to Orient Beach. Rentals are also available at the beach.

Scuba Diving
With 100-foot visibilities and warm water, you are sure to enjoy making friends with the Caribbean marine life. Brilliant colored corals and fish flourish beneath the surface of the glistening waters. Sea turtles, angelfish, grouper, stingrays, tangs - experience the beauty of the undersea world.

Diving offers unique views of the coral reefs and shipwrecks. Over 40 dive sites are presently available around the island. Creole Rock and Proselyte are the most famous sites, the former known for its easy access, the latter for the incredible beauty of coral and sponge covered walls, of corridors among the coral blocks where encrusted cannons and anchors from an 1801 wreck can be admired. Other more secluded spots provide the pleasant sensation of new discovery.

There are several scuba diving operations on the island. Certified divers can rent equipment or participate in guided boat dives: wrecks, reefs, night dives, drift dives. One-tank boat dives usually run around $45 including equipment. Several dive operators also offer resort courses to vacationers who don’t want to miss out on the opportunity to experience scuba diving.

Consider taking the certification course at home and doing the open water dives in the warmth of the Caribbean. A referral from your instructor is all it takes. There are several PADI and NAUI instructors on the island.

Don’t miss the opportunity to dive Saba during your visit.

Snorkeling
Several beaches offer off-shore reefs and rocky shores, which make perfect snorkeling sites. Dawn Beach, Baie Rouge, Pinel Island, and Friar’s Bay. Tintamarre and Anguilla also make great day trips.

Dawn Beach is well known as the best snorkeling site on the island (you may get your snorkel equipment at Busby’s Beach Bar), followed by Baie Rouge and Maho. Pinel Island also offers some great snorkeling. You can take the ferry that runs from French Cul de Sac to Pinel Island. The Ferry begins operations early in the morning and continues during the entire day, The cost is approximately $5.00 per person, round-trip.

Deep-Sea Fishing
Get the Big One on your own fishing expedition. *If you are not interested in a private charter - some boats will allow one to two persons interested in sharing with others to go deep sea fishing based on a per person price for * day or * day trips.

Day Sail Trips
There are several options for day-sail trips leaving from St. Maarten. Relax and leave the sailing to the professionals. With destinations such as St. Barths, Tintamarre, and Prickly Pear Island, your day will consist of the wind blowing through your hair as you skim across the waters. Some trips include food, drinks, and snorkel gear. Typical prices are $50-70/day depending on what is included.

Boat Rentals
Interested in renting your very own powerboat, sail boat or catamaran? No Problem! You can visit Tintamarre, a deserted island also known as Flat Island, or Pinel Island, or zip over to St. Barths for lunch. Other favorite spots are Prickly Pear, Dog Island and Anguilla. Don’t forget to take along your passport or other photo identification.

America’s Cup Yacht Racing
St. Maarten 12 Meter Challenge - For a truly unique adventure during your stay in St. Maarten, enjoy the exhilaration of America’s Cup Yacht Racing. Enjoy this once in a lifetime adventure and experience the sport of racing aboard multi-million dollar America’s Cup Race boats in the warm water of the Caribbean, combining excitement, the thrill of competition and a little touch of history. The St. Maarten “America’s Cup” Regatta has been voted “the number one shore excursion in the whole Caribbean” by one of the leading cruise lines for three consecutive years. Visa & MasterCard accepted.

Sunset Sail
A nice, romantic close to a relaxing day. Watch the sun set over the Caribbean as the water flows around you.