Day Trips and Shore Excursions in St. Maarten / St. Martin

Beach It - St. Maarten

There are thirty-seven beaches on St. Maarten/St. Martin that offer something for everyone. Make a day beaching-it on the Dutch side by first heading to Kim Sha Beach. To get there, drive from Phillipsburg west to Simpson Bay, about a 10 to 15 minute trip if you set out after the 7 to 9 a.m. work rush that can create a bottleneck in Cole Bay. Kim Sha Beach is located at the bay's eastern end. Rent a lounge chair for a laidback morning of soaking up the rays or jump into the watersports action. You can truly experience the sights and the adrenaline rush on land and below the sea; book a scuba diving tour, take off by parasail for a bird's eye view of the bay or rent a wave runner (or jet ski) to sightsee by water.

Sometime between Noon and 1 p.m., jump in the car and drive 5 to 10 minutes west along the Airport Road to Maho Bay. This beautiful strip of white sand beach is within yards of the runway at the Princess Juliana International Airport. Grab a burger and a cold beer from a beachside eatery and get your camera ready. The daily 747 and Airbus 340 flights touch down around 2 p.m. Beware — the terrific winds from the engines can create quiet a sandblast, so don't stand directly behind the landing jet, but off to one side.

Relax from all the excitement with a nature walk — on the wild side. A 5-minute drive away is Mullet Bay. The beach here is beautiful, lined with palms for shade and rocks and caves at the far end to add to the fun. Beach combing for shells is a popular pastime. But, what this western beach really offers is a front row seat for some spectacular sunsets. Be sure to bring your camera along!

A Kid-Friendly Day

What to do with children that the whole family can enjoy? Talk to a parrot. Walk through a flock of butterflies. Fly through the trees. These are just a few of the activities that make St. Maarten/St. Martin kid-friendly.

Drive north towards Orient Beach from Philipsburg and make a right turn immediately before the Food Fair market, about a five to ten minute drive from town. This road leads directly to the St. Maarten Park, a zoo that is filled with over 200 tropical critters, including birds, reptiles and monkeys. 'Must sees' are the bush dogs, Golden Lion Tamarins (monkeys) and Scarlet Macaws. Kids especially like the petting zoo and playground. Snacks and cold drinks are sold at the gift shop. Arrive when the park opens (9 a.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. on weekends) and the day is still cool and then allow 90 minutes to see the animals and tour the grounds. Admission is: US$5 adults and US$2 children.

If the kid's are in the mood for more critters, then take them next to St. Martin's Butterfly Farm (La Ferme Des Papillons). It's located north in Le Galion on the French side, on the road to Orient Bay, and it's no more than ten minutes from the St. Maarten Park. Walk through the gift shop and into a large screen enclosure where hundreds of rainbow-colored butterflies flit among the flowers, waterfalls and ponds filled with Japanese fish. A morning visit (park hours are daily 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily) lets you watch butterflies emerge from their cocoons to take a first flight. Guided tours offer kids a hands-on experience with these winged wonders. Beware! You never know when a butterfly will land on your head, shoulder or even tip of your nose. Admission is: US$12 adults and US$6 for children.

Five minutes north, pull into Grand Case and stop for lunch at the famous "Lolo's". These are a handful of casual beachside grills run by local folks who barbecue lobster, ribs and chicken and serve these entrees with side dishes such as. You eat on plastic tablecloth covered picnic tables or get your food in a take out container and sit on the beach. This is a great place to break, fuel up and let the kids play while waiting for the next adventure.

And, the day's finale adventure is sure to put a 'wow' in any kid's day. It's flying through the trees like Tarzan. Fly Zone, located at Loterie Farms, a 10-minute drive north and west through Grand Case to the entrance of the road to Pic Paradise (the highest mountain on the island), lets kids 4-foot tall and taller, and adults, zip along cables strung between trees some 20- to 80-feet above the ground. Don't worry. The staff offers great basic training and everyone wear a protective harness, helmet and gloves. For younger kids, there's Ti' Tarzan, a delightful course of swinging ropes and suspended bridges. Open Tues-Sat 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fly Zone: US$80, Ti' Tarzan: US$24.

Three Top Things To Do If You Only Have One Day

If you only have one day, 8 precious hours, to visit this dual island nation, you want to hit the highlights. That means a morning of duty-free shopping, a gourmet lunch and afternoon at a hedonistic tropical beach.

Start with a shopping trip to Phillipsburg, the capitol of Dutch St. Maarten. The picturesque bayside town is very close to the cruise ship pier (within one mile). You can walk 15 to 20 minutes or hop aboard a water shuttle that makes stops at the east and west side of town. If you're driving, parking can be a real challenge. Parking for rental cars in Philipsburg is at a premium. There are some lots on Pondfill Road, along the salt pond north of town, and at Bobby's Marina, at the far eastern end of Philipsburg. Front Street, which is closest to the bay, is literally lined with gold, silver, diamonds and other precious gems found in shop after shop. Visitors stroll along gawking at the striking window displays amazed at the number of jewelry stores here. The entire island — both Dutch and French — is duty-free. Look for good buys on jewelry, electronics, watches, handbags, cigars and alcohol at Front Street shops such as Colombian Emeralds, Boolchands and Gucci Timepieces at Diamonds International. One block north of Front Street is — of course — Back Street. Several short side streets connect these two parallel thoroughfares. Here, smaller family-owned shops offer attractive bargains as well as finds such as Caribbean rums, West Indian hammocks, local art, and handmade jewelry. Allow two to three hours to shop in Phillipsburg. Most shops open at 9 a.m. definitely stop in to Guavaberry for a free taste of their legendary liqueur and aged rums.

Non-shoppers can head for a stroll on the Phillipsburg Boardwalk. Nearly 50 feet wide and a little over a half-mile long, this neatly paved walkway serves at the 'front yard' to the many beachfront restaurants, hotels and casinos. Think Venice Beach meets Atlantic City on a lot smaller scale and with a whole lot more laidback charm. Walkers, roller-skaters, and even folks on Segway tours cruise this strip making people-watching the chief spectator sport.

Hungry? Head west on a clockwise trip from Philipsburg towards Cole Bay, pass the 'Welcome to St. Martin' sign, and stop in the charming town of Marigot — about a 20 to 25 minute drive, depending on traffic. The docks along the Marina Port La Royale form a U-shaped buffet of brasseries and bistros. Unlike in nearby Grand Case, known as the 'Culinary Capitol of the Caribbean', many of the marina-side restaurants in Marigot serve lunch. Look for specialties such as snails in garlic butter, Caribbean lobster, Creole Stuffed Crab Backs and chocolate soufflés. Set aside a good two hours to leisurely enjoy your lunch.

Finally, spend your afternoon sunning, swimming and sightseeing (if you dare) on one of the most famous beaches in the world — Orient Beach. To get here, drive 5 to 10 minutes, following in the same clockwise direction that you started from Phillipsburg. Known best for being 'au natural', stick to the north end of the beach if you'd rather keep your bathing suit on. The south end of the beach is there you can literally see it all, both the nudity as well as a knockout view of the entire bay and as far away as St. Barths from atop Hope Hill.

Complete your day-trip, and a circumnavigation of St. Maarten-St. Martin, with a drive from Orient Beach to Philipsburg, about a 10-minute trip. This route passes by Oyster Pond, where there's a pretty marina, restaurants and shops. The 'Welcome to St. Maarten' sign comes next, followed by the sights, sounds and traffic of town.

A Day On & Under The Sea

St. Maarten-St. Martin is a 37-square-mile island circled by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and Caribbean Sea to the west. The line from the Ancient Mariner rhyme, 'water, water, everywhere' certainly applies when it comes to a great way to tour the island.

Start with living the dream of racing on a real America's Cup sailboat. The America's Cup St. Maarten 12-Metre Challenge is based out of Bobby's Marina on the eastern end of Philipsburg, a short walk or taxi drive from the cruise ship pier or adjacent to a parking lot for those driving. Sign up for the first regatta, which departs at 8:30 a.m. The crew will brief you on the workings of the yacht, and then assign teams and duties. You might get to grind the winches, trim the sail or be the timekeeper. Next its time to cast off, cruise out to Great Bay and race the other team around the marks to the finish. The whole adventure takes about 2 ½ to 3 hours. You'll soon learn why this activity has consistently been voted one of the best in the entire Caribbean.

Grab a bite of lunch in Philipsburg. Holland House is a sure thing for a memorable vacation lunch under their shady, brilliant white curtains. The menu offers a mouth-watering selection of fresh local foods and seasonal dishes. A lovely setting, where you can come in as you are and enjoy a good view and delicious meal from appetizer to desert. (If you're looking for fast food, eat farther down the Boardwalk where a quick cold beer and fast food are more the norm.) After lunch drive north about 10 to 15 minutes along the less crowded eastern side of the island to French side and the village of Grand Case. This is where you can take the afternoon tour aboard the Seaworld Explorer, a semi submersible submarine. The 1 ¼-tour departs takes you five feet deep where you can see coral reefs and schools of fish close up and personal through large glass viewing windows. It's definitely a great way to spend the day!

Our Activity Guide will get you acquainted with all the tours, attractions, sports and activities in St. Maarten/St. Martin -- for you and your kids. Contact our activities providers and get full details before you go!

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