The Caribbean island of Saint Martin is an inviting tropical getaway with great beaches, casinos, duty free shopping, sailing and water sports from surfing and windsurfing to waterskiing, fishing and parasailing. In addition to these attractions, St Martin also has an interesting history, festive nightlife and a great amount of nice restaurants to choose from, so it is no wonder why this small island receives over a million vacationing visitors every year.
Divided island. Located in the East Antilles between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, the 87 km² island of Saint Martin is shared between France and the Netherlands. With its southern portion being a self-governing part of the Netherlands called Sint Maarten and its northern portion an overseas collectivity of France called Saint-Martin, the island is the smallest inhabited island divided between two nations. However, there is no real borderline between the two halves and both residents and visitors of either side of St. Martin can travel across both sides of the island without any trouble.
The island’s inhabitants are a mixture of mulatto and black creoles, Guadeloupe mestizo, European and East Indian. The Dutch side of Sint Maarten has 50.000 inhabitants, while the French side has 35.000. Tourism on St Martin is the mainstay of the local economy, and the island has the highest per capita income in the Caribbean.
Water sports wonderland. In addition to getting tanned, water sports such as windsurfing, wakeboarding, kitesurfing, jet-skiing, parasailing and surfing on Saint Martin are all great ways to spend your time at the beaches. Sea kayaking, deep-sea fishing and sailing in Saint Martin are also available. There is also an underwater marine reserve in Orient Bay that offers nice snorkeling and diving.
Towns & attractions. The capital of the Dutch Sint Maarten, Philipsburg contains major casinos, restaurants and shopping areas, as well as two historical forts, a historical museum and a boardwalk along its lovely beaches, whereas Marigot and Grand Case on the French Saint-Martin offers great restaurants. Other attractions on St Martin include Pic Paradis, the highest hilltop on the island offering hiking trails and great views over the island, a zoo park and a butterfly farm, and watching the jumbo jets landing right next to you at Maho Beach.
Divided island. Located in the East Antilles between the Caribbean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, the 87 km² island of Saint Martin is shared between France and the Netherlands. With its southern portion being a self-governing part of the Netherlands called Sint Maarten and its northern portion an overseas collectivity of France called Saint-Martin, the island is the smallest inhabited island divided between two nations. However, there is no real borderline between the two halves and both residents and visitors of either side of St. Martin can travel across both sides of the island without any trouble.
The island’s inhabitants are a mixture of mulatto and black creoles, Guadeloupe mestizo, European and East Indian. The Dutch side of Sint Maarten has 50.000 inhabitants, while the French side has 35.000. Tourism on St Martin is the mainstay of the local economy, and the island has the highest per capita income in the Caribbean.
Sights and activities on St. Martin; beaches, water sports, shopping & casinos
There are plenty of things to see and do in Saint Martin. The Dutch side of the island, Sint Maarten hosts more hotels, villas and timeshare condominiums than the French side, as well as has nine casinos, lively nightlife and great opportunities for tax-free shopping on Saint Martin. The French side is less developed and more European-style than the Dutch side, featuring gourmet restaurants, many shops and boutiques and nudist beaches. Both sides of Saint Martin are home to excellent beaches, most of which are owned by hotels.Water sports wonderland. In addition to getting tanned, water sports such as windsurfing, wakeboarding, kitesurfing, jet-skiing, parasailing and surfing on Saint Martin are all great ways to spend your time at the beaches. Sea kayaking, deep-sea fishing and sailing in Saint Martin are also available. There is also an underwater marine reserve in Orient Bay that offers nice snorkeling and diving.
Towns & attractions. The capital of the Dutch Sint Maarten, Philipsburg contains major casinos, restaurants and shopping areas, as well as two historical forts, a historical museum and a boardwalk along its lovely beaches, whereas Marigot and Grand Case on the French Saint-Martin offers great restaurants. Other attractions on St Martin include Pic Paradis, the highest hilltop on the island offering hiking trails and great views over the island, a zoo park and a butterfly farm, and watching the jumbo jets landing right next to you at Maho Beach.
Saint Martin travel information and practical tips
St Martin has a dry tropical climate affected by trade winds.
Photo: ajsmith227, used under Creative Commons License (By ND 2.0)
The weather on Saint Martin is mostly sunny, but there are also brief, intense rain showers, and the hurricane season from July to November brings occasional heavy rains and wind.
How to get there. Saint Martin has two airports, of which Princess Juliana International Airport in Sint Maarten side of the island receives international flights to St Martin from both North America and Europe. You can also visit St. Martin by boat: There is a ferry connection to St Martin from the neighboring islands, and Caribbean cruise ships frequently visit Philipsburg and Marigot harbors. Marinas are also available for yachters. Car rental on St Martin is the primary way of moving around on the island. Taxi vans and minibuses are also available for transportation.
High quality services. Both the Dutch side of Sint Maarten and the French Saint-Martin offer an excellent range of accommodations, from holiday villas to beach resort hotels on Saint Martin. The 300 restaurants on Saint Martin offer a variety of cuisines from French and Caribbean to American and East Indian. The nightlife on Saint Martin is very lively, especially on the Dutch side of the island. English is commonly spoken on both sides of St Martin, and US dollar is the de facto currency. The island is a quite safe destination to visit, although occasional theft is reported. Leave no valuables unattended in your rental car or at the beach, and you should be fine.
Short history of Saint Martin
Saint Martin was first settled by Arawak Indians, arriving from South America. It was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1493 and later occupied by the Dutch in 1631. The Dutch, French and Spanish argued about the ownership of the island, until it was divided peacefully between the Dutch and French by a treaty in 1648. Sugar cane cultivation with slave labor was the mainstay of St Martin until the slavery was abolished in 1848. The island became a free port in 1939, and tourism expanded during the 1970s and 1980s. The French Saint-Martin ceded from the French territory of Guadeloupe in 2003.hint See also these nearby destinations: Saint Barthelemy, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Barbuda, Antigua
