St. Maarten / Saint. Martin
Blue skies and sunshine all year round. St. Maarten / Saint. Martin is one of the most enjoyed shopping locations in the Caribbean for jewelry, electronics, alcohol, luxury brands, fine arts, and cigarettes. Dutch St. Maarten is a duty-free haven for individuals wishing to purchase unique goods at substantially lower prices than those found in the US, Britain, Canada, Europe, and other parts of the world. Visit the capitals of the island Marigot and Phillipsburg and enjoy a rich cultural experience.
Top 10 Things to do on St.Maarten
1. Bird Watching at Maho Beach
Known as the world’s most exciting plane landing experience. Watch as massive passenger jets drop just meters above your head to land at the Princess Juliana International Airport. Because the runway is ideally located in front of the famous Maho beach, you can have a swim or take a drink at any of the nearby restaurants or lounges on the beach while you bird-watch.
2. Fly down the world’s steepest zip line
Are you a thrill seeker? The St. Maarten zip line descends more than 1,000 feet down a 2,800 feet cable offering breathtaking views of the entire island.
3. Chillout at Loterie Farm on Saint. Martin
During the day, the Loterie Farm offers tranquility and nature, with its botanical surroundings. On Weekends the Loterie Farm transforms into a bustling party vibe. With more than 100 acres of lush vegetation, the reserve near Pic Paradis on the French side of the island can be explored on foot or even by zip line through a canopy of mango and mahogany trees. You can also enjoy a day by the pool and rent a cabana.
4. Sample our local rum at Topper’s Rhum
You can’t visit St. Maarten without enjoying some rum at Topper’s Rhum distillery. The 6,000-square-foot distillery produces over 50 distinct flavors, including bizarre combinations like Banana Vanilla Cinnamon, Bacon & Maple Syrup, and Jalapeno Lime, all of which are available for free sampling by visitors.
5. Spend the day at Pinel Island
Why not visit our nearby islands during your stay? Make use of the Cul-de-Sac jetty and shuttle your way to undiscovered sanctuaries of sand, rock, and coastal heathland. The island has restaurants, shops, beach chairs to rent, and even an iguana park.
6. Indulge your taste at Lolo’s Restaurant
The Lolo’s Restaurants in Grand Case are tiny, traditional shacks offering you that authentic Caribbean vibe. You can expect favorable barbeque, surf-n-turfs, and mouthwatering seafood cuisines. Be sure to try a Johnny cake, it’s the local bread.
7. Explore the majestic Fort Louis
Fort Saint Louis, Marigot, was constructed in 1789 by Governor Jeans Sebastien Durat of Saint and Martin’s Saint-Barthelemy. This fort was built to protect the settlement and Marigots’ port warehouses. The warehouses were used to preserve, and protect rum, salt, coffee, and sugarcane from British and Dutch pirates. Today the Marigot port is known for its stunning 360-degree scenery.
8. Take a boat trip to Anguilla / St.Barths
Enjoy a fun and beautiful day swimming and snorkeling on these charming islands. Go Sightseeing and discover hidden gems while soaking up the sun and enjoying the turquoise waters.
9. Spend the day shopping in Philipsburg
Philipsburg, Front Street is known for its incredible tax and duty-free shopping. You can stock up on trinkets, booze, cigars, jewelry, clothes, fine art, and fragrances at amazing prices. There is also a souvenir market located behind the courthouse with vendors selling local arts and crafts.
10. Hiking
Go hiking! The first thing you notice upon arriving on St. Maarten is the gorgeous green hills. Although St. Maarten / St. Martin is renowned for its nearly 40 beaches, its natural splendor is also worth discovering. Enjoy a diverse array of landscape treasures and local fruits off the beaten path. You might even get a glimpse of the ruins left behind after the devastation of Hurricane Irma in 2017. Hiking offers breathtaking views of multiple islands. Tip!
Grocery Shopping on St. Maarten / Saint. Martin
St. Maarten / St. Martin has a variety of supermarkets that offer products from all around the world, including the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle east. Carrefour Supermarket is the largest supermarket chain on the island.
Find everything you need starting with fresh produce, deli, frozen goods, fruits, beverages, snacks, meats, and seafood.
Market Garden in Simpson Bay is also a great choice if you’re in the neighborhood. For wholesale purchases, Cost-U-Less is a great option. You save money buying in bulk. In every neighborhood, there are local grocers offering all your basic needs at lower prices. On the French Side of the island, St. Martin, the Super-U supermarket is the front runner, known for fair prices and a wide selection of amazing European gourmet products and wines.
St. Maarten Hurricane Season – When is the best time to visit?
St. Maarten Hurricane season officially begins in June and ends in November. There are two main seasons: the wet season and the extraordinarily dry summer season. The rainiest months are July through January and the driest months are February through June. Due to St. Maarten’s location within the hurricane zone, St. Maarten can be hit by a storm at any time during this period, however, to date, the majority of hurricanes have occurred in September. The last catastrophic hurricane which devastated the island was on September 6th, 2017 Hurricane Irma.
Don’t be too alarmed, St. Maarten enjoys a tropical climate with blue skies and hot sunshine almost all year round. The temperature in St Maarten fluctuates between 82- and 84 Fahrenheit.