Top 10 Activities on the "Friendly Island" St. Maarten/St. Martin

[Nicholas Kontis]

In this 37 square mile area, you will be amazed by the breathtaking landscape, fluttering butterflies, blue turquoise waters, beautiful white sand beaches, delicious food, delightful Duty Free and Tax Free shopping, glorious Caribbean sunshine during the day, and a vibrant nightlife at night... St. Maarten/St. Martin offers a broad array of entertainment for everybody, from families to honeymooners.

During the evenings, enjoy the vibrant nightlife of tropical cocktails, casinos, steel bands,  dance clubs, discotheques, open air cafes and incredible fine dining.

During the day, you can do almost anything from relaxing by your hotel or villa pool, or lying on the beach with a good book, to the many different activities available: Horseback riding, snorkeling, scuba diving, parasailing, windsurfing, jet-skiing, kayaking, hiking (even up to the peak of Pic Paradis!), mountain biking, sailing and deep sea fishing are some of the most popular activities on St Maarten and St Martin.

Whatever your tropical vacation desires are, you will find it, for sure, on Sint Maarten or Saint Martin. We have listed only a popular selection of the broad array of things to do.

St. Maarten is filled with adventures on the water. Why not charter a boat?

Sailing

St. Maarten Charter Deals Select from a fleet of sail vessels. St. Maarten Charter Deals offers exceptional trips anywhere around St. Martin and the neighborhood islands. Conveniently located at Palapa Marina in Simpson Bay. Go snorkeling, fishing, sightseeing, kayaking, and all kinds of activities for private charter and groups.

Golf

There is an 18 hole golf course at the dysfunctional Mullet Bay Resort on Dutch Sint Maarten, surrounded by water and palm trees. The Golf course is located between the Simpson Bay Lagoon and the Caribbean sea. $106.00 for 18 holes with mobile cart or $70.00 with pull cart. Golf clubs can be rented, too at $26.00 (18 holes) or $21.00 (9 holes). Call the Golf pro shop at                         545-2801 before 4pm for tee off times and for more information.

Deep Sea Fishing

Your best chances for a fishing charter are at Lee Fish on Simpson Bay 544-4233. Best fishing grounds are close by to catch marlin, tuna or dolphin. The drop off at La Samanna Resort is supposed to be the best spot for blackfin tuna and wahoo. The "Marlin Boulevard" is a famous spot for marlin. St. Maarten/St Martin holds periodically big game fishing tournaments, e.g. the Marlin Cup in Marigot in May, or The Billfish Tournament in June.

Wakawa's Pinel Island Eco-Snorkel Tour using Amphicom Audio Snorkels

This unique snorkeling experience gets you away from the crowds and onto beautiful Pinel Island where you will enjoy a fully guided snorkel tour in the best spot St. Maarten has to offer! Your guide gives you an orientation and fits you with state-of-the-art gear including an Amphicom audio snorkel which allows you to listen to an interesting narrative about the coral reef and its inhabitants as you snorkel. Get comfortable with your gear in shallow water.

As you glide slowly through the water the bottom will turn from sand to sea grass to reef. Try to count the school of tang, watch as a turtle has a snack, hover above a group of squid, wonder at the grace of an eagle ray… More informative than a normal snorkeling trip, more fun than an aquarium!

Hobbie Cat Sailing

If you are up to get away from it all, discover the neighboring islands with a day at sea on a thrilling Hobbie Cat. On Orient Bay, you will find the best choice, e.g. Club Nathalie Simon

Visit a Butterly Farm

The Butterfly Farm features hundreds of rare and exotic butterflies in a tranquil atmosphere: beautifully landscaped, in a quiet garden with waterfall, ponds, Japanese fish and mystical music. The best time to go is early in the morning to watch the butterflies emerging from their cocoons and taking their first flight. The farm does informative guided tours, and is great fun also for kids. Located in Le Galion area next to Bayside Riding stables. Open year round 9am to 4:30pm.

Windsurfing

Windsurfing with the gentle trade winds on St Martin is a treat! Season actually starts in Winter with the so called "Christmas Winds". Otherwise, Southern trade winds provide consistent conditions averaging 15 knots until July. Intermediates and advanced wind surfers should definitely go to Orient Bay, despite its frequent choppy conditions as the bay is facing the windward Atlantic coast. The possibilities are endless here: flat water sailing; swell and chop sailing between Green Cay and Pinel Island; speed runs to Pinel from Club Orient; or wave sailing in the reef at Green Cay. Another great place for Wind surfers, beginners and intermediates, is Le Galion Beach.

Submersible / Semi-Submarine

The Seeworld Explorer is the only semi-submarine on the island, and takes you to some great reefs to admire the best of the underwater life. It departs from the pier, downtown Grand Case. The boat is not available off season or might not be available at times.

Horseback Riding

Seaside Nature Park is at Cole Bay (off Welfare Rd) is next to the island's power plant (GEBE) on the Dutch side of Sint Maarten. Lucky Stables offers horseback riding for all level of riders. Bayside Riding Stables on the road to Le Galion Beach (French side) is a well-equipped Equestrian Center with horses and ponies for all courses. The rides take trails through the Marine Reserve and along the shore of Le Galion up to Orient Beach.

Loterie Farm / Fly Zone

Located just off the road to Pic Paradis, is an excellent place to explore what life in the Caribbean must have been like. This unique farm once cultivated sugar cane, now, it is the ecological showcase of a Californian philanthropist. You can hike for an hour through the "hidden forest" with splendid views towards the Caribbean Sea, Marigot, and the island of Anguilla. Alternatively "fly the trees" on a tree top tour at the Fly Zone along ropes from tree to tree. The higher and more challenging tour is for adults and youngsters > 4 ft. tall. The lower and easier tour is for kids. They also have an excellent restaurant and a bar/lounge on site. Reservations for Fly Zone recommended on busy days (cruise ship days!).

Learn More About The Caribbean's Paradise Islands of St. Maarten and St. Martin:

http://www.sint-maarten.net

 

About Nick Kontis - Read More: http://trip.worldtravellist.com

 

Nick Kontis started out as a world traveler at an early age traveling back and forth between California to Greece every summer. But it was a back packing trip around the world at age 24 that proved to be a life changing experience. After traveling by car, train, , plane, bike and, boat around the world, it would be this trip of a lifetime that would lead to a life as a travel entrepreneur and world traveler. Nick has been on both radio and television. Featured on Arthur Frommer’s television show, and referred by Lonely Planet writers. Frequently mentioned as the “father of around the world airfares” Arthur Frommer once said, “If Jules Verne were alive today he would use Nick to go around the world in 80 days.” Nick and his various travel companies have sent over 10,000 people taking their dream trip through airfare discounts of as much as 50% off the airlines published fares. Now Nick promotes travel through his World Travel List and ‘Trip Rambler’ by World Travel List. Having traveled to over 80 countries Nick hopes to inspire others to travel the world.

[Vern Niebel]

Great summary about what you can do on St. Martin/St. Maarten. Though, mountain hiking is a bit difficult due to lack of trails. You may instead walk from beach to beach, which is easily possible, especially on the French side. In any case, it is the island with the most versatile range of things to do!
www.sint-maarten.net 

[Vincent Russo]

Yes nice because it makes me want to step out the casino. I usually stay in there the whole time when I'm in St. Martin! 

My grandson says that the boat in the 5th picture is a catamaran but it's not a Hobie cat because a hobie cat is just a little two man boat. 

[Nicholas Kontis]

Thank you Shannon and David. On this one I was commissioned by the tourist board. David, thank you for the corrections. It's most appreciated. Guys, I have a little writing site where some Tripatini guys post. I am grander scheme. We'll see. But if you ever do share your work on other sites, I accept anything and everything travel related.

www.trip.worldtravellist.com

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Have a safe and adventurous summer.

Nick from San Francisco, but in my summer world

Puerto Vallarta, Mexico

It's sweltering and I love it....

[Shannon Farley]

Nice post! Makes me want to go to St. Martin!

[David Lawrence]

Some people think the casinos is the best thing to do in St. Martin but u have much better ideas! 1 correction here. The catamaran can't be a hobiecat because that company's boats are too small. Also I point out for anyone who's alarmed by catching dolphins that when you catch dolphin off St. Martin you're not catching the mammal dolphin but a dolphin FISH that's really mahimahi.