Tours in Sint Maarten

Sint Maarten is the Dutch half of an island you cross without noticing. There is no wall and no checkpoint, just a monument by the road and a change in the language on the shop signs. Drive for ten minutes and you have gone from one side to the other, which is half the fun of staying here.

Start with the water, because everything bends around it. Philipsburg runs along a narrow strip between the bay and a salt pond, and the boardwalk is where cruise passengers and locals share the same stretch of sand. Front Street behind it is shops and bars, and the side lanes are quieter and worth the detour. Maho Beach is the one people come for, where jets pass low over the sand and a crowd gathers to watch them land. Simpson Bay wraps around a lagoon full of boats, with restaurants along the water that fill up as the light drops.

Beyond the Dutch side, Marigot and Grand Case on the French side are an easy drive away. Marigot has a waterfront market and a fort on the hill above it. Grand Case is a single street of small restaurants, and it is where many people end up for dinner. Orient Bay is for long beach days. Expect johnnycakes, grilled lobster, and rum that is stronger than it tastes.

The island is small but the distances feel longer than they look, with traffic around the airport and the port, and few places that suit a long walk between sights. That is why the transfer on this page is the practical way in. A private driver meets you at the airport or cruise port and takes you to a hotel or straight to a beach, and the same driver can bring you back. If there is a fort, a hike, or a particular stretch of coast you want to see, ask. A local guide can plan it with you.