Adventure Travel Blog

Okay, so you have been to the British Virgin Islands and you are ready to try something new. How about a sailing vacation to the island of St. Martin? If you are an experienced sailor or you have a crewed charter, and you have an extra week, it is about a 17 hour passage between the BVI and St. Martin.

Or you can simply fly directly into St. Martin and pick up your sailing charter. Regardless of how you get there, St. Maarten/St. Martin has been half Dutch and half French since 1648. The island’s rolling green hills overlook deep set coves that, in the past, provided ideal hiding places for pirates. Today, with unrestricted border crossings, the island is one of the major tourist destinations in the Caribbean, especially as a shopper’s Mecca, with duty-free status on luxury items such as jewelry, watches, cameras, liquor, perfumes, and crystal. With 37 beaches, historical sites to explore, biking and hiking, golfing, luxury hotels, casinos and nightclubs, and a wide choice of excellent restaurants, there is something for every cruiser enjoying a Caribbean sailing charter to this piece of paradise known as, “The Friendly Island.”

St. Martin is suitable for all types of cruisers, including party-goers looking for an active night life, families with young children, and wealthy sailors with their luxury yachts. On the Dutch side, the currency is the Netherlands Antilles Guilder, while on the French side, the euro is the local currency. Most establishments, however, will quote in and accept US dollars. The island has always boasted a wide ethnic mix in its population, including Dutch, French, African, Asian and Indian,creating a melting pot of over 350 dining choices. Traditional French, Dutch, Asian and Creole creations are often fused with Caribbean foods. The island has an amazing array of outdoor activities to keep the Caribbean cruiser amused, including sailing regattas, scuba diving, hiking, and mountain biking. In addition, an excellent variety of water sports including windsurfing and jet skiing are available. The French Orient Beach on the northeastern coast is the center for water sport activity with several places to rent jet skis, windsurfers, snorkeling gear, as well as parasail and boat trips out to nearby Green Cay, Tintamarre and Ilet Pinel.On the Dutch side, Simpson Bay also has plenty of operations renting out similar equipment.

Diving on St. Martin is okay, although certainly not the greatest in the Caribbean . The best dive spots include:
1) Proselyte Reef: The HMS Proselyte sank in 60ft. of water in 1801. The reef surrounding the frigate rises to within 15 ft. of the surface and there are plenty of fish and corals to see, as well as the occasional turtle and ray.
2) Simpson Bay Bridge: In the late 1980’s, the remains of the old bridge were submerged and now serve as an artificial reef for schools of fish. 50 ft. at its deepest, the site also has several nearby wrecks as well as an old aircraft.
3) Split Rock and Cable Reef: Split Rock is a large boulder you can swim through, and Cable Reef is home to many large fish, including pompano. Both sites are at 55 ft.

Another fun activity is sea kayaking. With guided tours, this has become a popular way to explore the island’s beaches, historical sites and mangrove ecosystems. With a dozen or so marinas dotted around the island, and some of the world’s most beautiful yachts moored in them, it is no wonder that many visitors enjoy spending a day on the water. Whether you sail on an America’s Cup winning vessel, spend the day onboard a party boat, or take an excursion on a tall ship, there are many opportunities to explore the waters surrounding St. Martin.

If you are looking for a break from your sailing vacation, St. Martin offers many onshore activities including mountain biking, hiking and horseback riding. Mountain biking tracks are available for all levels of riders.  The Cay Bay and Mullet coasts are particularly friendly for beginners, while the Bellevue loop between Port de Plaisance and Marigot is more demanding. For those looking for an adventuresome hike, Pic Paradis (at 390 meters- the highest point on St. Martin), offers a 3-hour trek over rocky trails and through fields of papayas and bananas up into the rainforest for a fantastic view of the island.

Apart from Pic Paradis, the Sint Maarten National Heritage Foundation has over 25 miles of hiking trails through hills, valleys, cliff tops and beaches. These trails are rated for all levels, and vary in length from 90 minutes to 4 hours. Finally, a horseback ride on the beach is an unforgettable experience, especially if you take one that includes swimming with the horses through the surf. Both Bayside Riding Club and Lucky Stables can accommodate novice or experience riders. Regardless of where you go on St. Martin, paved roads link the major tourist areas. The roads, however, are narrow and sign-posting is limited. The major problem is the sheer volume of traffic, particularly on the Dutch side. Traffic can slow to a crawl or even a standstill, especially when the Simpson bay Bridge rises for yacht traffic. Allow plenty of time to get around.

Although one island, a cruiser from a Caribbean sailing charter will see there is a distinct difference between the French and Dutch sides of St. Martin. French St. Martin is less commercialized than the Dutch side, even though it has some of the finest beaches and restaurants. The capital of Marigot is a charming mix of French chic and Caribbean tropical style. The main focus is the harbor, which is the departure point for ferries to Anguilla, St. Barths and Saba. It is also the site of a large colorful marketplace offering spices, flowers, and tropical produce. Side streets house a number of designer boutiques like Cartier, Hermes and Mont Blanc.

Heading north from Marigot, is the gastronomic capital of St. Martin- the little town of Grand Case. The most touted creativity in St. Martin is culinary, and this village alone offers dozens of choices lined up along the beachfront road. If you are looking for a break from your Caribbean sailing charter galley, this is the place to do it. With daily specials chalked up outside, Grand Case prides itself on its well-deserved reputation as one of the finest dining centers in the Eastern Caribbean. Wherever you opt to dine, you will not find a bad meal here! There are also several art galleries and a golden-sand beach that lines the wide sweeping bay.Continuing east from Grand Case, the road leads around a salt pond, which attracts many birds, to the tiny settlements of Anse Marcel and Cul de Sac. Sheltered Anse Marcel is a favorite spot with Caribbean cruisers who take advantage of the large resort there as well as the long sandy beach. Driving through the rolling countryside and mangrove swamps, you will come to Cul de Sac, characterized by its cute little red-roofed houses. Cul de Sac is the departure point for boats making day trips to Ilet Pinel, a pristine and uninhabited offshore island that offers excellent snorkeling and several lunch spots. Along the rough Atlantic shores of the east coast, there are several isolated beaches popular with windsurfers. Perhaps the best known beach in this area is Orient Beach. The area consists of a large development of hotels, villas and condos, but the beach itself is a fabulous swatch of brilliant white sand lapped by turquoise blue waves. As mentioned above, this beach is the hub for water sport activity. And, if you are looking to acquire an all-over tan, the Club Orient, a nudist resort, is located on the southern end of the beach. From Orient Beach, an easy day trip to the offshore isle of Tintamarre will also provide an unforgettable experience. The anchorage provides a nice rest for those on a Caribbean sailing charter that want to soak in the world-renowned mud baths. If you have had enough beach time on St. Martin, the Ferme aux Papillons is a good distraction. The best time to come is in the morning when this large collection of tropical butterflies is most active. Finally, continuing south, you will come to Oyster Pond, which is divided in half by the French/Dutch border. This is a well protected landlocked anchorage. If you are into buffets, Captain Olivier’s lays out an impressive

Caribbean spread with whole grilled grouper and lobsters, as well as various salads and desserts. The best beach in Oyster Pond is actually on the Dutch side. Dawn Beach is the perfect place to watch the sun come up as well as enjoy great views of St. Barths. There is good snorkeling offshore and the reefs lure scuba divers to their caves and cliffs. Beware, however, that the coast itself is wild and the waves can really roll in. The charter bases there recommend that you allow one of their captains to bring you in and it is best to heed their advice. Nightlife on the French side is usually quiet, although several of the hotels may have their own entertainment and there is often a Jump-Up in Grand Case on Friday and Saturday nights, especially between January and May.

Unlike the French side, the Dutch Sint Maarten is more commercialized and touristy. Other than the language and some of the names, there is little you can describe as characteristically Dutch. Although this side of the island is often crowded, there is plenty of fun to be had on the beaches and the numerous lively bars, restaurants and casinos. Philipsburg, the Dutch capital, is a lively commercial town unabashedly in search of the tourist dollar. Its main two roads, Front Street and Back Street, are linked by a series of narrow alleys supporting a cruise ship dock, several hotels, and perhaps the largest shopping center of the Leeward Islands. Front Street sells every sort of duty-free goods from alcohol and cigars, jewelry, cosmetics, perfumes, designer clothes, souvenirs, and electronics, while Back Street sells cheaper no-name goods. The town itself wraps around the long semicircular Great Bay Beach. It is not the most beautiful beach, but it has great views of Saba and offers numerous waterfront places to eat or drink.

Few people stay in Philipsburg, preferring instead the hotels, resorts and series of white sand beaches around the Simpson Bay Lagoon that dominates the west coast of St. Maarten. Maho Beach is often drowned out with noise as airplanes swoop down into Juliana airport. Nevertheless, the beach is very popular and the Sunset beach Bar is usually packed when the sun goes down. Millet Bay Beach is one of the more popular beaches. It is known for its gentle surf, white sugary sand and ample shade provided by numerous palm trees. The quieter Cupecoy Beach has long been clothing optional. It is a dramatic beach with richly colored limestone cliffs and caves. The best nightlife in terms of bars, nightclubs and casinos is on the Dutch side. For partygoers, there is something happening every night from small salsa bars to happy hour two for one specials and raucous booty-shaking music in the nightclubs.

A busy island shared between the Dutch and French, St. Martin is a haven for shoppers and sun seekers. It is a great destination for a Caribbean sailing charter. Whatever its origins, St. Martin’s border bisects the smallest landmass (37 square miles) in the world shared by two countries. The difference between the two is immense. The quieter St. Martin is decidedly French in style, developed on a small scale but including Parisian shopping and gourmet restaurants while Dutch St. Maarten is a party-goers delight with its resorts, casinos and fast-food chains. Whatever your pleasure, there is no other island like it in the Caribbean. Where else can you book a Caribbean sailing charter and explore two countries on one island? To experience this unique piece of paradise yourself, contact www.visailing.com. A tropical adventure under two countries is yours to discover.

For yacht charters and more articles on Caribbean Sailing click here

Caribbean Sailing at it’s best through Virgin Island Sailing Ltd. which offers bareboat, yachts with crew and mega yacht charters, throughout the Caribbean and world wide.
Written By Donna Wolfson of www.visailing.com
Photographs By Donna Wolfson of www.visailing.com

 Virgin Island Sailing,  2216 Lakeshore Drive Nokomis FL 34275 USA Phone:  (800) 382-9666   -   (941) 966-9387 Toll Free Secure Fax: (866) 813-1230  -   Secure Fax: (212) 500-0028

Tags: Caribbean sailing charter, St Martin

Comments RSS