St Maarten is the beating heart of this beguiling two-nation island. With a vibrant mix of Dutch and Caribbean culture, famous white-sand beaches, world-class sailing, outdoor adventure activities and a thriving food scene, the southern side of the island offers something for everyone. For a change of scene, visitors can also journey north to the neighbouring French side, St Martin, which has a feel all of its own.
Melissa Smyth shares eight of the best things to see and do across both sides of the island.
1. Take a Ride
To experience some of the island’s most scenic horseback-riding trails, add Seaside Nature Park to your itinerary.
Experienced riders and complete beginners can both join the gentle coastal route in southern St Maarten. Guides lead you along the shoreline with stops for photos before the highlight of the ride: taking your horse into the Caribbean Sea.
For something different, sunset rides finish with a campfire, marshmallow roasting and ocean views.
If you are travelling with children, there is also a farm where pigs, peacocks, chickens and iguanas roam freely.
2. Create a Custom Souvenir
If you want to take home something more personal than a standard souvenir, Tijon Parfumerie in Grand Case lets you create your own fragrance.
Visitors step into the lab and work with more than 300 curated oils. Staff guide you through different scent profiles before helping you blend your own perfume.
Your finished fragrance is bottled and named before you leave, giving you a souvenir that is completely your own.
3. Enjoy the View
For one of the best views on the island, head to Fort Louis above Marigot.
Built in 1789 to defend the town and valuable goods including rum, coffee and sugarcane, the fort now sits quietly above the coast.
You can still see replicas of the cannons and the remains of the fort, but the view is the main reason to climb up.
On a clear day you can see Marigot, Simpson Bay, Nettlé Bay and even Anguilla in the distance.
Entry is free, and it is a good place to stop with a picnic.
4. Set Sail
St Maarten is well known for sailing, so getting out on the water is an easy addition to the trip.
If you have never sailed before, the Sint Maarten Yacht Club offers lessons for adults and children.
The classes are designed for beginners, so you do not need to know your port from your starboard before you arrive.
It is a relaxed way to learn something new while spending a few hours on the Caribbean Sea.
5. Go Plane Spotting at Maho Beach
Maho Beach has warm turquoise water and white sand, but that is not what made it famous.
The beach sits beside Princess Juliana International Airport, where arriving aircraft pass very low overhead before touching down.
Come earlier in the day if you want a little more space. By afternoon, people gather along the beach waiting for the larger international arrivals.
Even when it gets busy, watching an aircraft appear over the water and pass just above the beach is something you are unlikely to forget.
6. Head to the Jungle
For a completely different side of the island, cross into St Martin and spend some time at Loterie Farm.
The hillside retreat combines adventure and relaxation. There are ziplines and obstacle courses above the trees, hiking trails and spring-fed pools surrounded by tropical greenery.
If you would rather slow things down, you can rent a private cabana and spend the day by the pool.
St Maarten has another option for anyone looking for more adrenaline: Rainforest Adventures, home to the Flying Dutchman zipline, a cable car to Sentry Hill and other activities.
7. Wake Up and Dive In
If having the sea outside your room is high on the holiday list, Maho Beach has several options.
Sonesta Ocean Point Resort is an adults-only, all-inclusive property with oceanfront restaurants and suites with private pools.
Guests also have access to the neighboring Sonesta Maho Beach Resort.
Families can stay at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, which has the same Maho setting with pools, activities and family-friendly facilities.
8. Go Beach Clubbing
On the French side, Orient Beach is known for beach clubs, watersports and French dining.
You can spend the day moving between a sun lounger, the water and a long lunch without needing much of a plan.
Music and beach bars give the area a more social feel than some of the island’s quieter beaches, while the long stretch of sand leaves plenty of room to find your own spot.
Two Sides, One Island
One of the best things about visiting St Maarten and St Martin is how much you can fit into a relatively small island.
The Dutch and French sides have their own character, so leave enough time to see both rather than staying in one area for the whole trip.
To plan your trip, explore our St Maarten destination guide for more information on the island, travel tips and what to see while you are there.
This article was originally published in Cacique Magazine, Issue 31. Read the original publication