St. Maarten island hopping guide to Anguilla, St. Barts and Saba
Last updated: Jan 17, 2020
Do you know what the best thing is about vacationing on St. Maarten? It's that you don't have to be on a cruise ship to island hop and tour around the islands! Unlike at most other Caribbean destinations, you can adventure around the neighboring islands by public ferry, plane, private boat charter or in an organized day trip from St. Maarten. You can easily visit 5 different countries during your one week vacation in St. Maarten and each of these islands offer a completely unique experience.
Find out about all your options for island hopping from our guide including both the most cost-effective and the more exclusive experiences. This is everything you need to know for the perfect holiday in Sint Maarten. Note that the schedule changes drastically in low season from September through November.
Getting to Anguilla from Sint Maarten / St. Martin
Most important things to know about Anguilla before visiting
Only 5 miles North of St. Maarten lies the pristine British island of Anguilla where nature provides endless stretches of powdery white sand, lucid blue waters, cooling breezes and an abundance of peace and tranquility. Anguilla is one of the most envied islands in the Caribbean for the quality and quantity of its picturesque beaches. Even its capital city, The Valley, is a quaint little town. The island offers a wide range of accommodation options to meet various needs from low cost hotels, through comfortable all-inclusive resorts to the very popular Four Seasons. Don’t forget to check out Anguilla’s official website before visiting.
Although the island was seriously damaged by Hurricane Irma in September 2017, it has been slowly but surely recovering and starting to look better than ever before. Have we mentioned the best part yet? You don't need a visa to visit Anguilla from St. Maarten!
If you'd take the ferry to Anguilla from Sint Maarten / St. Martin...
The cheapest way to get to Anguilla is undoubtedly by taking the public ferry. However, keep an eye on all the other costs involved in a self-made day trip, such as taxis, drinks, food, beach chairs, etc., in the end, it might come out more expensive than opting for an organized day trip. To visit Anguilla on a budget, take the cheap public ferry from Marigot to Anguilla.
The Anguilla ferry runs every 45 minutes and arrives to Blowing Point Anguilla ferry terminal. The first ferry to Anguilla from St. Martin departs at 8:15 am and the last one returns at 6:00 pm. This will give you plenty of time to see the best beaches of Anguilla. The public ferry cost is $20 one-way, $40 round trip plus $18 port fee. Cut-off time is 15 minutes before departure.
Ferry Schedule from St. Martin to Anguilla
8:15 am, 9:00 am, 9:45 am, 10:30 am, 11:15 am, 12:00 pm, 12:45 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:15 pm, 3:00 pm, 3:45 pm, 4:30 pm, 5:15 pm, 6:00 pm, 7:00 pm (last ferry!)
Ferry Schedule from Anguilla to St. Martin
7:30 am, 8:15 am, 9:00 am, 9:45 am, 10:30 am, 11:15 am, 12:00 pm, 12:45 pm, 1:30 pm, 2:15 pm, 3:00 pm, 3:45 pm, 4:30 pm, 5:15 pm, 6:00 pm (last ferry!)
You can rent a car at the port for as low as $25 USD but you will also need to apply for an Anguilla driver licence that costs $15. You may also take a taxi from the ferry terminal in Anguilla. Expect to pay about $25 USD to town and $40 to Shoal Bay (one-way). ATV rental or guided ATV tour on Anguilla are also available. See other things to do in Anguilla.
Enjoy a day trip to Anguilla from St. Maarten by speedboat or catamaran
The most popular (and need I say FUN?) way to reach Anguilla from St. Maarten is taking a public or an organized day trip by speedboat or catamaran. Let others take care of the organization, sit back, relax and just enjoy the ride. You will feel overwhelmed by the beauty you will see during the organized trips. There are several boat charter company that leave from Simpson Bay and they cost $90 plus $13 port fee per person or choose one of the following organized excursion:
Visit the hidden paradise, Prickly Pear on an organized tour
You shouldn't forget about Anguilla's little sister, Prickly Pear! This tiny uninhabited island North of Anguilla features the most pristine white sand beaches, vibrant coral reefs and two beach bars. This is where you will take those jaw-dropping photos that get hundreds of Likes on Instagram. There is no public transport between Sint Maarten and Prickly Pear only organized excursions are available with a stop on mainland Anguilla. Click here to see Prickly Pear catamaran tour from Sint Maarten.
Getting to St. Barts from Sint Maarten / St. Martin
Take a deep dive into French elegance in St. Barts
St. Barts is one of those places that you can’t visit without bumping into celebrities, models or spotting the world's richest people who also need to take some time off. The island, an overseas collectivity of France, blends the sophistication of St. Tropez with the laissez-fare Caribbean lifestyle. St. Barts' riviera style boutiques, gorgeous beaches, gourmet restaurants and stunning snorkeling will give you a taste of that elegant French ease.
Upon visiting St. Barts, treat yourself to an unforgettable holiday and emerge in true luxury. The island offers a wide range of high-end accommodations from private villas, through all-inclusive resorts to the famous Eden Rock Hotel. After a day at one of the picture-perfect turquoise beaches such as Nikki Beach, savor every bite of a fine dining meal at one of the island’s best restaurants.
Check here to see if you need visa to St. Barts (Schengen visa is not enough). If you need a visa to go to St. Barts, you will have to make an appointment at the French embassy or consulate either at your home country before arriving to St. Martin, or the one in Marigot, capital of French side St. Martin.
Take a ferry from St. Maarten to St. Barts
You have several options to visit St. Barts from St. Maarten. There are two ferry companies that leave from the Dutch side of Sint Maarten to St. Barts and there is one that leaves from the French side. You can also fly to St. Barts from both sides of Sint Maarten / St. Martin. There is no organized day trip to St. Barts from St. Maarten at the moment (will be available again soon).
It is highly recommended to book your tickets in advance as St. Barts gets very busy in season and every single ferry, flight, car rental and hotel sells out weeks in advance. Once you arrive to St. Barts, there are taxis readily available to take you around, you can rent an ATV or take a guided ATV tour on St. Barts.
How to get the cheapest ferry to St. Barts?
The St. Barts ferry cost depends on whether you are planning to stay over or come back on the same day (in other words doing a day trip to St. Barts). Some ferry companies offer special promotional tickets to St. Barts for day trippers, while some are cheaper for those who are looking to stay over.
Ferry between St. Barts and St. Maarten
Other options to visit St. Barts from St. Maarten
Charter your own private boat in St. Maarten and visit St. Barts in style with your own captain.
Departure from Dutch side: Simpson Bay to St. Barts
$950+ for an 7-hour charter with open bar
More info
Flight from Sint Maarten to St. Barts
There are daily flights from both sides of St. Martin to St. Barts. Visit WinAir's and St. Barth Commuter's website for schedule. These companies also offer private charters to St. Barts.
$80+ one way, $150+ round trip
Flying will take you to St. Barts in only 15 minutes but it is not for the faint of heart. St. Barts' Rémy de Haenen Airport (previously known as Gustave III Airport) hosts one of the shortest runways in the world and was voted one of the world's most dangerous airports. It is not only narrow but planes coming in for a landing have to be careful as to not hit a sloping hillside upon descending. At the same time, hitting the runway too late might leave your plane in the water which has happened before.
Getting to Saba from Sint Maarten / St. Martin
The best kept secret of the Caribbean
Saba is truly the Caribbean's best kept secret. The island rises from the azure Caribbean Sea with its summit always mysteriously hidden in the clouds. The island is widely known as the Unspoiled Queen of the Caribbean. She is untouched, tranquil and magical where time has stopped decades ago when the Caribbean was truly a safe, friendly and charming destination. Saba's natural wonders are unparalleled both above and below the surface. This is the ultimate Caribbean destination for adventure seekers where you will feel like you are at the end of the world.
Getting to Saba is however a tough one. You either have to take the 1.5-hour ferry to Saba which tends to get quite bouncy or take a flight and land at one of the most dangerous airports with the world's shortest commercial runway. The airport is situated on a cliff where only very small aircrafts can land successfully. Strong winds on Saba often delay departures from Sint Maarten substantially as the planes are not allowed to take off until wind conditions ease on Saba.
Fun fact: The silhouette of Saba was used to represent Skull Island in the opening scene of the original King Kong movie.
Take a ferry to Saba from Sint Maarten
Fly to Saba from Sint Maarten
WinAir usually offers 4 departures a day from Princess Juliana Airport to Saba and back. See flight schedule from Sint Maarten to Saba on WinAir's website.
$100+ one way, $200+ round trip ($57 one way for the very early flight)
Plus one: Getting to Statia (St. Eustatius) from Sint Maarten / St. Martin
St. Eustatius, also known as Statia Island, is the most remote destination you can visit in a day trip from St. Maarten by ferry or plane. St. Eustatius might look like a sleepy Caribbean island but it used to be the world's busiest seaport for cargo between Europe and the Americas in the 18th century.
With only 3,600 citizens, there are no strangers on the island, even day tripping visitors are welcomed as friends. Statia's tourism is minimal compared to the surrounding islands. St. Eustatius is mostly visited by intrepid scuba divers and nature lovers exploring its rugged, volcanic terrain, best know for the Quill, a dormant volcano, which is also the highest peak in the island. The unique biodiversity around the volcano is what makes it a special ecological feature. On top of that, a lot of tourists flock here to hike or enjoy some birding opportunities.
You can visit St. Eustatius from St. Maarten either by taking a plane operated by WinAir ($66 one way, $130 round trip + $15 departure tax) or a long ferry ride with Great Bay Express: