St. Maarten

Beaches

Located just south of the Dutch/French border, Dawn Beach is famous for two things: the amazing sunrises that earned the shoreline its name and the clear water that's perfect for snorkeling. Dawn Beach's Atlantic Ocean waves can sometimes be rough.

Friar´s Bay, also called Anse des Pères, North of the French capital Marigot, is a pretty, small, family oriented beach. The bay is well protected from the swells, and attracts also a few boats. Its calm waters makes Friar´s Bay an excellent choice for families.

Grand Case Beach, in French called Plage de Grand Case, is a very pretty, one mile long, white sandy beach with calm waters and dozens of great restaurants and beach bars. The beach is awesome for swimming and has nice snorkeling at the nearby Créole Rock.

Great Bay beach is paralleling the main shopping street in the Dutch capital of Philipsburg. It has excellent crystal clear water and white sand and you can enjoy the many beach bars and live music throughout the day. It is conveniently located close to the cruise ship terminal.

Guana Bay is a remote beach in the Dutch side of the island. It is exposed to the Atlantic Ocean which makes the surfs stronger. It is ideal for body boarding or srufing but not for swimming. It is a popular spot for green and leatherback turtles to lay their eggs.

The beach is centrally located between Simpson Bay and Pelican Key, in the Dtuch side of St. Maarten. The beach offers water sport rentals, diving tours and also great sunset views and beach bars where you can watch it while sipping on a sundowner. 

Le Galion Beach, also called Coconut Grove, and nicknamed Baby Beach, is the next bay Southeast of buzzling Orient Bay. This laid back beach is surrounded by a coral reef that serves as a protection, providing calm and shallow waters. A bit further out is an excellent surfing spot.

Long Bay is not only famous for its idyllic setting, but also for the Belmond Hotel - La Samanna - and the array of luxury villas on the waterfront. The owner of the most expensive home here happens to be Donald Trump.

Few beaches in the world are as unforgettable as Maho Beach in St. Maarten — where jumbo jets soar just meters overhead as you stand on the sand. This guide covers everything you need to know before you go, from the best plane-spotting tips to where to eat, stay, and snorkel nearby.

Orient Bay is another charming coastal community of the French side that is famous for its beach where clothing is optional. The bay is quite popular with tourists, offering a wide range of beach activities and water sports.

Pinel Island used to have an underwater snorkeling trail with guided snorkeling tours before the hurricane in 2017. This service is not available anymore but life has returned to the reefs. You can take a ferry to Pinel, then enter the see by the rocks for the best snorkeling. Excursions to Pinel also available.

This uninhabited island 4 kms off the northern coast of Saint Martin is home to many turtles. The only way to access Tintamarre island is by an organized day trip or chartering your own speedboat or catamaran. Enjoy a hike around the island and go swimming with turtles.