The Caribbean is the perfect destination if you're looking for sand, sun and sea. Best of all is that it's a year-round destination and you don't have to wait for summer to enjoy warm weather. There are many great places to visit in the region but for one that offers something different, you may want to go Dutch: that is, St Maarten.
Sint Maarten, as the country is more officially called, makes up the southern part of the island of Saint Martin. It's located due east from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and just to the south of Anguilla. The northern part of the island belongs to the French and is known as Saint-Martin and it's incredibly easy to hop between the two sides.
The largest town on the entire island is Philipsburg, which is also the capital of Sint Maarten. Philipsburg lies in the south, along the shores of Great Bay. Backing it is a large body of water known as the Great Salt Pond. Attractions in Philipsburg include Fort Willem and museums but the town is also one of the best shopping destinations in the Caribbean. Moreover, it's a bustling port for cruise ships.
On the Saint-Martin side, the capital is Marigot, which lies along the western coastline. The island's culinary capital, however, is in the north at Grand Case. Here you'll find streets lined with restaurants that serve Caribbean fare with French flair.
The main reason to visit any Caribbean destination is for the chance to laze on the beach and Saint Martin Island is no exception. The beaches won't disappoint either, with their warm waters and white sands. You can take part in a variety of water sports, from surfing to scuba diving, or simply shoot the breeze. One beach not to miss is Maho Beach, less than half an hour's drive to the west of Philipsburg. Here, landing aircraft fly over so low that you can almost touch them and this makes for a very unusual photo opportunity.
While many of the activities on offer on Saint Martin Island are centered in or on the water, you'll find plenty to do on those days when you want to stay dry as well. Go for a hike or a ride on horseback, try a canopy tour, play golf or tennis or, for something different, wage a paintball war. On the French side there is a popular butterfly farm while on the northern shores of the Great Salt Pond you'll find Sint Maarten Zoo.
The best time to visit is, well, any time you want. Humidity and night-time temperatures are a little lower in the first third of the year, when it's dry season. However, this is high tourist season too. Low season coincides with the rainy season, which here only means short showers before the sun comes out to play again.
One way to get to Sint Maarten is by cruise ship, which will dock at Philipsburg. Even better is to fly into Princess Juliana International Airport, the main airport serving the entire island, with flight connections to the entire Caribbean, Panama, the USA and Canada as well as Amsterdam and Paris. Besides, you then get to see the airplane-watchers at Maho Beach from a different angle.
Sint Maarten, as the country is more officially called, makes up the southern part of the island of Saint Martin. It's located due east from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands and just to the south of Anguilla. The northern part of the island belongs to the French and is known as Saint-Martin and it's incredibly easy to hop between the two sides.
The largest town on the entire island is Philipsburg, which is also the capital of Sint Maarten. Philipsburg lies in the south, along the shores of Great Bay. Backing it is a large body of water known as the Great Salt Pond. Attractions in Philipsburg include Fort Willem and museums but the town is also one of the best shopping destinations in the Caribbean. Moreover, it's a bustling port for cruise ships.
On the Saint-Martin side, the capital is Marigot, which lies along the western coastline. The island's culinary capital, however, is in the north at Grand Case. Here you'll find streets lined with restaurants that serve Caribbean fare with French flair.
The main reason to visit any Caribbean destination is for the chance to laze on the beach and Saint Martin Island is no exception. The beaches won't disappoint either, with their warm waters and white sands. You can take part in a variety of water sports, from surfing to scuba diving, or simply shoot the breeze. One beach not to miss is Maho Beach, less than half an hour's drive to the west of Philipsburg. Here, landing aircraft fly over so low that you can almost touch them and this makes for a very unusual photo opportunity.
While many of the activities on offer on Saint Martin Island are centered in or on the water, you'll find plenty to do on those days when you want to stay dry as well. Go for a hike or a ride on horseback, try a canopy tour, play golf or tennis or, for something different, wage a paintball war. On the French side there is a popular butterfly farm while on the northern shores of the Great Salt Pond you'll find Sint Maarten Zoo.
The best time to visit is, well, any time you want. Humidity and night-time temperatures are a little lower in the first third of the year, when it's dry season. However, this is high tourist season too. Low season coincides with the rainy season, which here only means short showers before the sun comes out to play again.
One way to get to Sint Maarten is by cruise ship, which will dock at Philipsburg. Even better is to fly into Princess Juliana International Airport, the main airport serving the entire island, with flight connections to the entire Caribbean, Panama, the USA and Canada as well as Amsterdam and Paris. Besides, you then get to see the airplane-watchers at Maho Beach from a different angle.
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Before you take a trip to the amazing St Maarten island, you should first read the guide that's published on our website. Come and check out this page now at http://www.st-maarten-island-guide.com.
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