Best tours and Day Trips in Saint Martin

If you are one of those who, when you visit a destination, choose to visit nearby places, then in St. Martin you will find plenty of options to discover the Caribbean spirit of the region. On this island, which is divided north and south and co-governed by the Netherlands and France, you can take excursions to nearby beaches, major cities and even the surrounding island territories.

Some of the best things to do in St. Maarten include visiting Marigot and Orient Bay Beach on a full-day tour, touring Simpson Bay from Philipsburg, seeing rugged Tintamarre Island and visiting picturesque Maho Beach.

A full-day guided tour of the Caribbean island of St. Martin is the perfect way to explore and discover all that this tropical paradise has to offer. Guided by local experts, you can immerse yourself in the rich culture, fascinating history and breathtaking scenery of every corner of this island territory.

As full-day excursions that usually start early in the morning, these experiences will take you to the highlights of St. Maarten. On the French side you can visit the town of Marigot, where you can stroll through its colorful streets, explore its local market and enjoy the delicious Creole cuisine in its local restaurants.

On the Dutch side of the island you can enjoy the beautiful white sandy beaches, such as the famous Maho Beach. There you will have the opportunity to get a close-up view of the planes taking off and landing at the nearby airport in an exciting and unique shore-side experience.

These excursions usually also include a visit to the island's natural highlights, such as the Pinel Island Natural Park, where you can enjoy pristine beaches, participate in some of St. Maarten's best snorkeling excursions in its crystal-clear waters and savor the delicious local cuisine in its restaurants.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 66 euros per person, including transfers and the assistance of the local expert guide.
• Duration: between 6 and 8 hours
• Advantages of these excursions: you will get to know the main sites of the island in an interactive experience.
• Disadvantages of these excursions: you usually do not have much free time to enjoy the beaches and the most outstanding paradisiacal sites.

A full-day tour from Philipsburg to Marigot and Orient Bay Beach is a perfect way to explore the charms of the French side of the Caribbean island of St. Martin. Starting in Philipsburg, you'll head to Marigot, the northern capital, where you' ll immerse yourself in its European charm and rich Caribbean culture.

In Marigot you'll explore its picturesque streets, with their colonial architecture and chic boutiques. You will also have the opportunity to visit the local market, where you will find local products, handicrafts and delicious French and Creole culinary specialties. In addition, if you plan to visit Sint Maarten in December, you can find a Christmas market there.

After enjoying the vibrant French capital, these tours offer you to visit the famous Orient Bay beach. Known as one of the best beaches in Sint Maarten, this place will welcome you with its white sand and crystal clear waters. There you can relax under the Caribbean sun, swim in its refreshing waters or participate in exciting water activities such as snorkeling or jet skiing.

During the day, you will also have the opportunity to enjoy the local gastronomy in the restaurants near the beach. You can savor Creole dishes, fresh seafood and refresh yourself with tropical cocktails while marveling at the breathtaking ocean views.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 51 euros per person, including transfers and the assistance of the expert local guide.
• Duration: about 7 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions: you will have time to take a swim and enjoy the beaches at your own pace.
• Disadvantages of these excursions: these excursions are not recommended if you are planning a short stay on the island, as they only include one town on the French side.

An exciting full-day excursion from Philipsburg to Simpson Bay will give you the opportunity to explore and enjoy this Caribbean bay to the fullest. Starting in Philipsburg, you will head towards the Dutch side of the island to discover the wonders that Simpson Bay has to offer.

In this bay you will be impressed by the long white sandy beaches and crystal clear waters that invite you to immerse yourself in a tropical paradise atmosphere. You can enjoy the beach, swim in the refreshing waters or simply relax in the sun while enjoying the views of the sea.

In addition to the beaches, Simpson Bay is also known for its marina, where you can admire and photograph the luxurious yachts and sailboats that fill the harbor. If you are passionate about sailing, you can opt for an exciting boat ride around the bay, exploring the surroundings and enjoying the sea breeze.

Simpson Bay offers a wide variety of restaurants and bars where you can delight in the delicious local cuisine and savor Caribbean cocktails, most of which feature rum, the local drink par excellence, as the protagonist. If you plan to visit St. Maarten in October you can try the fresh seafood of the region, which at that time is found in the areas near the coast, facilitating its fishing.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 38 euros per person, including transfers and the assistance of the local expert guide.
• Duration: about 6 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions: you will be able to contemplate some of the most beautiful open views of the island, especially during sunset time.
• Disadvantages of these excursions: if you plan to visit St. Maarten during the summer months you should be aware that it is a very visited site with a high influx of tourists.

A tour to Tintamarre Island from Philipsburg is an exciting adventure that will take you to explore one of St. Maarten's hidden treasures. Tintamarre is a small uninhabited island just a short boat ride from Philipsburg, and offers a truly paradisiacal experience.

During the tour, you will embark on a scenic boat ride that will take you through crystal clear waters to Tintamarre. As you approach the island, you will be captivated by its white sandy beaches and lush tropical vegetation. Once you arrive, you will have time to explore and enjoy the natural beauty of the island.

Tintamarre is known for its coral reefs, making it a perfect place for snorkeling. There you can dive in its waters and discover a variety of tropical fish, colorful corals and other fascinating marine species. You can also relax on the beach, sunbathe and enjoy the calm and serene environment.

In addition to its underwater beauty, Tintamarre is home to a population of iguanas. During the tour, you will be able to observe and photograph these creatures as they roam the island. Please note that it is important to respect their habitat and keep a safe distance to preserve their natural environment.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 43 euros per person, including transfers to and from the island.
• Duration: about 5 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions: you will get to know one of the few remaining virgin and jungle sites in the Caribbean.
• Disadvantages of these excursions: you will have to carry food and beverages, since there are no services available on the island, only the basic ones offered by the excursions' transfer boats.

An exciting half-day excursion to Maho Beach in St. Maarten will give you the opportunity to experience one of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean. Located near Princess Juliana Airport, Maho Beach is known for its unique location that allows visitors to watch aircraft take-offs and landings up close.

At this beach you will be amazed by the breathtaking views and the thrill of watching planes pass just a few feet above your head. You will feel the power of the engines and the thrill of witnessing this unique spectacle while enjoying the white sand and turquoise waters.

In addition to being an aircraft observation point, Maho Beach is an ideal place to enjoy the Caribbean sun. You can sunbathe, swim in the warm waters or just relax on a sun lounger while watching the aerial activity. You can also find from there the best transfers from the airport of St. Maarten, which will take you to other places on the island.

Maho Beach also has a wide variety of bars, restaurants and stores nearby, where you can enjoy delicious Caribbean food or buy souvenirs to take home. You can also join exciting water activities, such as snorkeling or jet skiing, and explore the area's crystal-clear waters.

Details of interest

• Price: approximately 25 euros per person, including transfers to the beach.
• Duration: about 3 hours.
• Advantages of these excursions: you will be able to visit one of the most picturesque beaches in the Caribbean, due to its proximity to the airport.
• Disadvantages of these excursions: it is one of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean, but the noise of the airplanes makes it difficult to relax in the coastal area, although you can still take a quiet swim.

You can book an excursion from Sint Maarten in advance online or you can book one of these tours once you are on the island. In that case you should take into account the date of your visit, because if you plan to travel during the high season, the places on the tours may sell out in advance or increase in price due to last minute bookings, as the rates are dynamic.

If you plan to visit Sint Maarten in December during Christmas or the festive season, I advise you to book tours in advance so that you can save time and money. The same applies if you plan to visit the Caribbean during the summer, which is part of the island's high season.

St. Maarten is one of the most famous islands in the Caribbean, so on these excursions you can discover the best tourist sites it has to offer, from the most outstanding beaches, which give this destination its reputation as a paradisiacal region, to the cities that indicate the cultural crossroads that exist in this insular territory that is divided north and south according to French and Dutch influences.

In addition, some of these excursions reserve free time for you to do other activities in between, such as visiting the popular Topper's distillery, which manufactures one of the most consumed rum brands in the Caribbean, touring the Yoda Guy Movie Exhibit or enjoying a buggy ride or ATV adventure experience along the island's cliffs.

If you are planning to visit Sint Maarten and you are planning a stay of several days on the island, I advise you not to miss the nearby sites, as this part of the Caribbean holds some of the best scenery in the area. In addition, you can learn more about the local history if you also visit places other than Philipsburg, such as Tintamarre Island and Marigot, which has a strong French influence.

I also advise that if you plan to visit St. Maarten during the high season or during the festive season you should book tours and accommodations in advance to save time and money, and also so that you can organize an itinerary for your tour of this site, which will allow you to get the most out of your trip.

This destination offers many alternatives and you could easily tour the island on your own by renting a buggy or choosing for yourself the best snorkeling excursions in St. Martin, but outside the main spots you would miss out on some of the region's secrets and little explored sites, such as Tintamarre Island or the Pinel Island Natural Park. These sites are usually only widely known by local guides, who will give you a closer experience.

In addition, as most tours in St. Maarten include round-trip transfers and a neat itinerary planned in advance, you can relax and save time in organizing the tours. You will also be able to save money, as local expert guides will take you to the best gastronomic sites that respect an interesting relation between the price and the quality of the service they offer.

Finally, don't forget that in many of the remote places in Philipsburg only the local language is spoken, either French or Dutch, so if you opt for a guided tour you will be able to relax in this aspect as well, as everything will be in the hands of the guide.