Travel to Saint Martin and Sint Maarten
On this very small island in the Caribbean, you could almost miss the border crossing. Saint Martin and Sint Maarten are two countries on one small island. The only sign that you are going from one country into the other is literally just a sign and a small monument. We toured around this beautiful island during a cruise stop there in 2019.
About Saint Martin/Sint Maarten
This two country island is in the northeastern Caribbean, directly south of Anguilla and east of Puerto Rico. The northern part of the island (Saint Martin) is the French country while the southern part (Sint Maarten) is Dutch. The island was devastated by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and when we visited there were still many signs of the damage that had been done. Despite that, the island has breathtaking scenery and has rebuilt many times over the years after hurricane damage.
The island is dry, with no rivers, and there are not much in the way of agriculture. Tourism is an important part of their economy. The countries are best known for their restaurants, casinos, nightlife, and beaches. Cricket is a popular sport and all water activities are enjoyed by the people who visit here.
What to Do
You may have heard about the low planes flying in over Maho Beach, and it really is something to experience. We took an island tour that included at stop here. While the airport runway has been extended so the planes are no longer quite as low as they go over the beach, they are still incredibly close.
We also had quite an informative tour of the island. There are many different but similar island tours available, most with humorous and knowledgeable guides. We were a bit surprised by the landscape. After seeing many other islands with lush vegetation, Saint Martin/Sint Maarten seemed fairly dry.
We were thrilled to spend some time at Orient Beach, which was one of the most spectacular beaches we saw on our trip throughout the Caribbean. There was white sand as far as you could see, turquoise waters, and great swimming.
Next Time in Saint Martin/Sint Maarten
I would love to return to the Saint Martin/Sint Maarten now that it has had a few years to fully recover from Hurricane Irma. Since there is such a food culture on the island, I would love to try some of the local food trucks or roadside stands. Another recommendation is Bistrot Caraibes, for a French dining experience.
The Flying Dutchman is the world’s steepest zipline located in Sint Maarten. While I am not much of a thrill seeker, my husband and travelling partner really wants to try this one. I would like to experience the culture of the two Carnival celebrations. Saint Martin Carnival is celebrated in February while the Sint Maarten Carnival is in April. The music, dancing, costumes and parades look spectacular.
