Sint Maarten French and Dutch Sides Half-Day Island Tour

Philipsburg, Dawn Beach and Oyster Pond

The tour begins at the Philipsburg cruise terminal on the Dutch side of the island. Philipsburg, the capital of Sint Maarten, sits on a narrow strip of land between the Great Salt Pond and the sea, and is known for Front Street, its long shopping street, and the boardwalk along the beach. The guide drives you past the town and explains how the island came to be shared between the Netherlands and France in 1648.

Heading northeast, you reach the area of Dawn Beach and Oyster Pond, where the hills drop to a sheltered lagoon full of sailing boats. This is where you cross one of the symbolic borders between the two sides, marked only by a sign and flags, since there is no border control on the island. A short photo stop gives you the first sweeping view of the Atlantic coast.

Coralita Nature Area and Orient Beach

Just over the border on the French side, the tour stops for views over the Coralita nature area, a wild stretch of coast with dry hills, cactus and protected reefs that shows how the island looked before development. It is a quiet contrast to the busy beaches that follow, and a good place for photos of the turquoise water.

Next comes Orient Beach, often called the most beautiful beach of Saint Martin: a long crescent of soft white sand facing calm, clear water sheltered by offshore islets. You have about 45 minutes to swim, sunbathe or stroll along the shore, with restaurants and facilities along the beach. Families may prefer the central stretch, as the far southern end of Orient Beach is clothing-optional.

Grand Case and Marigot Market

Driving north and west, the tour passes through Grand Case, a small seaside village known as the culinary capital of the island for its many restaurants and its open-air grills serving local barbecue. Its pretty beach and colourful Creole houses make it a favourite place for a meal if you return to the island later.

The route continues to Marigot, the charming capital of the French side, where you have about 45 minutes at Marigot Market on the waterfront. Stalls sell spices, printed fabrics, straw hats, local crafts and souvenirs, and the colonial streets behind are lined with cafés and boutiques with a French feel. Above the town, the ruins of Fort Louis overlook the harbour and the lagoon, a fine backdrop for photos.

Maho Beach and the Low-Flying Planes

From Marigot the tour crosses the upscale Lowlands area and returns to the Dutch side to reach Maho Beach, the island's most famous sight. The beach sits right at the end of the runway of Princess Juliana International Airport, so passenger jets pass just above the sand as they come in to land, an unforgettable photo opportunity.

You have about 45 minutes here to relax on the sand, swim and watch the arrivals. Stand well back from the airport fence, as the jet blast from departing planes is strong enough to knock people over and throw sand. Bring a towel and sun protection, and keep phones and cameras in a bag to protect them from flying sand between photos.

Simpson Bay and Cole Bay Hill

The last part of the tour follows Simpson Bay, a lively area along a large inland lagoon with marinas, waterfront restaurants and some of the largest yachts in the Caribbean moored at the docks. The guide points out the drawbridge that lets tall boats into the lagoon and the long beach that curves along the bay.

The final stop is Cole Bay Hill, a viewpoint high above the lagoon with a panorama over Simpson Bay, the airport runway and the sea, and on clear days the neighbouring islands. After a few minutes for photos, the tour returns to the cruise terminal, or you can ask to be dropped in Philipsburg to explore Front Street on your own before heading back to your ship.