With about 43 miles of coastline and 37 beaches, Sint Maarten (the Dutch side) and Saint-Martin (the French side) share one small island between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Every beach has its own personality. Here's our local guide to the best and most popular beaches on both sides.
Best beaches on Sint Maarten, the Dutch side
1. Maho Beach: a bucket-list destination
Maho Beach is world-famous for plane-spotting. Planes landing at Princess Juliana International Airport pass just meters above the sand, and with over a million visitors a year and millions of webcam views, it's one of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean.
When a big jet comes in, it's an adrenaline rush you won't find anywhere else, and the perfect moment for that once-in-a-lifetime photo. But Maho isn't only for plane-spotters. It's a lovely stretch of white sand and turquoise water for swimming and sunbathing, and for a quieter break you can head to nearby spots like Tortuga Beach Bar & Restaurant or Sandbar.
Local tips for Maho Beach:
- Check the flight arrivals for larger planes from airlines such as KLM, Air France, American Airlines, Delta, JetBlue or Spirit for the most thrilling landings.
- Visit on days with fewer cruise ships in port to avoid the crowds.
- Stay safe: keep well away from the airport fence during takeoffs. The jet blast from departing planes is extremely powerful and has caused serious injuries.
Cruise ship schedule: Port St. Maarten cruise schedule
Flight arrivals: Princess Juliana Airport flight info
Prefer to watch from the water? Our Tropical Time catamaran tour sails right past Maho Beach as the planes come in.
2. Mullet Bay Beach: one of the best beaches in St. Maarten
Just a 5-minute drive from the Maho area, Mullet Bay is a long stretch of soft white sand and crystal-clear water, and many locals' favorite beach on the Dutch side. With boats bobbing in the turquoise bay, it's a picture-perfect place to spend the day.
You can choose between three spots for food and drinks: Rosie's for a local BBQ snack, Da Waterhole for local dishes, or Kalatua for elegant French-Caribbean cuisine, all with beautiful views of the bay.
Bring your snorkel gear to explore the reef just off the shore, or simply relax and enjoy the easygoing vibe. Whether you want to catch some rays, enjoy great food and drinks or take a stroll along the water, Mullet Bay is the perfect beach day.
No beach chair? Rent reclining beach chairs and a UV50+ umbrella from us, delivered to where you're staying.
3. Simpson Bay Beach: one of the island's longest beaches
Stretching for nearly two miles from Princess Juliana Airport toward the Royal Palm resort, Simpson Bay Beach has plenty of space for sunbathing, swimming and long beach walks. It's known for its soft, powdery sand and calm turquoise water.
Best beaches on Saint-Martin, the French side
1. Orient Bay: a beach lover's dream
Orient Bay is the largest and most popular beach on the French side, often called the Saint-Tropez of the Caribbean. Its 1.5 miles of white sand rarely feel crowded, so there's room for everyone. At the southern end you'll find the island's well-known clothing-optional beach.
Colorful buildings line the beach, and chic beach bars and restaurants make it perfect for travelers who enjoy the finer things in life. After a day in the sun, stroll into Orient Village for an authentic French dinner at one of its cozy, romantic restaurants, or browse its bars and shops.
Whether you want to relax, party or soak up the sun, Orient Bay has something for everyone.
2. Grand Case: food, shopping, drinks and beach
Grand Case is a true foodie's paradise. Its famous restaurant strip serves everything from savory BBQ to gourmet French cuisine, right next to a mile of calm, clear water.
By day, relax at beach bars like Captain Frenchy's, La Plage, Java and Rainbow Café, each with its own vibe. For casual local food, don't miss the lolos, open-air grills serving BBQ ribs, chicken, lobster, crab backs, accras and more.
By night, the strip comes alive. Book fine dining at Ocean 82, Spiga, Bistrot Caraïbes, L'Auberge Gourmande or Le Cottage, or head to Blue Martini, Rainbow Rooftop or Quai 58 for a livelier evening.
Between meals, browse charming boutiques like Voila, Sexy Fruits and Sea You for handmade products, souvenirs and island fashion. For more food ideas, see our guide to the best local food in St. Maarten.
3. Anse Marcel: a sheltered paradise
Tucked into a bay surrounded by green hills on the north coast, Anse Marcel has white sand, calm clear water and a wonderfully peaceful feel.
The sheltered bay is ideal for kayaking, paddle boarding and snorkeling, and scuba diving is available nearby. Trails in the surrounding hills offer great views, and the nearby marina has restaurants and boutiques for lunch or a little shopping.
4. Pinel Island: a secluded island escape
Just off the French coast, Pinel Island is a small nature reserve you can only reach by boat.
Rent a beach chair at Karibuni or Yellow Beach, or relax on your own towel. A quieter beach at the far end of the island is clothing-optional. Both restaurants are known for fresh seafood and lobster, which you can pick yourself.
Hike around the island to spot iguanas, land turtles and hermit crabs, or snorkel along the protected reef marked by buoys. Swimming inside the buoys isn't allowed, but snorkeling around them you'll see plenty of fish, and at the wilder end of the reef you might even find a turtle in the sea grass.
Respect the reserve: fishing, taking shells, disturbing animals or snorkeling inside the buoys can lead to large fines.
How to get to Pinel Island
- Ferry: the ferry leaves from Cul-de-Sac, between Orient Bay and Grand Case, roughly every 15 to 30 minutes during the day, usually from about 10 AM until 4 or 5 PM depending on conditions. The return fare was about $12 / €10 when we last checked, so confirm current times and prices locally.
- Kayak or paddle board: rentals are available from Caribbean Paddling at the same spot.
- By boat tour: many shared and private boat trips visit Pinel and nearby Tintamarre. Our Eco Sail & Snorkel tour visits Tintamarre and Creole Rock, and our private charters can include Pinel on request.
Restaurants on Pinel Island
Karibuni and Yellow Beach open in line with the ferry hours. Reserve beach chairs and a lunch table in advance, as both are often fully booked, and bring cash, since card payments may not work on the island.
- Karibuni: +590 690 39 67 00
- Yellow Beach: +590 690 33 88 33
Make the most of your beach days
Planning your beach-hopping? Rent your own beach chairs and umbrella for the week, discover beaches you can only reach by water on one of our boat trips, or find a vacation rental just minutes from the sand. Looking for quieter spots? Read our guide to hidden beaches locals love.
