Best Beaches in St Martin: An Island Divided

With two countries, two currencies, two languages and one landmass, St Martin offers an exceptional 2-for-1 deal. The Caribbean island of St Martin is a tiny speck of land split in half. The tiny tropical paradise—a territory of both France and the Netherlands—packs a lot of punch considering its tiny size. 

It boasts incredible beaches, a lively atmosphere, plentiful restaurants and lodging options, and proximity to a host of alluring Caribbean islands.

 

ST MARTIN ISLAND

St Martin lies in the Caribbean’s Leeward Islands, between Anguilla, St Eustatius and Saba.

The world’s smallest area of land divided into two nations, this half-French, half-Dutch island’s fascinating cultural mix incorporates a rich melange of European and African flair. The northern part of the island (also called St Martin) is an Overseas Collectivity of France, while its southern shores (St Maarten) belong to the Netherlands. 

The Caribbean island is a popular destination for both cruisers and independent travelers. It boasts a dazzling coastline with some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. These sandy shores range from bustling tourist magnets to tranquil hidden bays and coves.

 

THE BEST BEACHES OF DUTCH ST MAARTEN

The Dutch half of St Martin contains many of the island’s most famous beaches. Home to the international airport, the cruise docks, and infamous Maho Beach, it is both the island’s main gateway and its most touristy area.

But Dutch St Maarten is not merely one large tourist trap.

Away from bustling Maho Beach, the island’s glistening shores are nothing short of paradisiacal.

 

• MAHO BEACH

Maho Beach is St Maarten’s most famous attraction. A crowded stretch of sand that is known for its close proximity to the island’s international airport, it is a must-see when visiting the island.

Due to the beach’s proximity to the Princess Juliana Airport, watching airplanes take off and land at Maho Beach is a thrilling spectacle. From my vantage point at the water’s edge, I watched planes materialize out of thin air and descend merely meters above my head. The landing planes came so close to the beach, that I felt as though I could practically reach out and touch them.

And when they took off, the jet blasts left behind such a blinding and suffocating storm of swirling sand, that I was left temporarily gasping for breath.

I stayed at Maho Beach long enough to watch the landing of a few small planes and a Jetblue 373. I’d thought of waiting around to see one of Delta’s flights later in the day, but eventually dragged myself away from the crowds, toward the bluer waters of Mullet Beach.

 

• MULLET BAY BEACH

Flanked by a golf course and virtually devoid of eyesore resorts, Mullet Bay is one of St Maarten’s most beautiful beaches. Compared to Maho Beach, Mullet Bay’s fine crescent of sand lies virtually untouched. With its turquoise water and powdery sand, I found it to be much more comparable to the idyllic beaches in Anguilla and St John. Aside from the conglomeration of umbrellas and chairs on the southern end of the beach, I found that I had its glistening sands and aquamarine waters almost exclusively to myself.

I spent much of the afternoon soaking up the sun and wading in the crystal waters. Swim, dry off, rinse, repeat. Over and over and over again. It was pure bliss.

From Mullet Bay, I decided to continue up the road on foot. It wasn’t long before I reached the secluded coves of Cupecoy Beach, just minutes from the island’s French border.

 

• CUPECOY BEACH

Cupecoy is known for the cliffs that line its soft patches of tan-colored sand. I would have loved to photograph the dramatic limestone coves and watch the waves as they crashed against the rugged rocks. Yet, the sheltered beaches of Cupecoy are famous for attracting those who find swimwear to be too cumbersome.

I did not spend time on the sheltered sands of Cupecoy Beach.

And in order to respect the privacy of the nude sunbathers, I tucked my camera out of sight and continued on my way. 

 

THE BEST BEACHES OF FRENCH ST MARTIN

While reaching Maho Beach, Mullet Bay and Cupecoy from Philipsburg is easy and convenient with local transport, the best beaches on the French side of the island are most easily accessed by renting a car. Even after consulting locals, visiting tourist information offices and scouring online forums, I could find little information on buses that run onward from the French capital, Marigot.

 

• ORIENT BAY BEACH

St Martin’s most popular beach is the sprawling Orient Bay. Orient Bay is the prototype for what I always imagined popular Caribbean beaches to be–a long crescent of sugary sand, full of bars, restaurants, umbrellas and sunbathing tourists.

I briefly visited Orient Bay with Baldeep, Jason and Anna–three fellow travelers from my hostel. We didn’t stay long though, because we found the beach to be crowded, characterless and cookie-cutter.

 I was happy that we decided to spend most of our time in St Martin enjoying Pinel Island instead.

 

• PINEL ISLAND BEACH
  

Pinel Island is one of St Martin’s best kept secrets. The island is an uninhabited speck of land that lies off the north west coast of French St Martin. The island is home to a healthy population of iguanas, crystal clear water, secluded beaches and some of the best views in St Martin.

A $10 roundtrip boat ride ferries passengers from the French town of Cul-de-Sac to Pinel Island’s main beach. The boat unloads passengers on a strip of white sand that is covered in lounge chairs and lined with restaurants. The main beach of Pinel Island is beautiful and its shallow turquoise waters are inviting and warm.

Yet, it is behind this main beach, that the magic of Pinel Island lies.

   

Trails leading to viewpoints and secluded beaches begin behind the row of restaurants and crisscross up a shallow hill. Together with my new friend,  Jason, I set out to explore this neglected side of the island and was rewarded with untouched scenery and unparalleled views.

Pinel Island is an uninhabited paradise with pristine shores and striking views of St Martin’s verdant interior. Hiking to the secluded beaches and viewpoints of Pinel Island was an undeniable highlight of my time in St Martin and evidence that, even in places known for mass tourism, it often doesn’t take much to stray off the beaten path.

 

ST MARTIN AND ST MAARTEN: A BACKPACKER’S GUIDE

The Caribbean can be a challenging destination for backpackers and budget travelers. With its high prices and heavy reliance on luxury tourism, the region’s lush mountainsides and idyllic beaches are often overlooked in favor of more budget-friendly alternatives.

But despite the region’s reputation, I was convinced that I’d be able to visit St Martin on a budget. I wanted to see for myself if the Caribbean and shoestring travel were, indeed, mutually exclusive.

And so I headed to the powdery beaches of St Martin for a DIY island hopping tour of the Leeward Islands.

I spent the majority of trip exploring Dutch St Maarten. St Maarten is chock-full of amenities for travelers, has frequent and convenient public transportation and is slightly less expensive than its French counterpart.

For only $17 per night, I was able to find a wonderful little hostel called Vicky’s Keys. The hostel sits nestled away in a residential neighborhood. It is the perfect place to meet fellow travelers and get a taste of local island life. 

As with my visit to St Lucia a few months prior, my trip to St Martin proved that backpacking the Caribbean is possible.

Yes, traveling between the region’s islands is expensive. Yes, hostels are few and far between. And yes, excursions and day trips will usually set you back more than $100 per person.

But the Caribbean and budget travel are not mutually exclusive. For even St Martin—a place that is so often associated with all-inclusive resorts, high-end tourism and some of the best beaches in the Caribbean—can be an exciting and rewarding destination for backpackers if done right.

 

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On my visit to the sun-kissed Caribbean island, I traveled to both sides of the dividing line. Over the course of a week, I explored the best St Martin beaches, lounged beneath swaying palms, discovered the bustling charms of Philipsburg, and discovered some of the island’s more remote corners.

Saint Martin is

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