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St. Maarten (Photo:Sean Pavone/Shutterstock)
St. Maarten (Photo:Sean Pavone/Shutterstock)

Island Hopping in St. Maarten: 3 Off-the-Beaten-Path Islands to Visit

St. Maarten (Photo:Sean Pavone/Shutterstock)
St. Maarten (Photo:Sean Pavone/Shutterstock)
Contributor
David Swanson
Contributor
Marissa Wright

Last updated
Oct 27, 2023

Read time
11 min read

St. Maarten is arguably one of the Caribbean's most popular ports of call, so there's a pretty good chance your first Caribbean cruise called here. After a couple of return visits, though, it's almost customary for cruisers to start looking for St. Martin’s offbeat and unusual spots to turn your normal cruise into the ultimate getaway. So, here's an idea you might not have thought of: leaving the island.

Because of it being positioned amid a clump of nearby islands -- many very different in ambiance, resources and personality -- the island makes for a great jumping-off point for a day trip along with its fun shore excursions.

St. Martin or St. Maarten: Which Is It?

Dawn Beach, St. Maarten (Photo: Multiverse/Shutterstock)
Dawn Beach, St. Maarten (Photo: Multiverse/Shutterstock)

We want to quickly note the names used to refer to St. Maarten. You’ve likely noticed that spellings alternate between St. Martin and St. Maarten. This is because the island is shared by two countries: France and the Netherlands.

Each country uses its own spelling for its section of the island. The French (northern) side is known as Saint Martin, and the Dutch (southern) side is Sint Maarten. We will use the correct spelling for the side of the island you should be on when describing activities and transportation options, like how to catch ferries.

1. Anguilla: Things to Do on this Tranquil, Beautiful Island

Anguilla Island, Caribbean (Photo: Photostravellers/Shutterstock)
Anguilla Island, Caribbean (Photo: Photostravellers/Shutterstock)

A short distance from the frenetic St. Maarten island is the peaceful, laid-back, tiny island of Anguilla. The character of Anguilla's tourist population runs the gamut from the perfectly coiffed and pedicured types ensconced at the island's five-star resorts to the funky, barefoot, beach bar bumming set. Interestingly enough, at either end of the spectrum, you are equally likely to see celebrities vacationing far from the madding crowd.

Anguilla is the island for uncrowded beaches, great waterfront bars and grills, a fantastic local music scene and some of the Caribbean's finest restaurants. It’s a nice, relaxing step back from some of St. Maarten's beaches and crowds of tourists. It’s a slice of heaven and highlights some of the differences between an Eastern and Western Caribbean cruise.

Most of the action takes place at the island's west end, which includes Blowing Point, the terminus of the ferry that runs from Marigot, the French capital of Saint Martin. Taxis are always available here to take you to one of the nearby local beaches.

Rendezvous Bay is the closest beach with sparkling white sand, as well as rocky sections better for snorkeling and other water activities. A mile or so to the west is Cove Bay, where you can talk to the dive shop about dive or snorkel trips, or simply kick back on the beach (there's a stand that rents mats, floats and beach umbrellas).

You can walk from Cove Bay to Maundays Bay, home of Cap Juluca, a resort that is perennially near the top of annual "best of the best" articles in travel magazines and that gives St. Maarten resorts a run for their money.

Cap Juluca has foodie-worthy restaurants, but not all are open year-round, and it's best to check with the resort before leaving the ship for reservations, dress codes and the like. Near the westernmost tip of the island is Shoal Bay West, another glittering white-sand beach perhaps best known for Trattoria Tramonto, a seaside Italian restaurant, which offers its lunch guests free use of lounge chairs on its beach.

On the north shore of the island is Sandy Ground, another beach notable for Johnno's Beach Stop -- a legendary beach bar and grill -- known not only for its grilled lobster and other West Indian fare, but for its music scene. Live music, alas, mostly happens after dark.

But, perhaps the best thing that Sandy Ground has to offer is regular boat shuttle service to Sandy Island. Located a couple of miles offshore, this authentic gem is for those who crave a real, off-the-beaten-track beach experience.

Sandy Island, true to its name, is a speck of land that is mostly beach with a few palm trees and a lagoon, surrounded by pristine coral reefs. Small as it is, it still sports a boutique, bar and restaurant. Use of snorkeling gear and underwater cameras is offered free of charge.

Getting to Anguilla from St. Maarten Island

From St. Maarten's A. C. Wathey Cruise Terminal, take a taxi to the ferry dock at Marigot in French St. Martin. (Note: You must bring your passport.) The ferry to Blowing Point, Anguilla runs approximately every 45 minutes from early morning until later in the day, and the trip takes about 25 minutes.

Private ferries are available on the Dutch side of the island. From the Anguilla - St. Maarten Ferry Terminal, you can catch a ferry from morning until late afternoon. Don’t forget your passport as you’ll go through customs upon arrival in Anguilla. Taxis are available at Anguilla's ferry terminal to take you all over the island.

2. St. Barthelemy: Things to Do on the Beloved St. Barts

St Barth Island, Caribbean (Photo: Photostravellers/Shutterstock)
St Barth Island, Caribbean (Photo: Photostravellers/Shutterstock)

Whether you know it by its full name or by one of its shortened nicknames -- St. Barths, St. Barth, or St. Barts -- it's likely that you know the island as one of the top Caribbean playgrounds of the rich and famous. It's not difficult to see why.

St. Barths is a Caribbean clone of the French Riviera, packing everything that an upscale European vacation haven has to offer into a mere eight square miles -- all the French culture, cuisine and couture -- with warmer water and sandier beaches to boot. St. Barths is well-known for hosting the rich and famous and has upscale resorts that make St. Maarten hotels pale in comparison.

But lest you think this is all a bit snooty for your tastes, note that all beaches in St. Barths are open to the public.

Ground zero for day visitors to St. Barths is the harbor town of Gustavia, a horseshoe-shaped marina that is the terminus of ferries calling from St. Martin. From Gustavia, you can catch a taxi or even walk to several beaches and other points of interest, but there is enough to fill an entire day comfortably.

First and foremost, there's people-watching and yacht-ogling. Just taking a gander at some of the world's most fabulous yachts lined up side-by-side all along the quay is worth a stroll around Gustavia.

But during that stroll, you're likely to notice Gustavia's shopping opportunities, which include everything from nautical gizmos to France's latest haute couture and tropical togs to art and antiques.

With more than 20 stellar restaurants fronting the harbor at Gustavia, you would be hard-pressed to find a bad meal at any of them. Our favorite is Le Repaire, a bistro with a lovely open-air terrace overlooking all the action on the waterfront: It is the perfect spot to enjoy a deliciously grilled langouste (local lobster), crisp salad or nicely chilled gazpacho.

If you crave something a bit funkier, with music to accompany your lunch, take a walk over to Le Select at the far end of the harbor. This is the spot for burgers, fish and chips, and other pub fare, and served as the inspiration for Jimmy Buffett's "Cheeseburger in Paradise."

If beaching is on your to-do list, your closest opportunity is Shell Beach (Petite Anse de Galet), just a 10-minute walk from the port, a delightful cove to tuck in at.

Our two favorite beaches are Baie de St-Jean and Anse de Grande Saline. St-Jean will make you think you really are on the Cote d'Azur with its quaint B&Bs and beachside bistros. Both give St. Maarten’s beaches a run for their money.

Saint-Jean is about a mile north of Gustavia Harbor, and for those who feel like tackling the steep road over the hills, it's doable but a very long hike. Otherwise, negotiate with a taxi driver in Gustavia; Grande Saline, delightfully secluded about three miles from Gustavia, is the island's top-rated, all-around beach destination. The ocean bottom here is soft and sandy, swimmable, and development is almost nonexistent. Getting here from the road requires a 10-minute walk on a rocky trail, so bring appropriate shoes.

Although full nudity is officially prohibited in St. Barths, birthday suits are common at Grande Saline.

Getting to St. Barths from St. Maarten

The easiest way to get to St. Barths is via ferry to Gustavia, and Great Bay Express departs daily from Bobby's Marina, about a 10-minute walk from St. Maarten's A. C. Wathey Cruise Terminal. Great Bay Express makes the trip in about 45 minutes.

A second ferry, Voyager, operates out of Marigot on the French side of Saint Martin. The distance to Gustavia is further, so the crossing is longer, and you'll need to get to the port in Marigot, a taxi that can take 30 minutes or longer. This option is not recommended for day-trippers. Don't forget your passport.

You can also fly to St. Barths. Air Antilles, St. Barth Commuter, and Winair each make the 15-minute flight several times daily from St. Maarten. Travelers can choose to fly from St. Martin or St. Maarten.

3. Saba: Things to Do on the Charming Island of Saba

Village in Saba, Caribbean (Photo: Erika Bisbocci/Shutterstock)
Village in Saba, Caribbean (Photo: Erika Bisbocci/Shutterstock)

If you are looking for an unspoiled spot in the Caribbean to enjoy your tropical cruise, Saba should be on your shortlist. Don't waste time and effort winding your way here from St. Maarten if shopping or urban amenities are on your to-do list; there's precious little of either.

On Saba, you'll find an island where you can hike from the sea through a pristine rainforest to the island's highest peak and back again, with enough time for lunch and to be able to ferry back to St. Maarten that evening.

With a population of just 1,800, Saba is tiny and charming. Measuring only five square miles, Saba is actually the peak of a submerged volcano, whose steep flanks plunge precipitously to sea level and continue down into the abyss. The steep terrain provides numerous cliffs and rocky shores, so if kicking back on a sandy beach has appeal, forget it; Saba has none.

What Saba does have is some of the Caribbean's lushest, most pristine reefs, due in part to the relatively low volume of tourist traffic and in part to the protection of sea life by the Saba National Marine Park, which completely surrounds the island. Those attributes and the legendary clarity of the water make Saba a diving and snorkeling haven.

Though much of the underwater terrain is at depths of 60 feet or more, there are still a number of well-marked shallow snorkeling reefs. For scuba or snorkeling maps, guidance or information on organized trips, contact National Marine Park headquarters in Fort Bay (Saba Conservation Foundation/Marine Park Visitors Center). You can also contact the local dive shop Sea Saba directly.

Taxi drivers are easily found near the ferry dock and will provide two-hour island tours for up to four passengers, as well as make reservations for lunch to be enjoyed either during or following the tours. For those who prefer to tour on foot, hiking the aptly named Mount Scenery -- with 1,064 stone and concrete steps leading to its 2,855-foot summit -- is a must-do, especially on a clear day.

For a complete rundown on all 18 of Saba's hikes, contact the Saba Conservation Foundation -- there's another location at Trail Shop in Windwardside. You can also book guided hikes through the foundation.

Getting to Saba from St. Maarten

If your cruise ship is in port in St. Maarten early enough and departs late enough, it is possible to take one of the 90-minute ferries to Saba in the morning and, if all goes according to plan, be back to St. Maarten in time for your cruise departure -- but it's very tight. Two ferry companies run service between St. Maarten and Saba -- both charge more than one hundred dollars, including port taxes, for a same-day round trip.

The Edge, a high-speed ferry, makes one round trip per day between Pelican Marina in Simpson Bay on the Dutch side and Fort Bay, Saba. The ferry operates three days a week; check with them for current days and hours. Makana Ferry operates between Saba, Statia, and Sint Maarten and helps cruisers enjoy the ultimate Caribbean island hopping cruise. Again, check directly for schedules, and don't forget your passport.

It's also possible to fly to Saba. Winair makes the 15 or 20-min hop four times daily, landing at the shortest international airstrip in the world.

Publish date November 07, 2018
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