Destination

St. Martin / Sint Maarten

Two Countries, One Island, Zero Customs Between Them

Why St. Martin?

St. Martin is the hub of the northern Caribbean — a 37-square-mile island split between France and the Netherlands with no border formalities between them. From here, Anguilla is 8 miles, St. Barths is 20, Saba is 28. The island itself has more restaurants per capita than any other in the world — a claim that becomes completely believable after about 48 hours. It's the best base in the eastern Caribbean for island-hopping.

Best Season

December through April. Peak season sees steady northeast trades 15–25 knots. The passage to St. Barths can be bumpy — allow extra time. Water temps 78–82°F year-round. Hurricane season June–November — avoid August and September.

Perfect For

Foodies, beach lovers, and anyone who wants to island-hop efficiently. St. Martin is the best provisioning base in the northeast Caribbean. The combination of Anguilla's beaches + St. Barths' glamour + St. Martin's restaurants is one of the best one-week itineraries in the world.

Must-Visit Spots

Where to Drop Anchor

Marigot, Saint-Martin (French Side)

The French capital is the most European town in the Caribbean — an open-air market, proper patisseries, French restaurants, and a 17th-century fort overlooking the harbour. The marina here is the best-equipped in the northern Caribbean.

Orient Bay (Baie Orientale)

The most famous beach on Saint-Martin — a long sweep of Atlantic-facing sand with beach clubs, watersports, and the clothing-optional Club Orient at the southern end. Anchor in the bay and watch the kitesurfers from the cockpit.

Anguilla — Shoal Bay

Eight miles north of St. Martin: a different country, a completely different pace. Anguilla is what you imagine the Caribbean looked like before the crowds arrived. Shoal Bay is arguably the most beautiful beach in the eastern Caribbean — powder white, reef-fringed, and barely populated.

Tintamarre (Flat Island)

An uninhabited national nature reserve two miles offshore. No bars, no restaurants, no people — just nesting birds, an old airstrip, a deserted beach, and electric-blue water. The snorkelling on the reef is excellent. Often completely empty on weekdays.

St. Barths — Gustavia

Twenty miles southeast: the most glamorous anchorage in the Caribbean. Gustavia's harbour is lined with superyachts; the restaurants are genuinely Michelin-worthy; the beaches (particularly Saline and Colombier) are the stuff of postcards. Day trip or overnight — both worth it.

Sample Itinerary

7 days from St. Martin

Day 1: Marigot → Simpson Bay → Marigot

Depart Marigot marina. Explore Simpson Bay Lagoon — one of the largest lagoons in the Caribbean, straddling the French-Dutch border. Return to Marigot for dinner at a harbour-front French bistro.

Day 2: Marigot → Tintamarre

Morning sail to Tintamarre. Anchor in the turquoise bay, snorkel the reef, walk the entire island (30 minutes). Full afternoon of swimming and doing nothing. Exactly as planned.

Day 3: Tintamarre → Orient Bay

Cross to Orient Bay. Beach club lunch (Le Galion is calmer and family-friendly). Afternoon kitesurfing or paddleboarding. Sunset cocktails watching the kites come in.

Day 4: Orient Bay → Anguilla (Shoal Bay)

Cross the 8-mile passage to Anguilla — clear immigration in Road Bay and sail to Shoal Bay East. The most beautiful beach day of the trip. Lunch at Gwen's Reggae Grill. The snorkelling on the reef at the north end is superb.

Day 5: Anguilla → Sandy Island → Road Bay

Morning at Sandy Island — a tiny sandbar a mile offshore with a beach bar and clear warm water. Afternoon on Anguilla's south coast. Evening dinner at Blanchard's Beach Shack (book in advance).

Day 6: Anguilla → St. Barths

The big day — 20-mile passage south to St. Barths. Anchor in Gustavia Harbour among the superyachts. Walk the town, swim at St. Jean beach, dinner at a proper French restaurant.

Day 7: St. Barths → Colombier Beach → Marigot

Morning at Colombier Beach — St. Barths' most isolated cove, only accessible by sea or a hike. Then the 20-mile return sail to Marigot. Cold beer in the cockpit as you watch St. Martin grow on the horizon.

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