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Where there’s a beach for every day of the month, guavaberry goes hard, and bathing suits are notoriously optional...
One island, two names, two nations laying their claim. Dutch Sint Maarten and French Saint Martin have plenty of Caribbean flair with a distinctly European feel. Only 34 square miles in size, the small island packs such a big punch that a week-long visit is never enough.
There are dozens of white sand beaches, a mountainous interior, and a renowned culinary scene with influence from Africa, the Caribbean, and Europe. Add in an almost never-ending Carnival celebration, and it’s easy to see why this dual-nation island has double the appeal.
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First class in hydration
Whether you’re enjoying the beach in Saint Martin or Sint Maarten, one things for sure: it’s going to be hot. So, while you’re relaxing on those beautiful beaches, make sure you bring along LMNT to help you stay hydrated.
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A salty start
The island of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin can trace human habitation back more than 3,000 years. Later, from 400 BCE to 960 CE, groups arrived from Venezuela and Colombia and called the island Soualiga, or Land of Salt, for its salt pans.
Those salt pans would influence the later development of the island. Western colonization began in 1493 when Christopher Columbus sailed to the West Indies and spotted the island. Although he never actually came ashore, Columbus named the island Isla de San Martín since it was November 11 and the day of the patron Saint Martin in Spain.
The Dutch created a colony there in 1631, erected Fort Amsterdam, and established a new important trade route for Sint Maarten. The French set up their own colonies and, of course, now that both the Dutch and French were showing interest, Spain wanted to claim St. Martin for its valuable salt pans.
The Spanish kicked the Dutch off the island for a time, but after the Eighty Years’ War between Spain and the Netherlands ended, the Spanish lost interest in the island and left in 1648. The Dutch and French then decided to partition the island. The two nations have shared the island since a treaty was established in 1648, making it the smallest dual-nation island in the world.
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A new beach for every day of the month
Sint Maarten/Saint Martin is a relatively small island at just 34 square miles. You can circumnavigate it by car along the road that runs the entire perimeter of the island in just a few hours. But even with its small size, SXM (as it’s often called, after the code for the island’s airport) boasts an incredible 37 beautiful beaches along more than 43 miles of coastline.
Maho Beach is one of Dutch Sint Maarten’s most famous beaches. The tiny swath of sand sits smack at the end of the extremely short, 7,546-foot-long runway at Princess Juliana International Airport. Daredevils love to line up on the beach to see if they can withstand the jet blast from the planes taking off. Even better is plane spotting as the jets line up and practically buzz your head upon landing.
Although Maho Beach is a tourist hotspot on SXM, don’t miss the island’s many other beautiful beaches. Many of them, like clothing-optional Happy Bay Beach, are remote and visitors can enjoy the beaches practically to themselves.
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More than beaches
Sint Maarten/Saint Martin may have more beaches than there are days in a month, but the island also offers a lot more away from the sand and sea.
The Dutch side’s 13 square miles are among the more developed on the island, with modern casinos, many beach resorts, shopping areas, and nightlife. The slightly larger French side’s 21 square miles are far less developed and home to most of the island’s natural wonders, including Pic Paradis, which at roughly 1,400 feet above sea level is the highest point on the island. The rainforest surrounding Pic Paradis is where the exotic guavaberry trees and wild vervet monkeys are found on the island.
SXM’s Dutch capital, Philipsburg, is the main town on the island and, though it gets crowded while cruise ships are in port, it’s worth a stroll. It’s home to the pineapple-topped courthouse on Front Street, which is a historic landmark and one of the most important sights on the island.
On the French side, it’s the town of Marigot that serves as the capital. Get a taste for the local French-meets-Caribbean flare at the open-air Marigot Market. Pay homage to the man who was integral in abolishing slavery in the French colonies, François-Auguste Perrinon, at his tomb in the Marigot cemetery. And don’t miss the breathtaking views over Marigot that stretch all the way to Anguilla from atop Fort St. Louis.
Read more
- How, legend has it, a drinking contest determined the island’s border
- A culinary capital of blended cuisine
- The nudist side of this paradise
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SXM flight price history
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$362 Average Going deal
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$650 Normal ticket price
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Interested in a trip to Saint Martin/Sint Maarten?
Premium and Elite members get alerts for specific trip destinations and dates in the Going app.
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With local expert:
Jennifer Dombrowski
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Jennifer Dombrowski is an independent travel publisher, content creator, and an American expat who lives in Bordeaux, France. She is an award-winning travel writer. She is also a travel correspondent on Traveling on the American Forces Radio Network. Her award-winning blog, Luxe Adventure Traveler, was named one of the top travel blogs to watch and has been featured by top publications.
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