Location and Entry Information: Caribbean island between
Anguilla and St. Barths, accessible by plane or boat – a popular cruise ship
port comprised of a Caribbean and European population separated by an
international border. The north of the island is French and the south side of the
island is Dutch, and one may cross back and forth freely, by car, without
immigration and customs limitations. There are two airports on the island (one
French, one Dutch), the entire island being only 34 sq miles was easy to maneuver
solely due to the size. The island has great accessibility due to the dual
countries which share the island and the ability to use air, boat or car to get
around. We flew into Princess Juliana International airport (SMX) on the Dutch
side, and found it easy to take a taxi a quick 15 minutes to our hotel accommodations
on the south side of the island. When boating around the island, be very aware
of the strict regulations regarding crossing borders and immigration
regulations.
Little Bay (Dutch)
where we started our tour of the island at a substantial resort called Divi Little Bay Beach Resort.
The resort is a timeshare opportunity and the suite we reserved had an over-sized bathroom suite with Jacuzzi tub and separate shower.
A kitchenette with a full sized refrigerator, stove and microwave were
included. For the rate this was an exceptional property. The resort housed 3
pools, 3 restaurants, a fitness center, laundry facilities and a café/ market on
site. Evening live music kept the entertainment value fair The staff was
helpful and cheerful throughout the stay. The property is on an expansive piece
of land, and the resort accommodates the distance by scooting clients around in
golf carts, especially if you have luggage. We found it easy to walk from one
side of the resort to the far side in a 10 minute period.
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| Divi Little Bay Beach Resort Infinity Pool area |
Located a mile and a half from Phillipsburg – this resort is
also central to the bustle of the main town of Phillipsburg. The town itself is
a port village active with tourists and cruisers. The main boardwalk is lined
with restaurants, bars and duty free shops. The main street also lined with restaurants and hi-end
boutiques and duty free shops. This small city is accessible by walking,
scooter or taxi cab ride.
Simpson Bay (Dutch)
our first point of sailing. Our friends picked us up by sailboat in Little Bay,
we sailed around the island to Simpson Bay, where our friends spent their first
night, and we subsequently started our voyage around the island via boat.
Sailing close to islands such as Anguilla, Tintamarre and St. Barths - all
accessible by boat from St Martin, and considered day trips from anywhere
around the island. Anguilla, a short hour sail north, and St. Barths, a 3 hour
trek south of St. Martin.
Marigot (French)
A thriving port and our first stop after setting sail from Simpson Bay. Marigot
is a distinct port town vibrant with French custom, food and culture. Brightly
colored storefronts and homes lined the streets and high end boutiques were
available in the center of town.
There were historic, beautiful floral lined
walkways and side streets, yet amidst hip, nouveau shops and café’s.
We were
lucky enough to arrive at sunset and depart in the daylight, so we got to
experience the beauty of the Port, day and night.
Pinel Island (French)
My favorite stop on our journey. Pinel
is an island preserve and national park. There are fish and vegetation markers
all over the island, and while we were there hiking, a small group of school
children were there visiting the island as well, clearly on a nature field trip
of some sort. We hiked this island in about 30 minutes and then swam on the
northeast side of the island, away from the active boat area.
We learned after our
visit that nothing dead or alive is to be taken from this island as it is a
national park and preserve. That includes seashells and other beach life one
may be inclined to pocket and take home as a souvenir.
Two fun bars and a small souvenir shop decorate the
anchorage side of the island where the water taxis pick up and drop the
tourists at a small dock which also serves as a dinghy dock. A short walk from
this dock leads to the snorkeling dock where (group led, or independent) we
were able to swim with the fishies and explore the coral and reef area along
the marked side of the island. This island was accessed by boat only. So,
whether by sailboat, speedboat or kayak, and of course the water taxi’s,
visitors flocked on a regular schedule from the French Cay to enjoy the sun,
water sports and wonderful pina colada’s available on Yellow Beach.
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| Club Orient |
Numerous boats were anchored outside
the nude beach club, “Club Orient”. Windsurfing, kite-boarding, sailing and
jet-skiing were amongst the many activities we noticed at this fun beach
resort.
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| Orient Beach |
Oyster Pond (Dutch
and French) this part of the island is split between the French and Dutch,
seemed heavy with serious boat enthusiasts. It almost seemed like a sleepy
fishing town. The crowd was a more mature and more quiet, and it was the only
port we stopped in which had a visible sign stating a boating speed limit.
There were beautiful resorts visible from the boat along the shore, also
colorful and enticing to visitors and sailors. The restaurants were adorned
with white tablecloths and gave an air of maturity, similar to the Bay itself.
Great Bay(Dutch)
Cruise port and the entrance to Phillipsburg. This is the main tourist
marketplace along the Dutch coast and attracts a mass quantity of traffic
simply based on the number of tourists who get off the docked cruise ships
daily. This was our last official stop by Nomad’s Land, and where we were
signed off the boat by our Captain. Since we had previously visited this
portion of the island on our morning jogs from Little Bay, we were only
surprised by the sheer number of cruisers who piled into the small island shops
and bars and changed the serene morning atmosphere into a bustling shop place.
The people of St Martin are a mix of European, Caribbean and
Asian cultures who have found a way to make island life work in a
non-traditional fashion. St. Martin is a collective of food, music and cultures
which make the island not only interesting, but diverse on another level. The
French bakeries and the Caribbean flavors only accentuate the diverse complex
restaurants which were found all over the island. We met a friendly German mixologist
who had been highlighted in a national article on his expertise – he was
charming and witty, and delighted us with his stories and knowledge on making
the perfect cocktails. These were the kinds of interactions that were found not
to be the exception of the people, but the rule.
