Natural Tide Pools In St Martin

Last week we decided to head out to the natural tide pools in St Martin. A “Must do” one to two hours hike towards Geneve Bay St.Martin/St.Maarten. With a cooler full of cold drinks in our backpacks we set of on our tour. Geneve Bay is located on the East coast of St.Martin/St,Maarten, heading North East from the Dutch side capital Philipsburg. It has a view of the four Islets in the conservation zone of the Marine Park and the island of St.Barth’s further on the horizon.

This laid back hiking tour takes you along a pleasant natural coastal trail between Guana Bay and Geneve Bay. Along the rocky paths, the vegetation is shrub land mixed with deciduous thorn woodlands. The endangered Melocactus or Pope cactus is a prominent resident in this area, so hiking shoes are highly recommended. You will notice historical boulders thought to have been used as landmarks or aids in transporting goods from the coast to the boats below. Admiring the Brown Pelicans, often in pairs, soaring over your head, you will most likely come across a flocks of goats and plenty of photo opportunities along the way. This hidden area is known for the natural tide pools in St Martin. The pools are guarded from the swells and waves of the Atlantic Ocean, by huge rock formations.

Once arrived, the cold drinks were very welcome and we quickly shed our gear and extra clothing for an awarding jump into the natural tide pools in St Martin. Depending on the tide the water in the pools can get pretty high, but when the water flows out of the rocks it is easy to stand and wade through them. The water was so clear we could see yellow and blue little fish swim with us. Watch out for the sea urchins that are present in numbers.

After about thirty minutes of splashing around, we let the sun do its job drying us off. We climbed up the rocks for some stunning pictures before heading back. Visiting the natural tide pools in St Martin is an amazing experience and I strongly suggest adding this to your “Must Do” list while visiting the beautiful island of St.Martin/St.Maarten.