Saint Martin Activities

With so much beautiful turquoise water surrounding the island, it may not surprise you to hear that water-based tourism is one of the top Saint Martin activities to get involved with during a visit. This postcard perfect island sitting between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea is a real unique gem with so much to offer everyone. With just about something in every town to suit all tastes and interests, you’ll never be too far from a pool, gym, casino, windsurfing school, spa, tour rep, mall or many more fun and interesting Saint Martin activities. Whether you are on the island for the sports, sunbathing, swimming, or simply to relax and unwind, there is a spot with your name on it!

Watersports

Saint Martin activities are by no means limited to just watersports, but there is certainly a larger selection of things to do on the island which are water-based, rather than land-based. View the island from a luxury yacht and sail from beach to beach as you drink with friends on board; a favourite by many who visit St Martin. With boating being such a popular activity on the island, it almost seems St Martin has more marinas per square mile than anywhere else on earth (one even changed its name to Dock Maarten, neatly combining two local economic mainstays – boating and shopping).

If you’re a bit of an extreme sports junking then you will not get bored enjoying these types of Saint Martin activities. With the choice between windsurfing, jet skiing, waterskiing, wakeboarding, deep-sea fishing, surfing, plus plenty more Saint Martin activities for the brave and daring, you are guaranteed to have the time of your life here. Of course, it is also the dependable trade winds, alongside the warm weather, water and air temperature that provides such perfect conditions for all types of watersports on Saint Martin, all year round.

Tours

The history of St Martin is colourful and interesting and makes for a fantastic starting point when offering cultural tours around the island. The island has many natural riches, including salt ponds, various plantations and even a sugar mill, all which can be visited independently or during an organised tour of St Martin.

Other Saint Martin activities include many land-based family friendly things to do. Bicycle tours and walking tours are particularly popular with those who like to stay active in the sunshine. In all, there are 40 km of fantastic marked cycle trails to explore on Saint Martin, providing 1-4 hours of uninterrupted adventures through a variety of landscapes that never fails to impress. Cycle the mountain peaks, the limestone flats of the Terres Basses, coastal trails dozens of tracks through the National Reserve. Alternatively, you could hike the rugged dessert like landscape on the west coast before exploring the slightly greener trails on the east coast; learning about all the different types of plants, animals and nature that thrives in this diverse and varied climate. You’ll return home with lasting memories of stunning vistas, historic landmarks, traditional buildings and plenty of encounters with locals.

Health & Beauty

When it comes to caring for your mind, body and soul, allow yourself to be pampered at one of the island’s magnificent spas. Whether you are looking to treat yourself for a particular occasion or would like to become a frequent client, many of the spas on St Martin offer both reasonable daily rates and fantastic weekly or monthly memberships. Choose an establishment that also has a gym or fitness facilities and you’ll be able to take full advantage of some personal training sessions, make full use of their various martial arts, aerobics and dancing classes.

Many of the larger more luxurious hotels on the island also have their own tennis courts and swimming pools, which tie in nicely with a revitalising day at a spa. If you are after a particular beauty treatment, our online guide to all the best health and beauty spas on the island should provide you with all the information you require.

Entertainment

The fun doesn’t stop there for Saint Martin activities either. If nothing brings you more joy, satisfaction and a slightly faster heart rate than the sound of winning slot machines, flying chips and ticking roulette tables, then you have most definitely come to the right Caribbean island. Sint Maarten, the Dutch side, is bursting at the seams with high-class casinos. Think Las Vegas style, think Monaco style and then add in the exotic Caribbean atmosphere, which oozes from Sint Maarten and you should be able to picture the scene. There is always plenty of hot casino action happening somewhere on Sint Maarten. Whatever your gambling pleasures – poker, slot machines, Black Jack – you’re sure to satisfy your needs here.

There are no casinos at all on the French side, although to be fair the Dutch make up for that on their side – they have 14 casinos in total. It’s not uncommon for some of the larger resorts and hotels to offer their own gaming facilities, but there are plenty of stand-alone casinos too, some specialising in slot machines only.

Scuba Diving

With such warm turquoise blue sea and almost year round perfect weather conditions, it’s not surprising to hear that Saint Martin is a fantastic dive destination. The various reefs that surround the island are bursting with marine life, ideal for divers and snorkelers. Divers from around the world come to St Martin to explore the 45+ dive sites which are all within close proximately of the island. Every aspect of this exciting sport can be practised here, from initial induction to instructor certification, and from simple exploration to complex technical diving. There are also a couple of wrecks in the sea close to Saint Martin, some that have been sat on the sea bed for several centuries. The famed ‘Proselyte’ wreck, a British frigate which sank in 1801, is a popular site, as is the majestic Fuh Sheng shrimp boat laying at 30 metres.

Shopping

It’s almost impossible to mention the extensive shopping facilities on St Martin without highlighting the fact that the island is a haven for duty free goodies. The tax free products, without a doubt, are one of the biggest attractions on Saint Martin. The complete absence of any ‘red tape’ for imported goods guarantees fantastic bargains for cigarettes, jewellery, alcohol, cosmetic products, electronics and so much more. Stocking up on gifts for friends back home proves simply too irresistible for many who visit. With no customs duty, VAT or other in direct taxes to pay, the island offers unbeatable prices on a whole host of items.

As a cruise passenger visiting St Martin, you will have the opportunity to stroll up and down Front Street and Back Street in Philipsburg, where most stores boast very competitive prices. On the French side, in Marigot, there are a wide range of luxury and fashion boutiques. The shops here are elegant and original offering the sophisticated designs of Parisian couturiers. West Indies Mall on the Marigot water front is well known for its impressive air-conditioned shops and restaurants, which is well worth a visit. Another hot spot on the French side is the Rue du General.

Those spending more than a week on the island may wish to find their own supplies when it comes to food and groceries. You will be pleasantly surprised to hear that there are excellent shops and supermarkets on both the French and Dutch side. The Dutch tend to stock up with more American brands, but the French have a huge variety of European favourites that keep even the fussiest tourist happy. Finding that perfect souvenir for a family or friend member back home is easy on Saint Martin too. There are shops around every corner selling the local liquor, Ma Doudou Rum, which is a fab island souvenir. Consider paying a visit to Marigot market at least once during your stay as they sell lots of locally made trinkets and gifts.