With its 37 gorgeous beaches, attractions ranging from historic forts overlooking beautiful bays to butterfly farms, and enjoying scenic hiking or the endless dining options, St. Martin is an island with more than enough for travelers to see, do, and enjoy. Just sunbathing, watersports, and walking the towns to savor the shops and cafes could be enough.
Yet, there are some things that are easily overlooked. Guava berry liqueur tasting, for example, or visiting the Zoological Park to meet some of the four-legged and feathered locals. Travelers with a history of visiting St. Martin say that some of the best activities include diving, zip lining, day trips to Anguilla, hiking, sailing, and more. We heartily agree and provide three incredibly relaxing and entertaining options we highly recommend, below.
A Day at Sea
You are on an island when in St. Martin, and whether it is the Dutch or French side you enjoy during a stay (most people wander back and forth between both sides), it can also be quite exciting to see the island from the waters that surround it. With a private boat charter by Captain Jo’s , you can book that Anguilla day trip mentioned above. This is an all-day adventure and lets you set sail from St. Martin and make your way from one pristine beach to another. You enjoy free drinks all day, plenty of stops for sunbathing and snorkeling, and even a luncheon at a beachfront restaurant.
With an array of boats, and a bespoke or customized experience, you can take yourself, your family or your group on an unforgettable day at sea. Enjoy the turquoise waters and amazing beaches, the diving and the food, and create unforgettable memories of your island escape, but almost entirely on the water!
Perhaps you are less of a water lover and more of a fan of the fresh air or the island’s rainforests? If so, then the next activity is probably more to your liking.
The World’s Steepest Zipline
It might come as a surprise that a beautiful and tranquil place like St. Martin is also home to the adrenaline-inducing experience of the world’s tallest zipline. The Flying Dutchman is currently the steepest zipline experience in the world. Visitors ride the Soualiga Sky Explorer shuttle up to the top of the mountain, where the 2,997ft ride upward brings them to a panoramic view like no other.
There is also an option for visiting Sentry Hill, one of the island’s other tallest peaks, and which has been fitted with platforms and walkways that encircle the mountain and offer views of neighboring islands.
Sitting atop the island’s highest peak (the Soualiga Sky Explorer is a classic chairlift with 68 chairs that hold four passengers each and is worth the ride up just for the views!), you can then get harnessed into the Flying Dutchman. The line runs more than 2800 feet, but drops a heart-thumping 1050 feet in elevation along the way. Guests are always securely harnessed and totally safe from start to finish.
At the bottom of the ride, visitors can enjoy a stop at the Emilio Wilson Museum, which is an old plantation house restored to its former glory, and containing the history of Trace Wilson who was born into slavery. They can also dine at the restaurant on the property, where seating is in the old barn and where the menu is island classics with a modern European twist.
If setting sail on turquoise seas or plunging over a two thousand feet in a zip harness is not for you, there is one incredibly relaxing option that anyone can choose…a spa day.
At Home Spa Service
Have you heard of the concept of the staycation? This is when you stay at home and do all kinds of things you might never have the time or inclination to do the rest of the year. Some people do all kinds of household projects, but others tackle that pile of books they’ve been eager to read, and they might try some restaurants in the area, some activities, and even some pampering, like a trip to a day spa.
Well, when you are visiting St. Thomas and staying on one of the island’s premium villas, you enjoy the opportunity for an in-house spa service. A world-class spa company will send one or more of their skilled experts to offer such services as Swedish Relaxation Massage, Holistic Aromatherapy Massage, and Deep Tissue Massage. There are options for facials, and other intensely relaxing therapies, and you don’t even have to set foot outside of the villa to enjoy it! That is the ultimate staycation!
Other Things to Do in St. Martin
Whether you call it Sint Maarten or Saint Martin, you will find an almost endless number of things to do during a stay. You can choose a premium villa that features all of the comforts of a resort, including a pool, grounds and household staff. You can opt to book guided tours, chartered boat services, and more.
Don’t forget, though, that it is an island unique in the region because it features two distinct countries sharing one small space. There are towns with distinctly French influences and towns in which the Dutch heritage shows. All will be thoroughly Caribbean, though, and show other cultural influences from the many groups that have passed through the region.
That means you’ll want to do things like stroll the Boardwalk and Front Street in the Philipsburg area, head to Maho Beach to watch heart-stopping airplane landings just feet above the sands, pay a visit to Pinel island, and much more. Whatever you choose to do, it is going to be a memorable experience thanks to St. Martin’s amazing weather, landscape, and friendly locals who welcome all and in a generous, island style.