Philipsburg and Saint Martin Hidden Gems: Marigot Market, Fort Saint Louis, the Hike-In Colombier Beach, Corossol Craft Village, Leeward Islands Sailing Circuit, and the Regional Gateway Role
The hidden gems of Sint Maarten and Saint Martin encompass the Wednesday Marigot produce market, the Fort Saint Louis colonial fortification above the harbor, the hike-in-only Colombier beach of Saint Barthelemy, the Breton straw weaving craft of Corossol, the classic Leeward Islands sailing circuit starting at Simpson Bay, and the Princess Juliana Airport role as the northern Leeward Islands regional hub.
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Marigot Market: The French Produce Experience
The Marigot covered market on the French Saint Martin capital waterfront, operating on Wednesday and Saturday mornings, is the best single opportunity to purchase the fresh produce of the French Caribbean including the local cinnamon, the vanilla, the rhum agricole, the fresh tropical fruits, the handmade hot sauces, and the Creole prepared foods in the most vibrant market atmosphere on either side of the island. The Wednesday Marigot market, combined with the Fort Saint Louis hilltop visit, makes the ideal French Saint Martin morning itinerary.
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Fort Saint Louis: The Marigot History
Fort Saint Louis on the hilltop above Marigot Harbor, the restored French colonial fortification of the 18th century with the cannon placements overlooking the Simpson Bay Lagoon and the Sint Maarten hills to the south, provides the most complete historical perspective on the island in a physical setting of great natural beauty. The fort was used by the French military through the 20th century and the restoration of the ruins has preserved the most significant colonial military heritage on the French side.
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Colombier Beach: The Hike-In Secret
Anse de Colombier on the northwest of Saint Barthelemy, the most secluded and most pristine beach on the island, is accessible only by a 45-minute round-trip coastal hiking trail from Flamands or by dinghy from the offshore yacht anchorage. The Colombier beach, with no commercial development, no road access, and the offshore yacht anchorage in the turquoise bay, is the closest approach to the unspoiled Caribbean island beach available in Saint Barthelemy and the reward for the visitor willing to walk to it.
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Corossol: The Traditional Craft Village
Corossol on the northwest coast of Saint Barthelemy, the small village where the descendants of the original 17th century Breton and Norman settlers maintain the traditional white bonnet hat and the straw weaving craft traditions that reflect the European peasant heritage brought to the tropical Caribbean, is the most distinctive cultural preservation site in Saint Barthelemy and the opportunity to purchase the authentic island craft directly from the artisans who continue the tradition. The village museum documents the Breton heritage of the Gustavian population.
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Inter-Island Sailing: The Leeward Islands Circuit
Sint Maarten is the primary starting point for the classic Leeward Islands sailing circuit that connects the major islands from Sint Maarten south to Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, Guadeloupe, and Dominica, providing the most comprehensive sailing itinerary in the eastern Caribbean in a route of 450 nautical miles that can be completed in 3 to 4 weeks. The Simpson Bay Lagoon marinas provide the provisioning, the boat maintenance, and the crew expertise for the departure of the Caribbean sailing season.
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Sint Maarten in Summary: The Gateway Island
Sint Maarten functions as the regional aviation hub of the northern Lesser Antilles, the gateway through which the majority of visitors access Anguilla, Saint Barthelemy, Sint Eustatius, Saba, Saint Kitts, and Nevis by onward flight or ferry. The Princess Juliana Airport, rebuilt after Irma, serves approximately 1.7 million passengers annually in its role as the regional hub, making Sint Maarten the most visited island in the northern Leeward chain and the most connected single island in the eastern Caribbean island arc.