Sint Maarten Full: Simpson Bay Superyacht Lagoon, Grand Case Culinary Capital, Coral Restoration, Anse Marcel Seclusion, Marigot Market, and Sint Maarten Carnival
The full Sint Maarten and Saint Martin experience covers the superyacht capital of Simpson Bay Lagoon, the Caribbean culinary capital of Grand Case village, the Nature Foundation coral restoration program, the secluded Anse Marcel beach, the French colonial character of Marigot, and the post-Easter Sint Maarten Carnival jump-up tradition.
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Simpson Bay Lagoon: The Caribbean Superyacht Capital
Simpson Bay Lagoon, the protected inland sea between the Dutch and French halves of Sint Maarten accessible through the Simpson Bay bridge, is the largest lagoon in the Lesser Antilles and the primary Caribbean superyacht base with berths for the 100-plus meter vessels of the international yacht charter and ownership market. The Sint Maarten Yacht Club and the marinas of the lagoon western shore handle approximately 30,000 visiting yachts annually in the most concentrated yacht infrastructure of the eastern Caribbean.
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Grand Case: The Culinary Capital
Grand Case, the small fishing village on the French Saint Martin north coast, is considered the culinary capital of the Caribbean by the French food press for the concentration of quality restaurants in its single beach road, where the traditional Creole lolos barbecue shacks serving the grilled chicken, the conch, and the fresh fish alongside the French-Caribbean restaurants with their wine lists and island produce menus create the most complete dining spectrum from street food to sophisticated cuisine in a village of fewer than 5,000 people.
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Sint Maarten Nature Foundation: The Marine Environment
The Sint Maarten Nature Foundation manages the marine protected areas of the Dutch side, including the Little Bay Pond, the Dawn Beach reef, and the Proselyte Reef, and operates the sea turtle monitoring program on the Sint Maarten beaches that records the loggerhead, hawksbill, and green turtle nesting. The Nature Foundation reef restoration program, which has replanted several thousand coral fragments on the Sint Maarten reef system since Hurricane Irma, is the most active coral restoration effort in the northern Lesser Antilles.
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Saint Martin Heritage Beaches: Anse Marcel and Friar's Bay
Anse Marcel in the protected northern bay of French Saint Martin and Friar's Bay on the northwest coast, the two most secluded and most beautiful beaches on the French side, are accessible by short drives from the Grand Case village and provide the quiet natural beach environment away from the Orient Bay beach club scene. The Friar's Bay beach bar, with its bohemian character and the impromptu music on weekend afternoons, is the most beloved local beach gathering in Saint Martin.
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Marigot: The French Capital
Marigot, the French Saint Martin capital, combines the Fort Saint Louis hilltop ruin with the panoramic view of the lagoon, the covered market of French-Caribbean produce, the marina boutiques, and the Wednesday and Saturday open market at the waterfront that is the best opportunity to purchase the French Saint Martin artisan products, the spices, and the Creole foods in the most authentic market environment on the island. Marigot retains more of the colonial French Caribbean character than the more developed Philipsburg.
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Sint Maarten Carnival: The Spring Celebration
Sint Maarten Carnival, held in April and May after Easter in the Dutch tradition that differs from the pre-Lent timing of most Caribbean carnivals, is a three-week celebration centered on Philipsburg with the Queen pageant, the J'Ouvert jump-up, the Grand Parade on the Old Street, and the calypso and soca competitions. The Sint Maarten Carnival is smaller than Trinidad or Aruba but preserves the authentic jump-up street parade culture that the larger carnivals have replaced with ticketed events.