A Guide to Island Hopping Around St. Martin

One of many nice points of interest of a trip within the Caribbean is the possibility to do a little bit of island hopping. In fact, so as to take action successfully, you need to decide your targets and, importantly, an applicable leaping off spot. St. Thomas as a place to begin for the Virgin Island and St. Vincent for exploring the Grenadines spring to thoughts, however if you wish to do some island hoping that exposes you to a couple completely distinctive cultural experiences, then island hopping round St. Martin is your finest wager.

To start with, whereas I’m utilizing the final time period “St. Martin,” you’re truly getting two separate nations on one island: the French St. Martin and the Dutch Sint Maarten. And from there you may simply attain three different islands – Anguilla, Saba, and St. Barth – every with its personal vastly completely different enchantment. All are simply reachable, both for a day journey or an extended go to.

So, let’s bounce in and discover the principle spots to go island hopping round St. Martin.

See additionally: Island Hopping in the Caribbean

The place to go island hopping round St. Martin

You may both base your self at St. Martin or begin off on the island and hop round.

Sint Maarten

Sint Maarten serves because the pure hub for the realm due to its trendy worldwide airport. Princess Juliana Airport is nicely served by most US and Canadian airways, with common flights all year long. Its Dutch/French connection additionally ensures frequent service from Europe, primarily Amsterdam and Paris. So, it’s simple to get to and is extraordinarily person pleasant, with little or no tradition shock for first timers to the Caribbean.

The bigger resorts, some with casinos, are positioned on the “Dutch facet” because the islanders consult with it. Most are positioned straight on white sand seashores in vigorous areas like Simpson Bay, Cupecoy Seashore and the airport adjoining Maho Seashore, a favorite of the Instagram crowd.

Philipsburg, the capital, is by far the largest, busiest city within the area and is legendary for its duty-free buying, which has dramatically expanded in recent times because of the multi-million-dollar growth of its cruise ship terminal. The draw back, after all, is that it might get fairly busy when a number of of the massive ships are on the town. 

However the bustle of Sint Maarten additionally means that there’s all the time a alternative of issues to do. There are many actions, from a soothing seashore barbecue to serving to crew a former America’s Cup 12 metre yacht in a race across the island. This selection makes Sint Maarten a great place for households. There may be additionally an lively nightlife, which means it may be little bit of a extra adult-oriented playground as nicely. While you get proper all the way down to it, Sint Maarten is a kind of uncommon locations that may actually lay declare to being, “enjoyable for all ages.”

And, maybe most significantly, Sint Maarten is both a drive, a ferry journey or brief flight away from the opposite islands we’re specializing in.

St. Martin

Drive throughout the unmanned border (no passport required) and it doesn’t take lengthy to note the distinction. The panorama will get a bit greener and hillier, the event noticeably much less and the bustle of the Dutch facet begins to present solution to a extra laid-back, distinctly Gallic really feel.

St. Martin actually has its personal enchantment. The seashores, although much less quite a few than these of its neighbour, are higher, and customarily much less crowded. Orient Bay Seashore is maybe essentially the most spectacular, with Anse Marcel and the secluded and peaceable Baie Rouge additionally worthy of point out. 

The small capital of Marigot is charming, although not totally recovered from the devastation of Hurricane Irma. There’s a little bit of a busier vibe than the remainder of St. Martin, a ravishing harbour and good small locations to seize a drink, espresso or sandwich. A quick (uphill) stroll from the city will take you to the ruins of Fort Louis, in-built 1789 to defend the city in opposition to the British, Dutch, and marauding pirates. The spectacular views make it nicely definitely worth the hike.

St. Martin has its justifiable share of actions, although admittedly lower than the Dutch facet and of a much less adrenaline-pumping nature. There are some good mountaineering trails and sail/snorkel excursions, however the purpose most individuals come to St. Martin is to loosen up. And to eat.

Surprisingly, particularly given its small dimension, St. Martin has constructed a repute because the connoisseur capital of the Caribbean. There are wonderful eating places scattered all through the French facet, in locations like Marigot and Orient Seashore, however by far the capital of the island’s advantageous eating scene is Grand Case.

This small, picturesque beachfront city is residence to some wonderful institutions that supply the perfect of French Creole cooking, with an emphasis on seafood. Some standouts embrace Auberge Gourmande, Ocean 82 and Le Pressoir. And if you happen to really feel you want a break from advantageous eating, you may strive considered one of Grand Case’s lolos – vigorous outside eating places specializing in native dishes centred across the barbecue.

Grand Case can be a stunning place for a seashore stroll, the place you may take within the view of our subsequent island-hopping vacation spot, Anguilla.

Anguilla

The gap from St. Martin to Anguilla is lower than 30km. The principle route between the 2 islands is the 25-minute public ferry journey from Marigot, on the French facet, to Blowing Level in Anguilla. You may as well take one of many shuttles that present speedboat service, just about throughout from Princess Juliana Airport on the Dutch facet. Or you may catch a 10-minute flight between the islands, nevertheless it’s hardly definitely worth the effort or price. Nevertheless, you get there, be sure you take your passport. Anguilla is a British territory.

If you’re in search of one phrase to explain Anguilla, that phrase is undoubtedly ‘seashores’. This lengthy, flat slender island (the title means ‘eel’) appears to include little greater than a string of seashores. Actually, there are over 30 of them dotted alongside its 60km of shoreline.

Anguilla seashores are merely idyllic: lengthy stretches of powdery, white sand set in opposition to calm, shallow turquoise seas. Excellent for sunbathing, swimming or simply strolling. Shoal Bay is usually ranked the highest seashore within the Caribbean and among the best on this planet. However there are numerous extra that come near difficult for these honours, Meads Bay, Maundys Bay, Sandy Floor, and Rendezvous Bay amongst them.

And, as you’d anticipate from a Caribbean Island with so many nice seashores, Anguilla is legendary for its legendary seashore bars. No island, no matter dimension, frequently options so many names on revealed lists of the Prime Ten Seashore Bars. It’s actually a seashore bar-hopper’s paradise, with locations like Gwen’s Reggae Grill (Shoal Bay) and Elvis’ (Sandy Floor), in addition to the Sunshine Shack and Dune Preserve (Rendezvous Bay).

The islands seashores are additionally residence to a few of the area’s most spectacular resorts. Right here you will see that the Four Seasons Anguilla, the Malliouhana, Zemi Beach Resort and the enduring Belmond Cap Juluca. Their presence has additionally significantly elevated the island’s eating scene in recent times.

What Anguilla doesn’t have is a wide range of actions (past crusing and snorkelling), a vibrant nightlife, duty-free buying of any sort, or a lot of a alternative of funds lodging. And there isn’t actually a city to discover. However, consider me, with these seashores, it’s simple to neglect about all that.

Saba

At a distance of 50km from St. Martin, the island of Saba is the furthest flung of our island-hopping targets. It is usually one of the crucial uncommon, unspoilt, and surprisingly charming islands not solely within the area, however all through all the Caribbean.

Saba shouldn’t be for the informal traveler, or these in search of the stereotypical island paradise. To start with, it’s not precisely the best island to get to. Most guests arrive by the quick ferry from Sint Maarten, an typically bumpy 90-minute journey. Or you may fly there. The flight takes a mere quarter-hour, however you’re then confronted with touchdown on a tiny airport seemingly carved out of the hillside and that includes the smallest industrial runway on this planet. And don’t anticipate palm lined white sand seashores. At a compact 13 sq. kilometres, Saba is actually a volcano elevating steeply from the ocean.

However those that do courageous the journey will uncover an virtually mystical panorama of winding roads, quaint purple and white wood cottages, and pleasant down-to-earth individuals – an embodiment of the outdated Caribbean as many think about it. The island is actually an eco-paradise, above and beneath the waterline, with difficult rain forest hikes and world-renowned dive websites. Those that handle the hike up the aptly named Mt. Surroundings shall be rewarded with breathtaking views throughout the Caribbean to St Martin, St Barths, and past.

Lodging and eating are typically quaint and comfy reasonably than luxurious, with lower than 100 rooms in whole unfold amongst a handful of small lodges, visitor homes and cottages. Queen’s Garden Resort and Juliana’s are essentially the most notable lodges on the island, each tucked into the hillside amongst wealthy foliage.

The tempo on Saba is sluggish and aside from exploring the tiny quaint villages of The Backside and Windward facet, there isn’t a lot to do besides benefit from the island’s pure magnificence – the explanation Saba proudly promotes itself because the “Unspoiled Queen of the Caribbean”.

St. Barth

If Saba is sleepy, St. Barth is buzzing. Actually, the 2 islands couldn’t be extra completely different. St. Barth is nearer to St. Martin and far simpler to get to. Quick, trendy ferries service the island from three completely different areas in St. Martin, with the shortest journey taking 45 minutes.  As well as, there are frequent flights (quarter-hour in length) from Princess Juliana and Grand Case airports.

St. Barth is a taking place place, albeit a reasonably dear one. At the start, St. Barth is a distinctly French island. However not within the Creole French type of Martinique or Guadeloupe. St. Barth is nearer to the French Riviera transplanted within the Caribbean.

The capital of Gustavia is famous for the multi-million-dollar yachts within the harbour and the stylish eating places and high-end designer retailers (don’t anticipate any duty-free bargains) lining its important avenue, together with a Dolce & Gabbana Martini bar. And if you happen to want a break, the stunning Shell Seashore is inside strolling distance of the downtown.

If Gustavia doesn’t excite you, a 10-minute taxi journey will take you to the island’s different scorching spot, St-Jean Seashore. This magnificent stretch of gleaming sand is anchored at one finish by the fabled Eden Rock resort and the famend Nikki Seashore restaurant, and on the different by St. Barth’s extremely Instagrammable small airport. The scene at St-Jean Seashore, and different elements of the island, by no means actually stops.

Nevertheless, when you get past the glitz and glamour, you’ll discover that St. Barth is a remarkably lovely little island. It’s good for renting a automotive and exploring the luxurious, hilly terrain. You’ll discover quite a few different engaging, extra secluded, seashores like Grand Saline, Anse du Gouverneur, and Colombier Seashore, in addition to some low key however surprisingly luxurious, lodges.

In brief, St. Barth generally is a blast, particularly if you happen to don’t thoughts the sometimes-scary costs.

Issues to think about when island hopping round St. Martin

• Entry: Every of those locations may be comparatively simply accessed by ferry or aircraft from St. Martin, with the longest journey being the 90-minute quick ferry to Saba. All may be completed in a day, nonetheless, resulting from its geography, Saba is healthier served by an in a single day keep in considered one of its quaint little lodges or visitor homes. And, after all, all lend themselves to longer stays.

• Foreign money: You may freely use US {dollars} in Anguilla, Saba, and Sint Maarten (although the official foreign money within the latter nation is the Antillean Guilder). In St. Martin and St. Barth, nonetheless, Euros are the foreign money of document. You might get away with US {dollars} (particularly in St, Martin), however it should seemingly be frowned upon.