The Caribbean Island Where Planes Soar Just Above Your Head at the Beach
Turquoise blue beaches and the steepest zipline in the world await you here.
Google Sint Maarten and you’ll be greeted with a couple different spellings. There’s an excellent reason for that: There are actually two separate countries on this singular, 37-square-mile island, with as many variations of the name. Just a hop and a skip (or a ferry ride) from posh St. Barts, to the north is the French side, Saint Martin. And to the south—comprising approximately 45% of the island’s total mass—is the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten.
There is so much to explore in this tropical mountains-meets-sea destination. And the smaller Dutch side carries a memorable punch, with the abundant friendliness of its locals as attraction number one. It’s no surprise that its motto is “The Friendly Island.”
Beyond chats with a Saint Maartener over sips of the country’s signature guavaberry liqueur, every nook is filled with delight in this slice of the West Indies. From plopping on a beach as massive aircrafts soar a few dozen feet above your head to riding the world’s steepest zipline, to noshing on all the johnnycakes you can possibly manage, here’s how to experience the Sint Maarten magic.
Enjoy the best planespotting in the world at Maho Beach
Perhaps you’ve seen the photos or almost-alarming YouTube videos of vacationers on a beach, arms outstretched, as mega-planes float just over their heads to a tarmac landing literally feet away. That’s St. Maarten’s Maho Beach, which butts up to Princess Juliana International Airport. For your own unique planespotting adventure, make a day of it and get there on the early side as the larger international planes typically arrive before mid-afternoon. There’s a bar off to the side where you can grab a stool and catch all the action, but for the most thrills, you’re gonna want to get cozy on the sand. Vendors rent out daybeds and chairs, making it easy.
Beyond Maho Beach, Sint Maarten has 36 other beaches and, yes, much quieter options. Long Bay Beach (you’ll see signs for Baie Longue) in the southwest lives up to its name as the largest beach on the island. Its secluded, turquoise-water coastline is bordered to the north and south by rock structures and is primed for bodyboarding and surfing. For sailing adventures—many of which circle the entirety of the island—Simpson Bay is a hotspot for options, including the likes of No1SXM Sailing and Sail Arawak SXM.
Brave the world’s steepest zipline. Plus, parrots
Sure, Sint Maarten’s beaches get the bulk of the ecological love. But there is a zipline and a bird sanctuary that will make outdoorsy hearts flutter equally so. The Flying Dutchman Zipline starts at the top of the nearly 1,200-foot-tall Sentry Hill on Rockland Estate, one of the highest points on the island. On your zipline ride down to near-sea level, you reach peak speeds of almost 60 miles per hour, taking in panoramic forest, sea, and beach landscapes along the way. For the most seamless experience, Rainforest Adventures offers packages with chairlift rides up to Sentry Hill, in addition to other zipline adventures.
Near the French/Dutch border in the town of Belvedere, you’ll find Parotte Ville Bird Sanctuary. Opened in 2015 by aptly-named local George Parotte, here you’ll find 140 birds representing 26 different species to gawk at and hand feed. The stars of the show are parrots in the most vivid of color combinations, plus some species that can only be found at this location. The spot is also an avian rehabilitation center which you can learn all about via tours and within its quaint museum set-up, too.
Spot the pineapple-shaped bell tower in Philipsburg
Amid the nature and rural options, Sint Maarten has a thriving city, too. Philipsburg is the capital of St. Maarten and is the country’s urban core. Its overarching architectural vibe—think classic Dutch, pastel buildings—is as alluring as the businesses you’ll stroll by.
Front Street is a pedestrian-friendly shopping thoroughfare featuring designer clothing boutiques, jewelry shops with locally sourced tanzanite creations, and the town’s colonial-esque courthouse with a pineapple-shaped bell tower on top. Parallel to Front Street is an expansive, seaside boardwalk for when you need a scenic reprieve from shopping.
On the art front, Philipsburg’s streets have recently morphed thanks to modern murals courtesy of the Be The Change Foundation’s ColorMeSXM Project. The foundation partnered with more than a dozen local artists to create an art-walk experience through town, with landscapes spanning flamboyant iguanas to butterfly wings. They are all gram-worthy and conveniently mapped out.
Bring some costume changes to Carnival
Whereas most Carnival celebrations are confined to a few days and hyper-focus on its host country, Sint Maarten parties on another level. Its annual Carnival stretches through April, with a carnival village as its anchor. With stadium seating it’s open round the clock and features 79 booths, including more than 30 culinary vendors from throughout the entire Caribbean region.
Multiculturalism is celebrated in another event, Flagfest, which reflects the diverse population on the island. The Night of the Hitmakers showcases musical talent, and in 2024 they added the St. Maarten Carnival Caribbean Queen Pageant to the lineup.
And then there’s the Jouvert Morning Jump Up. Wake up at 4 am on a Thursday, dress in group costumes (like maids and butlers or police officers), and party on the streets through the break of dawn. Then take the rest of the year to recover.
Go from sweet to spicy and back
You could easily spend your entire stay in Sint Maarten eating. Among the delicacies are johnnycakes (cornmeal pancakes), callaloo (a thick, veggie-filled soup named after a leafy vegetable), lokri (a simmered rice dish resembling paella), and spareribs. Oh, the glorious spareribs that come in such sweet and jerky varieties. Head to the no-frills Captain’s Rib Shack for arguably the best on the island, striking just the right balance.
On the booze front, Sint Maarten is expectedly loaded with cozy, beachside haunts. A favorite is Dutch Blond Beach Bar for its ice-cold, homemade craft brews. Juggie’s Place is as charming as it gets, with a sign reading “The Smallest Bar in the World” above its front door. The owner will donate money toward a local breast cancer awareness nonprofit for anyone who donates one of their own bras. If you’re looking to take a bottle of Sint Maarten rum home, make it Guavaberry. It’s everywhere, from the Philipsburg cruise port to the duty-free section of the airport.
Wade in your hotel’s swim-up bar
Most people get acquainted with Sint Maarten through a Caribbean cruise. But those in the know stay a while. And for them there's just one question: Dreamy, all-inclusive resort or breezy villa?
In early 2024 the first JW Mariott opened on the island in a former hotel property demolished by 2017's Hurricane Irma. The opening signaled not just a recovery, but reflected a new luxe outlook for Sint Maarten. For resorts, Divi Little Bay Beach Resort opened its newest wing in 2022 and has three oceanview pools, a swim-up bar, and on-site water sports center. Six miles west, Sonesta Maho Beach Resort is a top all-inclusive, family-friendly option with 10 acres of oceanfront property to explore, a kids club, aqua park, and on-site casino. For villas, the super-private Coral Beach Club is tucked in the northeast corner of the country on Oyster Pond and has 24 luxurious villas with ocean and mountain views.