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 On top of sunbathing on the island's great beaches, St.Maarten/St.Martin offers a lot of interesting activities on both sides. Next to sun and sea, water sports, island tours and visits to emblematic sites, the top activity practiced in St. Maarten/Saint Martin is called shopping. There are practically no import duties on the island. This means that liquors, tobacco, jewels, electronics and many more articles from all over the world are definitively much cheaper than in your country of origin. American citizens usually indulge in French products in our supermarkets, while Europeans can't believe that tobacco is still affordable in this part of the world! There are thousands of shops and boutiques all over the island.
The main shopping districts in St. Maarten/St. Martin are located in Front Street, Philipsburg ,next to Maho Beach and all around the town of Marigot,
 where you can relax from your shopping in the air-conditioned West-Indies Mall enjoying a cool drink. Only for this, those places are worth a visit, to include among other activities. Everything is duty-free! And we are not talking about cheap T-shirts. Look out for the most exclusive European brands of jewelry, French fashion clothes and other luxury articles. Compare the prices of American, Japanese or Korean high-tech electronics; and of course, there are plenty of lovely island souvenirs to bring back home.
 Water lovers will enjoy the great choice of water sports: Diving, snorkeling, surfing, kite-surfing, water ski, para sailing and much more activities are available on many beaches of St. Martin, like Simpson Bay, Le Galion, Orient Bay, Grand Case and more. All around the island, dive boats can take you to the most interesting snorkel and dive sites. You can also combine water sports like snorkeling with a fascinating boat excursion.
 Usually, excursions are organized on well equipped catamarans, which will take you for a day tour to pristine white sand islets around St.Maarten/St. Martin or the neighbor islands of Anguilla and St. Barths. Those two islands can also be visited in a day tour using the regular ferry services. The island is also famous for its numerous, well-equipped marinas - Fort Louis, Simpson Bay and Oyster Pond - where you can charter a boat with or without crew and dedicate to all possible sailing and boating activities.
 If you are more for earthern activities, visit the Butterfly Farm near Orient Beach on the French side of St. Martin. In this natural habitat, discover numerous species of indigenous butterflies swirling around you among their host plants. They can be observed in every stadium of their development. The interesting thing is that you can learn a lot about the interaction between plants, caterpillars, chrysalis and butterflies in your own garden.
 The St. Maarten Zoological and Botanical Gardens are another nice place to visit, especially if you come with kids. Surrounded by Caribbean and American tropical vegetation, around 80 species of mammals, amphibians, reptiles, invertebrates and birds will delight adults and children alike. Special activities for kids are available all year round. The zoo is located at the edge of the Great Salt Pond next to Philipsburg.
 You may also plan a visit to the Loterie Farm on the French side of St. Martin, located in the only tropical forest on the island between Marigot and Grand Case. If you feel fit enough, you can play Tarzan in the "Fly Zone": With the help of zip lines, you will "fly" between obstacles and tree canopies. There is a special Tarzan circuit for kids where they can have fun and plenty of activities under the guidance of a monitor.
A great place to discover the island"s history is "La Plantation Mont Vernon", located on the main road
 next to Orient Bay. The original plantation house was built in 1786. The plantation itself was used to grow sugar cane, coffee, cotton and to produce rum and indigo. Numerous exhibits recreate the way of life and the industrial activities in St. Martin during colonial times. A walk through the plantation is the best way to discover hundreds of species of tropical fruits, vegetables and plants.
The "Old House" or "Musee du Rhum" is located nearby the plantation, on the other side of the main road. It is a restored plantation house from the 18th century, containing furniture and family belongings preserved over many generations. The house gives an insider look at the lifestyle of a planter's family in its historical context. We also suggest a visit to the museums in Philipsburg and Marigot, in order to learn more about the history and the culture of the island.
 Other spots to discover the island's history are Fort Louis on the French and Fort Amsterdam on the Dutch side. Fort Louis was built on a hill over Marigot Bay by King Louis XIV of France, in order to defend the access to the French part of the island of St. Martin. The location offers breathtaking views over Marigot, its Bay, the Lowlands and the Lagoon as well as the neighboring island of Anguilla. You can visit Fort Amsterdam on the Dutch side hiking from Divi Little Bay Resort. The Fort was built in 1631 in order to defend the Dutch territory in colonial times. There are not many remains left, but the view over Philipsburg and Great Bay are well worth the hike.
 Of course there are many more activities available, like safari jeep tours or horse riding between the beaches and hills of the island, for instance in the French Nature Reserve on the Atlantic coast. There is an 18-hole par-70 golf course in Mullet Bay which is open to the general public. Furthermore, there are special events taking place all over the year, like Carnival, and we will inform you about in due time. Don't forget that cultural activities take place all around the year on both sides of the island, so don't miss a musical, theater or dance performance. Enjoy a beautiful evening in St. Maarten/St. Martin! |
