Uncover the Unexpected Side of Sint Maarten’s Caribbean Magic

Aside from being known as a little slice of Caribbean bliss, the island of Sint Maarten is famous for planespotting.

The flight path of the planes flying into Princess Juliana Airport (SXM) goes right over the beach, so you can see the aircraft coming in from the water, your deck chair, or one of the bars between the beach and an active runway.

Many beach bars have takeoff and departure boards so spectators can see what’s coming and going.

The Sunset Bar & Grill is tapped into the Air Traffic Control communication, so you can hear snippets of the conversations between the planes and the tower while enjoying drinks with a dreamy view.

Another good spot to watch the planes is the Tortuga Beach Bar and Restaurant. There’s even an arrival board in the bar so you can see what planes are coming in for a landing.

Sint Maarten is also home to the world’s steepest zipline, the Flying Dutchman, which features a 1,050-foot drop and speeds of almost 60 mph.

You’ll see and hear Sint Maarten referred to as Saint Martin or St Martin (imagine it with a French accent), but it’s the same island.

This is the only Caribbean island where two different countries claim the terrain. There’s a Dutch side and a French side, which can be distinguished by food, license plates and discreet signs.

However, you can roam freely throughout the island without complicated border crossings or the need to whip out your passport.

Although planespotting and the Flying Dutchman will probably never be replaced as iconic experiences on Saint Maarten, here’s what’s new on the island.

The Caribbean Culture Experience at We Culture Museum

I’ve been to museums that tell the stories of Mardi Gras and Carnivale. While looking at pictures of past celebrations and elaborate costumes is kind of cool, the We Culture Museum is on an entirely different level.

You’ll get an inkling that this isn’t your ordinary museum experience when you get a gander at the bar on the right as soon as you enter the museum. This was my first experience with the concept of an “open bar museum,” and I have to say, the idea has promise.

The exhibits focus on the costumes and the darker side of Caribbean Carnivale. Although on the surface, Carnivale seems like an upbeat and vibrant celebration, its origins are rooted in rebellion against slavery.

The museum has costume displays and explains the meanings behind some of the more nefarious-looking characters in Carnivale’s history, such as The Bookman, who carries a large book in which he writes the names of souls for the devil.

A visit to We Culture also includes many hands-on elements, such as banging on a drum, trying on elaborate costumes or crafting your own Carnivale finery.

You can book a 45-minute guided tour for $25 per person. You’ll have time to roam on your own after the informative tour and maybe grab another drink. The house specialty is a wicked rum punch, but the museum has a full bar, including nonalcoholic options.

Carnivale in St Maarten typically happens in late April/early May, but if you miss it, you’ll get a taste of what it’s all about here.

Take a Caribbean Cooking Class

Food is the gift that keeps on giving long after the trip ends. If you like to bring home spices or sauces from your travels, why not take things to the next level and bring home the knowledge to recreate Caribbean dishes in your kitchen?

The Creole Culinary Classroom offers the opportunity to do that in a fun, relaxed setting. Their website includes descriptions of pre-set menus, such as Creole Classics and French Caribbean Bistro.

The classes include hands-on instruction, bottomless rum punch, and, best of all, the opportunity to eat what you make. There’s something immensely satisfying about sitting down to eat a meal that you worked hard on.

Plus, you’ll walk away with the confidence and the recipes to recreate your dishes. The fish fritters are delicious and easy to make at home with simple ingredients.

You can join a class already on the calendar or book a private session. Classes are also available in French.

Sint Maarten Tours and Excursions

Spend the Afternoon at a Floating Restaurant and Bar

The Balaou Restaurant is a casual, floating restaurant/bar accessed by boat or paddleboard. There’s also a pickup service from the jetty on Grand Case Bay, which is what I did. There’s just something that feels chic and exciting about speeding across the water to get to lunch.

The food and beverages are served from a walk-up counter. The menu includes casual, easy-to-eat food like sandwiches and pizzas. There’s also a burger and a hot dog of the moment. On the day I visited, the hot dog of the moment was a duck hot dog with crispy onions.

The seating is inflatable rafts with drink holders tethered to a floating dock. There are a couple of rafts that have canopies offering some shade, but most of them are in the full sun.

Being comfortable in the water and having a bit of agility to navigate the moving dock and slippery seating are necessary. There’s standing room around the rails near the bar for anyone who wants to take a break from the water, but there’s no place to sit down.

Take a High-Octane Boat Tour With RIB Adventures SXM

RIB stands for Rigid Inflatable Boat, where the hull is made of fiberglass or other rigid material surrounded by inflatable pontoon-style buoys.

RIB Adventure SXM is the perfect venue for anyone who wants a high-octane trip around the waters of Sint Maarten. They offer day and sunset tours, which last an hour, but they’re willing to do custom tours if you want something longer.

This newly opened activity features a modified boat that was once a part of the Dutch Coast Guard’s fleet.

Island Hop

While not a newly available activity, making a day trip to Anguilla stood out as extra spectacular on my recent trip to Sint Maarten, so I can’t skip mentioning it. This neighboring island is a British territory and is easy to get to from Sint Maarten by boat or plane.

A boat ride – the dock for charters and ferries is near the airport – takes about 20 minutes. And don’t let the word “ferry” fool you. It’s a high-energy speed boat race over the open ocean, which gets a bit bumpy.

A flight from the Princess Julianna Airport takes about 10 minutes. You’ll go through immigration and customs on both sides, so a trip to Anguilla from Sint Maarten will result in four passport stamps.

Drive around the island – rent a Moke, a right-hand drive open-air vehicle perfect for touring and sightseeing, and check out Anguilla’s beautiful beach scenery. To drive the loop around the island without stopping takes less than an hour. And don’t be intimidated by the “wrong side of the road” driving. It’s a bit daunting at first, but most people find it surprisingly intuitive once they get started. Just watch what the other cars are doing.

Where to Stay in Sint Maarten

Sint Maarten has no shortage of hotels and short-term rentals, so there is a lot to choose from. If you’re visiting during the Carnivale season, plan in advance because things get busy.

The Sonesta Maho Beach and the Sonesta Ocean Point are side-by-side resorts just minutes from the airport. Both hotels are all-inclusive.

The Maho Beach is a family resort, although there are two adults-only levels on the hotel’s top floors. Ocean Point is for adults only.

Both properties are within walking distance of the We Culture Museum, the planespotting bars, beaches, and shopping.

If you’re a Marriott loyalist and love the upscale touches of a JW Marriott, the JW Marriott St Maarten Beach Resort and Spa is worth considering.

Like all resorts under the JW brand, this one caters to families while maintaining that elevated atmosphere with epic pools and multiple choices for onsite dining, including a JW Culinary School offering cooking and cocktail classes.

The one drawback of staying at the Marriott is that it’s some distance from the airport. Sure, it’s a small island, but getting to the airport from the hotel can take as much as 45 minutes if you run into traffic. It’s also less in the center of things, which may be appealing, depending on the type of vacation you’re looking for.

Inspire your next adventure with our articles below:

6 Romantic Destinations for a Honeymoon in the Caribbean

Turks and Caicos: The Most Magical Islands of the Caribbean

Author Bio: Jill Robbins is a freelance writer covering lifestyle, travel, health, and commerce. Her writing has appeared in Fodor’s Travel, Business Insider, AAA, and other publications. Jill lives in San Antonio with her husband and two sons, although she’s usually somewhere else.

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