When winter sets in, it's time to follow the example of all those migratory birds and head south to warmer climes. The perfect place to escape the cold is the Caribbean with its idyllic islands destinations. One of these is the Dutch constituent country of St Maarten, where you can enjoy the perfect Caribbean break.
The country has the very Dutch name of Sint Maarten. This is not surprising, since it's a Dutch constituent country. It shares the island of Saint Martin with France and lies east of Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands.
The capital, Philipsburg, is also the largest of the towns on Saint Martin Island. It's located in the south and has an unusual lay-out along a narrow strip of land. To the south it borders Great Bay and to the north the Great Salt Pond. Philipsburg has some historical sights, including the fascinating Fort Willem, but is mainly known for the great shopping to be had here. It's also the place where cruise ships dock.
It's very easy to get to the French side of the island as well. The capital of Saint-Martin is Marigot on the west coast. In the north, at Grand Case, you'll find the best places to eat, with a huge array of gourmet restaurants.
Of course the main attraction of any Caribbean destination is the many idyllic beaches and on Saint Martin Island you're spoiled for choice, with plenty of water-based activities to choose from too. One beach that is very famous for a rather unusual reason is Maho Beach. To get there, it's only about twenty minutes' drive from Philipsburg. What makes this beach famous is that it's directly on the flight path of landing aircraft and they fly over at a very low altitude. Plane spotters from around the world come here to get as close as possible to airplanes in flight.
The island is not only about beaches and the sea, however. You can enjoy many land-based activities too, including hiking and horseback riding. There are golf courses, go karts, paintball facilities and a popular canopy tour. Sint Maarten Zoo makes for a great day out with the kids but young and old will also enjoy the colorful creatures at the butterfly farm on the French side.
The tropical climate makes Sint Maarten the perfect year-round destination. High season is from January to April, when it's dry season too and nights are slightly cooler. However, the rainy season is a great time to visit too, since showers are short and you'll still get plenty of sunshine, especially since the days are longer at this time of year.
You can visit during a shore excursion while on a Caribbean cruise. However, to really enjoy Sint Maarten, you'll need to spend some more time here. Fly in from Amsterdam, Paris or several destinations in the USA, Canada, the Caribbean or Panama and be ready to swap your winter clothes for swimwear and that cup of hot cocoa for tropical punch.
The country has the very Dutch name of Sint Maarten. This is not surprising, since it's a Dutch constituent country. It shares the island of Saint Martin with France and lies east of Puerto Rico and the US and British Virgin Islands.
The capital, Philipsburg, is also the largest of the towns on Saint Martin Island. It's located in the south and has an unusual lay-out along a narrow strip of land. To the south it borders Great Bay and to the north the Great Salt Pond. Philipsburg has some historical sights, including the fascinating Fort Willem, but is mainly known for the great shopping to be had here. It's also the place where cruise ships dock.
It's very easy to get to the French side of the island as well. The capital of Saint-Martin is Marigot on the west coast. In the north, at Grand Case, you'll find the best places to eat, with a huge array of gourmet restaurants.
Of course the main attraction of any Caribbean destination is the many idyllic beaches and on Saint Martin Island you're spoiled for choice, with plenty of water-based activities to choose from too. One beach that is very famous for a rather unusual reason is Maho Beach. To get there, it's only about twenty minutes' drive from Philipsburg. What makes this beach famous is that it's directly on the flight path of landing aircraft and they fly over at a very low altitude. Plane spotters from around the world come here to get as close as possible to airplanes in flight.
The island is not only about beaches and the sea, however. You can enjoy many land-based activities too, including hiking and horseback riding. There are golf courses, go karts, paintball facilities and a popular canopy tour. Sint Maarten Zoo makes for a great day out with the kids but young and old will also enjoy the colorful creatures at the butterfly farm on the French side.
The tropical climate makes Sint Maarten the perfect year-round destination. High season is from January to April, when it's dry season too and nights are slightly cooler. However, the rainy season is a great time to visit too, since showers are short and you'll still get plenty of sunshine, especially since the days are longer at this time of year.
You can visit during a shore excursion while on a Caribbean cruise. However, to really enjoy Sint Maarten, you'll need to spend some more time here. Fly in from Amsterdam, Paris or several destinations in the USA, Canada, the Caribbean or Panama and be ready to swap your winter clothes for swimwear and that cup of hot cocoa for tropical punch.
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Before you take a trip to the amazing St Maarten island, you should first read the guide that's published on our website. Come and check out this page now at http://www.st-maarten-island-guide.com.