One of the good points of interest of a trip within the Caribbean is the possibility to do a little bit of island hopping. Of course, so as to take action successfully, you must 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 greatest wager.
To start with, whereas I’m utilizing the overall time period “St. Martin,” you might be really getting two separate nations on one island: the French St. Martin and the Dutch Sint Maarten. And from there you possibly can simply attain three different islands – Anguilla, Saba, and St. Barth – every with its personal vastly totally different attraction. 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 within the Caribbean
Where to go island hopping round St. Martin
You can 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 world due to its fashionable 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 straightforward to get to and is extraordinarily consumer pleasant, with little or no tradition shock for first timers to the Caribbean.
The bigger resorts, some with casinos, are situated on the “Dutch side” because the islanders discuss with it. Most are situated instantly on white sand seashores in full of life areas like Simpson Bay, Cupecoy Beach and the airport adjoining Maho Beach, 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 procuring, which has dramatically expanded in recent times because of the multi-million-dollar improvement of its cruise ship terminal. The draw back, in fact, is that it may get fairly busy when a couple of of the large ships are on the town.
But the bustle of Sint Maarten additionally means that there’s at all times a selection of issues to do. There are loads of actions, from a calming seaside 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 superb place for households. There can be an energetic nightlife, that means it may be little bit of a extra adult-oriented playground as nicely. When you get proper right down to it, Sint Maarten is a kind of uncommon locations that may actually lay declare to being, “fun for all ages.”
And, maybe most significantly, Sint Maarten is both a drive, a ferry experience or quick 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 aspect begins to provide technique to a extra laid-back, distinctly Gallic really feel.
St. Martin actually has its personal attraction. The seashores, although much less quite a few than these of its neighbour, are higher, and customarily much less crowded. Orient Bay Beach is maybe probably 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 lovely 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 towards the British, Dutch, and marauding pirates. The spectacular views make it nicely well worth the hike.
St. Martin has its fair proportion of actions, although admittedly lower than the Dutch aspect and of a much less adrenaline-pumping nature. There are some good mountain climbing trails and sail/snorkel excursions, however the motive most individuals come to St. Martin is to loosen up. And to eat.
Surprisingly, particularly given its small dimension, St. Martin has constructed a popularity because the gourmand capital of the Caribbean. There are wonderful eating places scattered all through the French aspect, in locations like Marigot and Orient Beach, however by far the capital of the island’s nice eating scene is Grand Case.
This small, picturesque beachfront city is dwelling to some superb institutions that supply one of the best of French Creole cooking, with an emphasis on seafood. Some standouts embody Auberge Gourmande, Ocean 82 and Le Pressoir. And should you really feel you want a break from nice eating, you possibly can strive considered one of Grand Case’s lolos – full of life out of doors eating places specializing in native dishes centred across the barbecue.
Grand Case can be a beautiful place for a seaside stroll, the place you possibly can take within the view of our subsequent island-hopping vacation spot, Anguilla.
Anguilla
The distance from St. Martin to Anguilla is lower than 30km. The important route between the 2 islands is the 25-minute public ferry experience from Marigot, on the French aspect, to Blowing Point in Anguilla. You can even take one of many shuttles that present speedboat service, just about throughout from Princess Juliana Airport on the Dutch aspect. Or you possibly can catch a 10-minute flight between the islands, but it surely’s hardly well worth the effort or price. However, you get there, make sure you take your passport. Anguilla is a British territory.
If you might be in search of one phrase to explain Anguilla, that phrase is undoubtedly ‘beaches’. This lengthy, flat slim island (the identify means ‘eel’) appears to include little greater than a string of seashores. In reality, there are over 30 of them dotted alongside its 60km of shoreline.
Anguilla seashores are merely idyllic: lengthy stretches of powdery, white sand set towards calm, shallow turquoise seas. Perfect for sunbathing, swimming or simply strolling. Shoal Bay is usually ranked the highest seaside within the Caribbean and among the finest on the earth. But there are various extra that come near difficult for these honours, Meads Bay, Maundys Bay, Sandy Ground, and Rendezvous Bay amongst them.
And, as you’d count on from a Caribbean Island with so many nice seashores, Anguilla is legendary for its legendary seaside bars. No island, no matter dimension, commonly options so many names on revealed lists of the Top Ten Beach Bars. It’s actually a seaside bar-hopper’s paradise, with locations like Gwen’s Reggae Grill (Shoal Bay) and Elvis’ (Sandy Ground), in addition to the Sunshine Shack and Dune Preserve (Rendezvous Bay).
The islands seashores are additionally dwelling to a few of the area’s most spectacular resorts. Here you will see the Four Seasons Anguilla, the Malliouhana, Zemi Beach Resort and the enduring Belmond Cap Juluca. Their presence has additionally critically 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 procuring of any variety, or a lot of a selection of finances lodging. And there isn’t actually a city to discover. But, imagine me, with these seashores, it’s straightforward 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 can be some of the uncommon, unspoilt, and surprisingly charming islands not solely within the area, however all through your complete 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 usually bumpy 90-minute experience. Or you possibly can fly there. The flight takes a mere quarter-hour, however you might be then confronted with touchdown on a tiny airport seemingly carved out of the hillside and that includes the smallest industrial runway on the earth. And don’t count on palm lined white sand seashores. At a compact 13 sq. kilometres, Saba is basically a volcano elevating steeply from the ocean.
But those that do courageous the journey will uncover an nearly mystical panorama of winding roads, quaint pink and white picket cottages, and pleasant down-to-earth folks – an embodiment of the previous Caribbean as many think about it. The island is basically an eco-paradise, above and under the waterline, with difficult rain forest hikes and world-renowned dive websites. Those who handle the hike up the aptly named Mt. Scenery might be rewarded with breathtaking views throughout the Caribbean to St Martin, St Barths, and past.
Accommodation 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 probably 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 Bottom and Windward aspect, there isn’t a lot to do besides benefit from the island’s pure magnificence – the rationale Saba proudly promotes itself because the “Unspoiled Queen of the Caribbean”.
St. Barth
If Saba is sleepy, St. Barth is buzzing. In reality, the 2 islands couldn’t be extra totally different. St. Barth is nearer to St. Martin and far simpler to get to. Fast, fashionable ferries service the island from three totally different areas in St. Martin, with the shortest journey taking 45 minutes. In addition, there are frequent flights (quarter-hour in period) from Princess Juliana and Grand Case airports.
St. Barth is a taking place place, albeit a reasonably expensive one. First and foremost, St. Barth is a distinctly French island. But not within the Creole French model 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 outlets (don’t count on any duty-free bargains) lining its important avenue, together with a Dolce & Gabbana Martini bar. And should you want a break, the beautiful Shell Beach is inside strolling distance of the downtown.
If Gustavia doesn’t excite you, a 10-minute taxi experience will take you to the island’s different scorching spot, St-Jean Beach. This magnificent stretch of gleaming sand is anchored at one finish by the fabled Eden Rock resort and the famend Nikki Beach restaurant, and on the different by St. Barth’s extremely Instagrammable small airport. The scene at St-Jean Beach, and different components of the island, by no means actually stops.
However, when you get past the glitz and glamour, you’ll discover that St. Barth is a remarkably stunning little island. It’s excellent for renting a automotive and exploring the luxurious, hilly terrain. You’ll discover a variety of different engaging, extra secluded, seashores like Grand Saline, Anse du Gouverneur, and Colombier Beach, in addition to some low key however surprisingly luxurious, lodges.
In quick, St. Barth generally is a blast, particularly should you don’t thoughts the sometimes-scary costs.
Things to contemplate when island hopping round St. Martin
- Access: Each 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, because of 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, in fact, all lend themselves to longer stays.
- Currency: You can freely use US {dollars} in Anguilla, Saba, and Sint Maarten (although the official forex within the latter nation is the Antillean Guilder). In St. Martin and St. Barth, nonetheless, Euros are the forex of file. You could get away with US {dollars} (particularly in St, Martin), however it’ll possible be frowned upon.
