St. Maarten / St. Martin Yacht Charter Guide
St. Maarten / St. Martin Yacht Charter Overview, Destinations and Information
About St. Maarten / St. Martin |
St. Maarten / St. Martin Yacht Charter |
St Martin Marinas |
Getting There |
Climate |
History |
Culture |
Shopping |
Cuisine |
Things To Do |
Our St Martin Charter Yachts
About St. Maarten / St. Martin
St. Maarten offers all the beauty, beaches, culture and activities that you would expect from an idyllic Caribbean Island. The island is located at the top of the Leeward Island chain in the northeast Caribbean, lying approximately 300km/186 miles east of Puerto Rico. St Maarten is divided roughly in half between France and the Dutch Antilles, the French half is known as St. Martin and the Dutch as St. Maarten. As such it is often referred to as St. Martin/St. Maarten or sometimes simply by its airport call letters, SXM.
At 87 km2 it is the smallest inhabited sea island that is split between two nations, and has been peacefully shared for almost 350 years. The absence of conflict in the island’s history has led to one of the most attractive features of this paradise island; its unusual serenity.
The diversity on such a small island is rare and the mixture of the two nations and the exotic native heritage has led to an island that is now truly cosmopolitan and home to over 80 nationalities. The island has been named the Gastronomic Capital of the Caribbean, attracting top chefs from America, Asia and Europe to its 300 restaurants. Add this to world class duty free shopping, a vibrant and eclectic nightlife, 37 pristine beaches and year-round warmth and you can understand why this is one of the most popular Caribbean destinations.
With a new international airport and direct flights from many major North American and European cities, St. Maarten is not only idyllic, but easy to get to, making it a perfect Caribbean destination.
St.Maarten Yacht Charter
The Caribbean waters offer beautiful cruising and St.Maarten is the perfect place to explore. With a well developed infrastructure and personable charisma there is plenty to keep you occupied and with its proximity to neighboring islands, including Saint Barthelemy (St. Barths / St. Bart's), Anguilla, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St.Maarten is ideal as somewhere to start or include in your Caribbean Adventure. The island has become on of the centers of the Caribbean yachting industry and home to some of the world’s most extravagant mega-yachts. The St.Maarten 12-meter Regatta at Great Bay in Philipsburg also makes traditional America’s Cup yachts available to visitors for regattas and charters and allows them to help sail them.
Marinas
Simpson Bay Marina
The Caribbean’s largest lagoon is also in St.Maarten; Simpson Bay Lagoon. It is landlocked with the exception of two narrow channels with draw bridges and is home to a large fleet of yachts berthed in the luxury Simpson Bay marina or anchored in the sheltered waters.
Simpson Bay Marina features 120 slips and can accommodate vessels up to 180ft in length and 15ft in draft. It forms part of a high-class, luxury marina village incorporating 100 villas, 50 shops and offices, 8 distinctive restaurants, a swimming pool, tennis courts, landscaping, internal roads and parking facilities. It is just a few miles from the Princess Juliana International Airport.
Oyster Pond
Oyster Pond is a pretty and picturesque harbor that lies right on the east coast border. It is well protected from the Atlantic Ocean on this side and has a popular waterfront restaurant, Captain Oliver’s, right to hand.
Marigot
Marigot used to be a small fishing village on the swamp after which it is named until it was made the capital of the French side of the island by King Louis XVI. Today it is a typical Caribbean town with gingerbread houses, sidewalk bistros and markets every Wednesday and Saturday. The Marina Port la Royale lies at the southern end of the town with excellent facilities.
Getting There
The island’s main airport, Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch side, is serviced by
many of the major airlines. From the US, American Airlines flies direct from New York, Miami and San Juan,
US Airways direct from Philadelphia and Charlotte, United Airlines from Chicago, Continental from Newark,
Delta Airlines from Atlanta and GWV from Boston, with connecting flights available to other US cities.
From Canada, Air Transat flies from Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary and Halifax and Air Canada,
Conquest and Signature Vacations all fly direct from Toronto.
From Europe, KLM and Air Holland fly direct from Amsterdam and Air France and Corsair fly direct from Paris with connecting flights available from other European cities. There is also a smaller airport on the French side of the island known as L'Espérance Airport for small jet and propeller planes servicing the neighboring Caribbean islands and the option of arriving by cruise liner!
Climate and Weather
St Maarten is sunny and warm all year-round with average temperatures of 27°C (82°F). The trade winds help to keep the climate comfortable and the equatorial proximity means that the island experiences nearly 12 hours of sunshine every day of the year. Temperature variations between the seasons are small and only a few degrees are perceptible between summer and winter. Due to its position in the tropics, St.Maarten also experiences some tropical storms in the late summer, early autumn/fall (June to September) June is not late summer but the rain usually occurs in the early hours of the morning leaving the rest of the day to explore the beautiful coastlines and islands.
History of St. Maarten
According to legend, the island gets its name from the day upon which Christopher Columbus sighted
and perhaps anchored off her shores in 1493. November 11th is the feast day of Saint Martin of Tours
and it was in his honor that Columbus named the island, San Martin. At the time, the island was then
part of the Carib Territory, a warlike race of people that migrated from the north coast of South America
and who had chased the native Arawaks out. The word ‘cannibal’ comes from the Arawak word for Carib as they
killed and allegedly ate the Arawak men before taking their women.
It was not until the mid 17th century that the Carib’s territory was completely conquered in the struggle between the French, English, Dutch, Danish and Spanish for the control of the West Indies. The Dutch were the first to use the island’s ponds for salt and tussled for control with the Spanish, who introduced the first African slaves in the 16th century followed by a greater influx in the 18th century with the introduction of sugarcane plantations. When slavery was abolished in the early 19th century, the British imported Chinese and East Indians as a new source of labor. This resulted in the population mixture of Native, European, African and Asian throughout the West Indies.
On March 23rd, 1648, France and the Dutch Republic agreed to divide the island between their two nations and signed the Treaty of Concordia to allow the people of St.Maarten to coexist in a cooperative manner. However, the border between the French and Dutch side was disputed for another half century and finally set in 1817.
The story behind the division of the island between the two nations is an entertaining one, as it is reported to have been decided by a foot race. The French community chose a representative as did the Dutch, the two competitors were made to start from (a highly disputed) point on the coast and walk, not run, in opposite directions around the coastline of the island. The point at which they crossed paths would then form the opposite end of a line drawn across from the start point forming the border. The reason the French side of the island is larger than the Dutch is allegedly due to the fact that the Frenchman drank wine before the race and the Dutchman drank beer. Due to the ‘restorative’ effects of wine, the Frenchman was able to walk faster than the Dutchman.. The translation of the original name of the island, San Martin, into French is Saint Martin and into Dutch is Sint Maarten.
Culture
The French side, St. Martin, is known for its emphasis on comfort, elegance and luxury. Secluded beaches lined with sophisticated luxury resorts, the latest in French fashions and a mix of French and West Indian cooking are all combined in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere.
The Dutch side, St.Maarten, on the other hand, is known for its more developed and festive approach to life. You'll find a lively nightlife culture, activity beaches, casinos and exotic cocktails made with the native rum-based guava-berry liquors.
Shopping
Shopping on the island offers high quality duty-free goods and is reputed as a ‘shopper’s paradise’. Philipsburg, the main town on the Dutch side is the best place for shopping and popular goods include the local arts and crafts, jewelry, liquor, tobacco, leather goods, exotic foods and designer goods, often up to 40% cheaper than in the US. It’s important to note that different currencies are used in each part of the island St.Martin uses the Euro, while St.Maarten is using the Netherlands Antillean guilder. The US Dollar is however, also widely accepted in either section.
The Excellent Cuisine of St Martin
Perhaps the biggest reason to go to St. Maarten, apart from the relaxed paradise lifestyle of the
Caribbean, is for the cuisine. Known as the Gastronomic Capital of the Caribbean, St.Maarten offers
the greatest variety of cuisine of all the islands in the world. With over 300 restaurants on this
tiny island, you can easily go on a worldwide culinary experience while relaxing in the Caribbean
lifestyle.
St. Marrten dining offers everything from local BBQ ribs and chicken to first class French cuisine from Parisian Chefs, Italian, Tex-Mex, Thai, Vietnamese, Indian, Japanese and Chinese, not to mention the extensive wine and cocktail menus that accompany the glorious celebration of food and dining. Grand Case on the north-western coast on the French side is perhaps the best place to find a restaurant to satisfy even the most complex of tastes.
Tips on tipping:
On St.Maarten (Dutch side) the restaurants follow the American system for paying their waiting staff giving them a very low base salary and expecting customers to tip at least 15% of the bill. However there are a few establishments that confuse the matter by using US bill slips which have a line for tax, there is no tax on the St.Maarten and if a charge appears here it is the service charge.
On St. Martin (French side) the restaurants have to abide by European law, which states that the service charge has to be included, meaning that the menu price includes service and there is no obligation to pay more. However, most restaurant owners rely on the American system and expect some tipping to be paid on top of the bill.
Things to Do in St Maarten
If the extensive and beautifully kept beaches aren’t enough for you, St.Maarten has a range of activities and attractions to keep you and your family occupied during your trip to the island. A selection of the most popular activities are listed below but the island also boasts vast outdoor entertainment options including golf, tennis, volleyball, horseback riding, mountain-biking, as well as waterborne activities such as: scuba diving, snorkelling, sailing, jet-skiing, water-skiing, kayaking, wind surfing, parasailing and deep-sea fishing. Finally, the island features numerous spas and fitness centers, offering a complete range of beauty, relaxation and rejuvenation services, plus fitness classes and gym equipment.
Butterfly Farm – Stroll through hundreds of colourful butterflies under a tented mesh on the eastern side of St.Martin for a fun family day out. Rte. De la Galion, Quatier d’ Orléans.
Pic du Paradis – The highest point on the island with two viewing areas with great views of the western coastline. The road is steep and isolated so a 4x4 is recommended or go as part of an excursion or tour. Near Friars Bay Beach
Loterie Farm – A 150 acre reserve with an excellent restaurant and lounge which is also open in the evening for a romantic and secluded meal., During the day, the farm offers hikes, eco-tours and obstacle courses on the ground and in the trees featuring zip lines and rope zones. On the Rte. de Pic du Paradis.
Casinos – Casinos on the island are known for being high-class and Vegas-like, located on both sides of the island some of the main ones are Atlantis World, Casino Royale and Paradise Plaza.
Map
Our Caribbean destinations: The Windward Islands | Antigua | BVI / British Virgin Islands | Grenada | Guadeloupe | Martinique | Spanish Virgin Islands | St Barths | Anguilla | St Martin/Maarten | St Lucia | St Vincent and the Grenadines | US Virgin Islands - St Thomas, St John, St Croix
Some information courtesy of Wikipedia and Official Sint Maarten-Saint Martin Website
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