Do planes still fly over Maho Beach?

This is one of the few places in the world where aircraft can be viewed in their flight path just outside the end of the runway. Watching airliners pass over the beach is such a popular activity that daily arrivals and departures airline timetables are displayed on a board in most bars and restaurants on the beach.



People Also Ask

The beach is not that crowded, and there's plenty of room. No, there's not a steady stream of planes. As far as incoming and outgoing planes, keep in mind that they only go in one direction. In other words, if they are taking off over Maho beach, they will not be landing over Maho beach.

MORE DETAILS

Maho Beach is unusually close to the threshold of a runway and is directly under the flight path, resulting in aircraft on their final approach flying over the beach at altitudes of less than 100 feet (30 m) above ground level.

MORE DETAILS

Maho Beach on the Dutch side of St. Maarten is the best vantage point to watch planes land at Princess Juliana International Airport (aka Maho Beach Airport). There are just a few yards between the edge of the beach and the edge of the runway–only a two-lane road separates them.

MORE DETAILS

The location at St Maarten is a favourite with aircraft enthusiasts even thou the Boeing 747 no longer operates to the island.

MORE DETAILS

This is one of the few places in the world where aircraft can be viewed in their flight path just outside the end of the runway. Watching airliners pass over the beach is such a popular activity that daily arrivals and departures airline timetables are displayed on a board in most bars and restaurants on the beach.

MORE DETAILS

Maho Beach, which is world-famous for its location at the very end of Princess Juliana International Airport's runway, is one of the most unusual beaches on the island of St. Martin. It's a delight for tourists who love watching planes take off and land just above their heads.

MORE DETAILS

The island's weather is pleasant year-round, but these are times when rain showers are less likely. Summer and early fall are not good for a vacation; many hotels close in this offseason and there's a chance of hurricanes. Also avoid visiting in winter and early spring (mid-December to April) if you can.

MORE DETAILS

Jet streams, which are a system of air currents that circle the Earth many miles above the planet's surface, are another reason why aircraft don't fly over the Pacific Ocean. Due to Earth's rotation, these air currents often move from West to East.

MORE DETAILS

The best time when we went which was in December 2016 was early to late afternoon for the big planes. The place was crazy busy but there were quite a few cruise ships in that day. Hope that helps. Helpful?

MORE DETAILS

The best way to get from St Maarten cruise port to Maho Beach without a pre-booked excursion, is to take a taxi. The journey is way too long to walk, and costs around $15-20 per person depending on how many are in the car. Leave the piers and head to the right, where there's a row of taxis waiting to leave.

MORE DETAILS

The ferry will take you to Cruz Bay on St. John where you can rent a vehicle or grab a taxi to Maho Bay, which is 5.5 miles northeast. Be aware the taxis only take cash. There is no entry fee to get onto the beach and the vendors there take both cash and credit card.

MORE DETAILS

Many cruise ships visit the island on a weekly basis, docking at the Port of St. Maarten in Philipsburg. You will need a passport to travel to and from St. Martin but rest assured that you can travel freely between the island's French and Dutch sides.

MORE DETAILS

There is violent crime amongst members of the illegal drugs world, but this rarely affects tourists. The main tourist areas are generally safe, but you should take sensible precautions. Avoid remote areas at night. Do not take valuables to the beach.

MORE DETAILS

Maho Beach is unusually close to the threshold of a runway and is directly under the flight path, resulting in aircraft on their final approach flying over the beach at altitudes of less than 100 feet (30 m) above ground level.

MORE DETAILS

The family-friendly Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and the adults-only Sonesta Ocean Point Resort in St. Maarten, the Dutch-side of the dual-island nation, have rebuilt and renovated after Hurricane Irma pummeled the dual-nation island nearly two years ago.

MORE DETAILS

Maho Beach is famed as the spot to go if you like watching planes roar overhead, but it also offers snorkeling, swimming, watersports, and world-class beach bars. St. Maarten's western shore beach offers the excitement of planes flying overhead so low you'll feel like you can touch them.

MORE DETAILS

The airport handles a variety of aircraft a year, ranging in size from Cesnas to Boeing 737's, making it the second busiest airport in the North Eastern Caribbean. It caters to 1.8 million passengers annually originating primarily from the Americas, Europe and the Caribbean.

MORE DETAILS

All major cruiseliners in the world visit the St Maarten Cruise port, like Royal Caribbean Cruises, Carnival Cruises, Disney, MSC, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian, Windstar and many more.

MORE DETAILS