Maho Beach is a beach on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, in the territory of Sint Maarten.
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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.
The planes' flight path makes Maho Beach one of the island's most notable attractions, but this stretch of sand would be a lovely spot even without its low-flying attractions. In addition to plane watching, you can enjoy great swimming and snorkeling.
Scotland's windswept island of Barra has the only airport in the world where scheduled flights land on a beach. Get a pilot's-eye-view of touchdown on this unique runway.
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.
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.
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.
There is no entry fee to get onto the beach and the vendors there take both cash and credit card. Remember to bring reef-safe sunscreen as it's the only kind permitted.
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.
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.
Here's the deal with the Maho, planes landing arent so bad, their on top of you before you hear a thing and its over before you realize it and its pretty cool to watch. After 4 or 5 pm traffic is down to almost nil. Planes taking off are much noisier and it can be deafening.
Maho Bay offers . 3 miles of beach for your walking enjoyment, and several large seagrass areas perfect for viewing turtles. Amenities include pavilions to rent for your family party or wedding, as well as restrooms at the western end of the beach.
The eastern shoreline runs out to the point separating Little Maho from Maho Bay Beach. You'll be snorkeling in shallow water – between 3' and 10' deep.
You'll be snorkeling in shallow water – between 3' and 10' deep. Along the way you'll discover shallow water rocky outcroppings that are home to a wide variety of corals including gorgonians, purple sea fans, sponges, anemones, and hard corals like Mustard coral, brain corals, Elkhorn and fire coral.
Maho Bay is a must-visit for families, snorkelers, and first time visitors. Remember to bring swimming gear, a towel, and reef-safe sunscreen. Beach facilities include bathrooms and a covered picnic pavilion with grills.
The dry season, from December to April, is the most pleasant. This is also the peak season for tourists who come to enjoy the agreeable weather and summer temperatures. The sunshine is almost constant during this period, with hardly any rain.