Which side of St. Martin has better beaches?

The traveler hoping to relax and recharge away from the hustle and bustle of an active tourist strip would be best served picking this side of the island for their Saint Martin stay. While Sint Maarten has the upper hand in nightlife, the French side of the island is known for having the more pristine beaches.



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The northern half (spelled St. Martin), is French, and the southern part (Sint Maarten) is dutch. The Dutch side of Sint Maarten is much more popular with tourists as it is not only home to the cruise terminal and airport but has the typical Caribbean vibe that you would expect from this part of the island.

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Simpson Bay – Once famous for the families who made their living from fishing, Simpson Bay is a long sandy beach just south of the airport on the west end. The sand is soft and the waves are generally calm. This beach is never crowded and offers a wonderful spot to watch the sunsets.

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Galion Beach It is the favorite family beach of Saint-Martin families because its water is calm and shallow. Remember to take masks and snorkels to enjoy the beautiful seabed.

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Orient Bay (or “Baie Orientale” in French) beach is a must-see while you're staying on the island of St. Martin. This beach on the north-west side of the island is one of the biggest and most popular.

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Martin's biggest beaches, Orient Beach. Measuring one and a half miles, this long stretch of white sand is a popular choice for a beach day. Home to many excellent restaurants, plenty of watersports, powdery soft sand and its famous nude beach area, there is so much to love about Orient Bay.

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For those after tranquility and serenity, try Dawn Beach, Oyster Bay Beach, or the stretched and beautiful Lowlands beaches of Baie Longue / Long Bay, Plum bay / Baie aux Prunes, Baie Rouge / Red Bay. Dutch side Sint Maarten's well known Mullet Bay Beach along its golf course also allows for a silent day in the sun.

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Caribbean reef sharks and nurse sharks are in particular abundance here, but you can also come across large barracudas, stingrays, eagle rays and sea turtles, all of whom are quite common in the clear blue waters around St.

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Plum Bay or Baie aux Prunes beach is secluded and not so frequent a destination for tourists. Golden sands and clear turquoise water are enhanced by the peace and quiet that this beach offers. The calmer seas around this wild beach are the perfect locations for snorkeling and sometimes for surfing.

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Located on the island's southwest tip, Cupecoy is a set of three beaches surrounded by limestone cliffs. It's also the last beach on the Dutch side before crossing the northern French border.

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Many people prefer Dutch Sint Maarten since it is more developed. This indicates that the amenities and services are more plentiful on this side of the island. However, those who choose a more relaxed setting stay at French Saint Martin. In addition, it has a more “Caribbean vibe”.

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Simpson Bay holds its own with any of the other Sint Maarten beaches in the looks department. Set on the island's southwestern shore, it forms a long, gentle, white-sand crescent along the ocean. Just across is the Princess Juliana International Airport runway from Simpson Bay Lagoon to the north.

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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.

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On the westernmost point of the French side of St. Martin lies La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel, St Martin, a full-service, 83-room resort whose private, secluded nature has attracted its fair share of celebrity guests (Oprah, Salma Hayek, Kevin Kline).

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Baie Rouge The beach offers wonderful views of Anguilla in the distance as well as the cliffs that protect the beach on the west. Baie Rouge Beach in St Martin is perfect for swimming snorkelling and also bird watching. There are two beach bars located on Baie Rouge.

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More than twenty species of marine mammals are present around Saint Martin. The ocean is the ideal ecosystem for toothed whales (sperm whales), pantropical spotted dolphins, and baleen whales.

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In St Maarten, we believe in the old saying, “work hard, play hard.” In fact, St. Maarten is known for its exciting nightlife where the guava berry liqueur flows, and the casinos invite you in for a night of luck.

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You can walk to the beach from the Cruise port, about 1km, or take the water taxi from the cruise port to the pier in town. $5 or $7 i think. The beach is nice with plenty of chairs and umbrellas for rent.

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