Highlights of St. Martin & St. Barts
When Visiting The St. Martin & St. Barts Sailing Area There Are A Few “Must Sees”.
St. Maarten
The Dutch side is best known for its wonderful beaches, festive nightlife, duty-free jewelry shopping luxury timeshare resorts, and casinos. Be sure to have a happy hour cocktail at Maho Beach made from the native rum-based guavaberry liqueur.
Here you can watch the afternoon international flight take off or land really close to the beach; tourists get “blown away” by the jet propulsion. The limestone cliffs of Cupecoy Beach on the southwest tip of the islands are pretty. This is a perfect place to view the sunset with the island of Saba in the distance.
St. Martin
The French side is best known for its nude beaches, duty-free shopping in outdoor markets, and French and West Indian Caribbean cuisine. There is also a great bay with typical French cuisine. Grande Case is very nearby and spending the night at anchor here is worth experiencing the traditional culture.
For the best view of both sides of the island, take a taxi to Pic Paradis and hike up to the top. Here you can see stunning views of Orient Bay, the ruins of Fort St. Louis, and Simpson Bay lagoon.
St. Barts
St. Barts (St. Barthelemy) is a small French island known for its European charm. It exudes a seductive blend of natural beauty and a relaxed island feel. The streets of the main town, Gustavia, are lined with designer stores and boutiques. Explore quaint coastal villages and snorkel the clear waters with vibrant coral reefs.
The easiest way to see the entire island in just a few hours is to rent a small Jeep or moped. Be sure to watch small planes land on one of the world’s shortest and most dangerous runways. Eat a “Cheeseburger in Paradise” at Le Select – where Jimmy Buffett introduced this popular meal.
Anguilla
Anguilla is very flat and is fringed by white sandy beaches. It lies only 12 miles to the north of St. Martin and is 16 miles long and about 3.5 miles wide. Its long thin shape gave the island its name, (French: anguille, “eel”).
The territory includes several small uninhabited offshore islands. Your crew will sail you to enjoy far-away cays that are very good for their beaches and snorkeling. The largest is Dog Island with Prickly Pear Cays being an ideal lunch stop. There are also a few SCUBA diving mooring balls to explore wrecks.
