St. Maarten

A luxurious island full of picturesque beaches and adventures.

One of the most exciting events on this side of the island is the Caribbean Carnival that is held in April.  For seventeen days, thousands of people gather to the sounds of loud drums and calypso beats.  There are hundreds of people in glittered and feathered costumes and the days get a little wild as the drinks continue to flow.

There are plenty of beaches full of beautiful white sand and warm water and they are quite inviting at any time of the year.  People can be seen at them swimming, surfing, or taking a stroll along the shore as the sun is setting at the end of the day.

Shopping for jewelry is one of the favorite pastimes of the people that arrive in St. Maarten as the island offers amazing deals on quality pieces.  Most of the jewelry shops can be found along Philipsburg’s Front Street and while every store is wonderful, people definitely need to check out Shiva’s Gold & Gems.

Anyone not interested in jewelry can try their hand at the slots of the Rouge et Noir and the Coliseum Casino, which can be found at the end of Front Street.  Casino Royale is another option with its slot machines and multiple gaming tables.  You never know, you may get lucky and leave with a handful of cash!

The food on St. Maarten is delicious and everyone will need to try the Lazy Lizard Beach Bar & Grill, which is quite close to the beach.  A couple other fantastic restaurants include The Palms Restaurant, Vesna Tavern, and Zee Best Restaurant.

Breathtaking views of St. Maarten, as well as the islands of Anguilla, Saba, and St. Eustatius, can be seen from the top of the Pic du Paradis mountains.  Drive up to the top, at 1,492 feet, with a group of people for the best experience.

If heart stopping adventures are your thing, then you are going to love ziplining at Rainforest Adventures.  The Flying Dutchman will take you down 1,050 feet over a course of 2,800 feet as you travel at up to 56 miles per hour.  Talk about views of St. Maarten at thrill seeking speeds!

St. Maarten is the one place where people can taste guava berries and it happens to be in the home where the governor used to live.  Everyone lines up to taste the guava berry liquor that is made from oak aged rum, cane sugar, and the guava berries.