The French Side

A stroll along Marina Port Royale, located in the French St. Martin capital, Marigot, is a little like hanging out on the coast of France. Cafe patrons casually people-watch from their outdoor seats, small boutiques offer clothing and island crafts, and you may actually see someone walking along, carrying a baguette. Restaurants seem to have their own mascot kitties, and sailboats bob up and down in the marina. As in France, the bread is fresh-baked, and the food delicious.

Grand Case is known for its many restaurants. Even beachside you'll find tasty barbecue joints serving up ribs, chicken, lobster, stuffed crab, and corn on the cob, straight from the outdoor grill

Beaches

If  nude sunbathing is your style, head for the sands of French St. Martin. Orient Bay, or in French "Baie Orientale", is the most developed, the most popular and the busiest beach on the island. It sweeps around a blue cove, facing northeast. The 2 mile long, white powdered sand beach is protected from the Atlantic waves by a reef, and the bottom has a very gradual slope. The area has been recognized as a marine reserve, so snorkeling in the marine park is just incredible. The beach is reputed as much for its natural beauty and setting as it is for being the island´s foremost swimsuit optional beach.

The major attraction of Orient Bay is the nude beach and the world´s famous Club Orient, the island´s only naturist resort at the southern end of the beach. Clothing is optional in front of the Club, though the nude beach there is open to the public. The northern end of the beach, near the hotels, has more clothing, but in fact you may encounter nude sunbathers anywhere. The highest concentration of naked people however is at Club Orient.

On Orient Bay you can stroll in the surf and view garbed and ungarbed sun-worshippers in all shapes and sizes passing by. Strains of Salsa, Samba, or Merengue music waft over you from the trendy bars that are dotting the beach. Orient Bay is loaded with watersports facilities including parasailing, waterskiing, jetskiing and snorkeling. It is a beach with non-stop action, all the great watersports and equipment. The bay is lined with bars, restaurants, hotels, resorts, restaurants, boutiques and shops. Orient Beach is a truly majestic setting with the mountains rising up all around.

The Bay actually consists of five main beaches, called the "5 stars of Orient Bay" Kontiki, Kakao, Bikini Beach, Waikiki and Coco Beach, named after their respective beach bars and each next to another.

Cupecoy Beach is a small, clothing optional beach located on the southwest of St Maarten. It is lined with beautiful rock formations and caves. The 10-20 feet high, golden sandstone cliff serves as the backdrop for Cupecoy beach. This rich coral sand carpet is very popular, and if you´d like to find a cave for yourself only, you have to get there early. On the far end of the beach clothing is optional, and over the past years, it seems that Cupecoy Beach has developed into a meeting point for naturalists

There are no restaurants or bars on Cupecoy Beach, but you may see a local guy, type of Rastaman, come by from time to time with a cooler trying to sell you fresh soda or beer. Beach chairs, umbrellas and BBQ are also available. And bars, cafés and resorts of the Cupecoy area are not too far away...

There is a public parking lot on the water side of the road, passed Ocean Club, with stairs down to the beach, one heading to the west, the natural beach. Cupecoy has a bit rough waters, the wind however is blocked by the rocks. The surf usually is a 2-3´ swell, so with pre-school kids, this beach won´t be your best choice. A good time to enjoy this beach is (late) afternoon to watch the sun go down. As Cupecoy beach faces Southwest, there a splendid views of the sunset and the surf

Petites Cayes is a tiny, uninhabited island off the northern shore of French Saint Martin. It is yet another secluded, deserted beach. The only way to this beach is by boat or a twenty minute walk along the coast. Some romantic sunlovers come even over from Orient Bay by jetski or hobbie cat to relax in this beautiful and peaceful, untouched tropical paradise, where also clothes can go off...!

Happy Bay is still a rather unknown, almost undiscovered beach of St. Martin. This may have to do with the fact that the beach is not easily accessible. You have first to take a walk of 10-15 minutes up the hill and down a footpath through the underbrush.

Happy Bay lies to the Northwest of the island, between Friar´s Bay and the Bay of Grand Case. And your walk would start at the last beach bar at Friar´s Bay. Your effort to get there will be honored with viewing one of the most breathtaking beaches of the island.

 

If nude beaches is not your style, the swimsuited beaches of Dutch St. Maarten have plenty to offer. The beach on Maho Bay is a soft beige color, and ringed with Seagrape trees. The turquoise and pink colored buildings blend well into the scene. The only thing to disrupt the serenity of the calm waters is the Juliana Airport, located immediately next to the beach. If the occasional noise doesn't bother you, the taking off and landing of the planes lends the place a cosmopolitan feel.

Driving:

Traffic is on the right with international signs on St. Martin and St. Maarten. Foreign and international driving licenses are accepted when renting a vehicle. Patience and a sense of humor are helpful while driving on island: natives often take time to stop and greet a friend, or to drop off deliveries. So, be aware of frequent stopping. It is common to use the horn or high beams to greet or thank another driver for the right of way.

Language:

The official language of St. Maarten is Dutch, while the language of St. Martin is French. English is widely spoken, especially on the Dutch side. Spanish is often spoken, too. The local dialect is Papiamento, the original language of St Martin.

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