St Martin Beaches: A Guide to Both Sides of the Island

St Martin has 37 beaches on an island you can drive around in an afternoon, and they are remarkably different from one another: quiet, villa-lined bays in Terres Basses, a long party beach at Orient Bay, a beach where jets pass low overhead, and surf beaches on the east coast that are better for watching than swimming. This guide covers the main beaches on both sides, who each suits, and which of our St Martin and Sint Maarten villas are closest.

The short answer

For quiet and space: Baie Longue and Plum Bay in Terres Basses. For snorkelling: Baie Rouge. For beach bars and watersports: Orient Bay. For calm, shallow water with young children: Pinel Island, a short boat ride from Cul de Sac. For the famous low-flying planes: Maho Beach, on the Dutch side.

Terres Basses: Baie Longue, Plum Bay and Baie Rouge

The three beaches of Terres Basses are the quietest on the island, because the area behind them is a gated estate of private villas rather than hotels or bars. Baie Longue (Long Bay) is a long, gently curving beach facing west, with some of the best sunsets on the island. Plum Bay is a smaller crescent between two headlands. Baie Rouge, at the eastern end of the estate, has rocks at one end that are a popular snorkelling spot.
This is where most of the island’s beachfront villas are. Château des Palmiers (ten bedrooms), Le Rêve and L’Oasis (six bedrooms each) sit directly on the sand, and Les Palmiers and Beau Rivage are directly on Baie Rouge. Villa Turtle Nest, Blue Beach and Debbie Villa have access to the beach without sitting on it.

Orient Bay: the busy one

Orient Bay, on the French side’s east coast, is the island’s best-known beach: long, white and breezy, lined with beach bars, loungers and watersports operators. The steady trade wind makes it popular for kitesurfing. The south end is used by naturists, and toplessness is customary on French-side beaches, so families often settle at the northern end. Boats run from here to the small islet of Green Cay.
Our closest villas are Beauvoir, near the bay, and Venus, on the hillside above it in Mont Vernon.

The north coast: Grand Case, Friar’s Bay, Happy Bay and Anse Marcel

Grand Case beach runs right in front of the town’s restaurants, so you can swim before lunch and walk to dinner; Petite Plage 4 and Petite Plage 5 have access to the beach here. Friar’s Bay, between Marigot and Grand Case, is a small bay with a couple of beach bars, and Happy Bay, reached on foot from Friar’s Bay, is usually quieter still. Anse Marcel is a sheltered cove with calm water, below Privilège Estate.

Pinel Island: for young children

Pinel is a small, uninhabited island off Cul de Sac, reached by a short ferry. The water on its main beach is calm and shallow, and there are a few beach restaurants, which makes it the easiest beach day on the island with small children. Vogue Art is a few minutes from the ferry.

The Dutch side: Maho, Mullet Bay, Cupecoy and Simpson Bay

Maho Beach sits at the end of the runway at Princess Juliana Airport, and aircraft pass very low overhead as they land. It is a spectacle rather than a swimming beach, and the jet blast from departing aircraft is dangerous, so respect the warning signs and stay clear of the fence. Mullet Bay, next door, is a calmer, popular swimming beach. Cupecoy Beach is a small beach below sandstone cliffs near the border, and the amount of sand changes with the season. Simpson Bay is a long, generally calm beach on the bay.
Our villas closest to these beaches are in Cupecoy: Diamond Villa, Farniente and The Cove Penthouse, plus Villa Vittoria on the water in Simpson Bay.

The east coast: Dawn Beach and Guana Bay

Dawn Beach, near Oyster Pond, faces east and is the place for sunrise, with reef close to shore for snorkelling when the sea is calm; Five Minutes More is nearby. Guana Bay catches the Atlantic swell and is used by surfers; currents can be strong, so it is better for walking and watching than for swimming with children. Amalia looks over it from the hillside.

Practical notes

All beaches are public on both sides of the island, including those in front of private villas and hotels.
Conditions change. North and east-facing beaches can see big swells in winter. Check local conditions on the day, particularly with children.
The rules differ by side. Toplessness is customary on the French side; nudity is not permitted on the Dutch side. Our St Martin vs Sint Maarten guide covers the other differences.
Beachfront means on the sand. We label every villa by its actual position: beachfront, beach access, oceanfront or ocean view. If walking straight onto the beach matters, tell us and we will shortlist only the houses where that is true.

Find a villa near the right beach

Tell us which beach you have in mind, your dates and your group, and we will shortlist the villas that fit, with every charge itemized in a written quotation. Send your villa request, or read our guide to where to stay in St Martin.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best beach in St Martin?

It depends on what you want. Baie Longue for space and quiet, Baie Rouge for snorkelling, Orient Bay for beach bars and watersports, and Pinel Island for calm water with young children.

Which St Martin beaches are best for families?

Pinel Island and Anse Marcel have the calmest water. The northern end of Orient Bay is also popular with families. Avoid Guana Bay and Maho Beach with small children.

Are there beachfront villas in St Martin?

Yes, but only a handful sit directly on the sand, and most are in Terres Basses on Baie Longue, Plum Bay and Baie Rouge.

Are St Martin beaches public?

Yes. Beaches on both the French and Dutch sides are open to the public.