The most beautiful natural sites to discover Saint Martin

Baie-aux-Prunes beach is located in the Terres-Basses area, west of the island. It is accessible by the private road crossing private properties. Access to the beach is via a sand path, screened on both sides to limit motorized access. Between the Pointe du Canonnier and the cliff with the Birds. Little frequented because it is not well known. In swell weather, it attracts surfers. The exposure to the west of this beach allows maximum sunbathing.

Maho Bay beach is world famous: it is located in line with the Juliana airport runway. Some people call it Kerosene Beach! The landings and take-offs of jumbo jets are the real attraction of the area. You are lying on the beach and you see planes passing right over! An unusual show! It is forbidden to approach the airport fence to be closer to the show: the skin scrubbing thanks to the sand is guaranteed. In the middle of the beach, a surfboard indicates the flight schedules.

Located at the end of Grand-Case Bay and below the Grand Case Beach Club hotel, this small beach shelters you from the tourist and festive hustle and bustle of downtown Grand-Case. It offers a magnificent view of the Rocher créole. Dive into the calm turquoise waters of the Caribbean and get out your mask and snorkel. On-site, the Sunset restaurant offers sun loungers and delicious cocktails, dishes and desserts made with fresh produce. Ideal, as its name suggests, for admiring the sunset over the bay.

The epitome of the white-sand beach! A veritable tropical jewel, accessible only on foot via a nature trail leading from the north of Friar's Bay, this is the beach the locals say is a must-see! The path winds and climbs among the tall grasses, the little biquettes accompany you quietly, the view over Friar's Bay is superb and prepares you for the vision of paradise that Happy Bay conjures up... Plus the SXM Festival decorations left at the top of the beach. There are no establishments on site, so bring your own drinks and snacks.

Philipsburg has its own beach right in the heart of the city district (right next to Front Street, the boardwalk and the casinos). It's a great opportunity to take a dip in the blue waters of Great Bay and admire the ocean liners between two shopping sessions! Or do as many American tourists do, order abasket of beers and enjoy them in the water around a table and umbrella. And don't miss the hustle and bustle of the street vendors selling colorful souvenirs.

A beach surrounded by lush green hills, a splendid, idyllic natural setting that seems sheltered from the wind. It's undeniably one of the island's most attractive locations. Local residents even claim that it's quite simply the most beautiful beach. What's certain is that here you can combine a love of shops and services (restaurants, shopping, marina, terraces) with a search for the wildness of a beach. Although you won't be completely isolated, the beach isn't really wild, and the atmosphere is both chic and relaxed. As the bay is somewhat secluded, the sea is quite calm, an advantage appreciated by families. The peacefulness of the area is ideal for lazing around, swimming in the bay and spotting sea turtles. For adrenaline-seekers, a jet-ski base will take you out to meet the waves a little further on, to contemplate the bay from the sea. A hotel is due to open in 2020, and a shopping mall in 2022, enough to revive the area devastated by Irma. While you're there, take a stroll around the marina and discover the many possibilities for sailing and catamaran cruises. Beautiful view of Anguilla from the beach. Anse-Marcel is also the starting point for the Froussards trail. A sign indicates that you will discover no fewer than 182 plant species and 25 animal species. A great way to discover the island's unspoilt nature.

Sheltered from the swell, Grand-Case Bay offers an idyllic setting, with its turquoise waters and long, white sandy beach. It's an ideal spot for swimming, lounging or reading, preferably on a deckchair under a parasol. A number of water sports are also available, including paddleboarding, kayaking, wakeboarding and snorkeling near the Creole rock. Situated below and parallel to the boulevard of Grand Case, it boasts many of the island's finest establishments, offering delicious dishes, cocktails and tapas with your feet in the sand. Grand Case is surely the most picturesque village on Saint-Martin, and a gastronomic capital of the Caribbean. Here you'll find most of the best restaurants, as well as the local " lolos", easily identifiable by the smoke from their barbecues, and lively beach bars and restaurants. It's also one of the favorite anchorages for sailors visiting Saint-Martin. Since Irma devastated many of the buildings on the beach, it has virtually disappeared in places. But the resilience of the local people has enabled them to rebuild quickly, even if the scars are still visible. So much so, that today it's hard to imagine the scale of the disaster, given Grande-Case's reputation as a party town. After dark, the lights of the restaurants illuminate the turquoise waters of the lagoon, giving the whole a fairytale air.

The shady part of the beach attracts many picnickers, especially on weekends. The sand is warm and the sea is beautiful. Those who like a quiet tan will find small creeks a few fathoms away on the right side of the beach. Be careful though, as some currents are known to take you out to sea. The brand new beach bar serves local snacks and fresh drinks throughout the day. It is one of the most beautiful water colours on the island and an excellent spot for a romantic sunset.

The highest point on the island, Pic Paradis lives up to its name. From its summit, at 424 m, it offers a magnificent panoramic view of Saint-Martin, its neighbors and an infinite gradation of blues. The climb, from the Loterie Farm, takes between 45 and 60 minutes, and good shoes are required for walking on the asphalt and then on the gullied dirt roads. It can also be reached by car (preferably off-road) from the road, until the state of the pavement forces you to park and finish on foot (around 15 minutes).

The very definition of a deserted beach! To reach Petites Cayes beach, follow the Chemin des Froussards from Anse Marcel or Cul-de-sac. It's at least half an hour's hike through one of Saint-Martin's last unspoilt forests. Good walking shoes and a bottle of water are essential. The beach is very popular with surfers, who call it " wilderness "! Please note that the beach is in the heart of the Nature Reserve, so it is forbidden to harvest any flora or fauna.

Situated just beyond the Orient Bay naturist beach, between the sea and the ponds, this large beach is part of the Nature Reserve and is very popular with local families who come here for barbecues with music at weekends. Protected by a coral reef, the shallow cove is ideal for toddlers. It's also THE surfing spot par excellence, with a regular wave breaking offshore, accessible by surf club boat or by oar for the bravest. The lagoon is perfect for paddle boarding.

Nestled in the heart of the tropical dry forest of the Pic Paradis valley, Loterie Farm is a former sugar cane plantation which, under the aegis of American expatriate B.J. Welch, has become not only a private nature reserve where endemic plant and animal species are protected and where you can meet green monkeys, but also a multi-faceted establishment. Combining nature and the trendy lounge, the place features a tapas bar with delicious cocktails (Jungle Room Bar), a cascading spring-fed swimming pool (Jungle Pool) surrounded by deckchairs and private cabanas, a zip-line and tree climbing area (FlyZone), a starting point for hikes (two main ones, one of which leads to Pic Paradis) and a restaurant open evenings, which has just renewed its menu thanks to the arrival of a new chef. La Loterie Farm invites you to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet, and in this sense is not really intended for children (who are accepted during the week). However, the Jungle Kids Adventure Park has recently been opened, with games and a swimming pool specially designed for the little ones. Loterie Farm is also famous for its Pool Party, held every last Saturday of the month during the tourist season, and open to those over 21. From midday to 8 p.m., the island's best DJs get the party going in and around the pool. Last but not least, the place's reputation is built on its attentive and dynamic staff.

Stretching 2 km between Mont Vernon and Club Orient (naturist), this is THE tourist beach of Saint-Martin par excellence, and the longest on the island! It faces the islets of Caye Verte, Petite Clef, Pinel and Tintamare. You can also see Saint-Barth. Here, everything (or almost everything) is possible: swimming in turquoise water, lounging on a deckchair, lunching under a straw hut or on a terrace, taking part in water or beach sports and even trying out parasailing.

After Cul-de-Sac finally unveiled the wonderful Oriental Bay. Its beach is the best in the island and offers a range of water activities and restaurants. Part of the beach is open to naturist.

It is the owner of the places that make the visit. A drink is offered at the end of each visit.

Want to venture off the beaten track and explore one of the island's hidden treasures? Located between Pointe Blanche and Guana Bay beach, these natural pools consist of two basins formed by swell and rocks. Accessible via a hike (shorter at pointe Blanche) and a slightly acrobatic descent, they offer the chance to observe several species of colorful fish, as well as very large sea urchins. Take a mask, snorkel, sun cream, plenty of water and shoes that can get wet.

Named for the slight coloration of its sand, which takes on a fiery hue at sunset. It's certainly one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. Lined with the beautiful, sumptuous villas of Terres-Basses, its long arc offers the utmost tranquillity. To the east, it hides an adorable little cove accessible to good swimmers, and a little further on, the Trou de David. But be warned, it can be dangerous to swim in due to its strong rollers. But it can be as calm as a lake.

A long, very long beach (one of the largest on the island), with turquoise waters, where lovers of solitary walks will find their pleasure. It starts from the cliff where La Samanna is nestled and goes all the way to the Pointe du Canonnier. It is close to Baie-aux-Prunes. You have to admire the sunset from the bar of La Samanna's restaurant. If you feel like exploring the seabed, you can dive near the wreck of the Gregory II. Very natural, with very few visitors, this is the almost deserted beach as you might imagine.

A long sandy beach just 5 minutes from Marigot. Turn right towards Terres-Basses. Beware: you can't swim everywhere, as there are many rocks visible or not in certain places, and a large part of the beach is privatized. Ideally, you should head for the ruins of La Belle Créole and enjoy, among other things, the pools formed by the remains of the hotel. The view over the bay of Marigot is very pleasant. Moreover, since Irma, many of the stigmata of destruction are still visible.

This beach is part of the Nature Reserve of Saint-Martin. Accessible from Cul-de-Sac in fifteen minutes walk via the Chemin des Froussards hike, it is perhaps the most beautiful spot on the island to dive with a mask and a snorkel. The coral reef is only a few minutes swim away, and it is not uncommon to see, depending on the season, sea turtles. Be careful though, the currents are strong... so avoid the days of strong swell. The beach offers a splendid view on the island of Tintamarre.