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Search 25 islands by vibe, season, language, or sustainability.
Search 25 islands by vibe, season, language, or sustainability.
locally: Sint Maarten
Duty-free buzz, jet-blast beaches, and the busiest little harbor in the Caribbean.
The Dutch half of a single shared island, Sint Maarten is all energy: cruise ships crowding Great Bay, casinos and boardwalk dining in Philipsburg, and Maho Beach, where jumbo jets skim the sand on final approach to Princess Juliana. It is the lively, walkable, shop-till-you-drop side of an island you can drive across in under an hour.
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Currency
ANG
USD accepted
Language
English
+ Dutch
Power
Type A/B
110V · 60Hz
Driving
Right
US-style
Airport
SXM
Princess
Emergency
911
Police · Fire
Man of War Shoal Marine Park (protected area)
Nature Foundation St. Maarten
EPIC coral restoration
Single-use plastic bag ban
Monthly breakdown
Hurricane risk: HighJan
Best
Feb
Best
Mar
Best
Apr
Best
May
—
Jun
—
Jul
—
Aug
Rain
Sep
Rain
Oct
Rain
Nov
Rain
Dec
Best
Major events
St. Maarten Heineken Regatta
SXM Music Festival
Sint Maarten Carnival
St. Maarten / St. Martin Day
18.04°N, 63.12°W
Stand just off the runway as jumbo jets roar overhead on final approach to Princess Juliana — the island's signature spectacle.
18.05°N, 63.02°W
A wild, uncrowded surf beach on the east coast, minutes from Philipsburg but a world away.
18.02°N, 63.06°W
The Dutch Caribbean's oldest fort ruins, on a scenic point above Great Bay.
Fried or baked cornmeal-and-flour bread, a Caribbean staple sold at roadside stands island-wide.
The island's signature spiced liqueur made from wild guavaberries — sample it in Philipsburg's old town.
A silky green soup of dasheen leaves, okra, and seasoning, often with crab or saltfish.
Transport
Drive on the right — the border with French Saint-Martin is open and unmarked, so you can cross freely.
Nature
Hurricane season runs June to November; the island took a direct hit from Irma in 2017, so watch forecasts in peak months.
Crime
Petty theft happens at busy beaches — never leave valuables unattended, especially at Maho and Orient Bay.
Health
Tap water is desalinated and safe to drink on the Dutch side.
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