Sint maarten
SINT MAARTEN
The Best of Dutch and French
Discover the wonderfully diverse and colorful history of Sint Maarten! Embark on a journey from the island's early native inhabitants through the fascinating leaders of the past and into the bustling tourism industry of today.
St. Maarten / St Martin has the only complete duty-free port in the Caribbean with a fully equipped deep water harbor. It has a Multilingual population. St. Maarten as part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands and is an “Overseas Country and Territory”(OCT) of the European Community, and therefore has preferential access to the European Community. The North Eastern Caribbean location puts the island in close proximity to the US, very easy for business travel.
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LOCATION
St. Maarten/St. Martin
The island of Sint Maarten / St Martin is located in the North Caribbean at 18.1 degrees North Latitude and 63.3 degrees West Longitude. It lies directly across the path of the balmy north trade winds. The island has a beautiful tropical climate with summer-like conditions year around.
The Island covers 37 square miles with Dutch Sint Maarten spanning 16 square miles in the southern portion and French Saint Martin on the north covering 21 square miles
The dual nationality of the island adds variety to this unique of island gems in the Caribbean. It is estimated that the island population consists of 150 different nationalities, reaching to an overall population of 74 thousands between French and Dutch sides.
INFORMATION
Our island
01
Languages & Currency
- English, French, Dutch, Spanish, Papiamento, Creole Patois
- Official currency is the Netherlands Antilles Florin (Naf) for the Dutch side and the Euro for the French side. US dollars are accepted throughout the island.
- Dutch side 110 volts, 60 cycles, French side 220 volts, 60 cycles.
02
Dining & Shopping
- The island is considered the gourmet capital of the Caribbean with more than 300 restaurants offering French, Italian, Dutch, Creole, Chinese, Thai and more.
- Shopping Duty Free
- Everything from French perfumes, Swiss watches, Japanese cameras and electronics, Italian leather goods, fine jewelry, porcelain and liquor
03
Night Life
- Both french and dutch sides of the island are home to world class night clubs. From jazz to house, indoor demure to outdoor exotic, every night is memorable.
- Casinos
- Only on the Dutch side, the twelve casinos offer sophisticated gaming from noon until 4:00 a.m
04
Airlines
- With its modern, clean and comfortable facilities, Princess Juliana International Airport provides air lift with numerous airlines as: Air France (daily) and Corsair from Paris, KLM (weekly ) from Amsterdam, American Airlines, U. S .Airways and Continental fly daily from Miami, New York, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and San Juan with connecting flight to numerous cities in the US. Also from Canada there are Air Canada (seasonal) and Air Transit(weekly) flights to the island. Other destinations through out the Caribbean and South America are served from Sint Maarten through a numerous of charter flights and smaller airlines.
05
Entry, Departure & Time
- Tourist are required a current passport or birth certificate with raised seal and photo identification. St. Maarten is a free port for which there are no customs. No vaccinations are required unless special epidemic circumstances on country precedence.
- A tax of US $ 20.00 is levied on every passenger on international flights
- GMT – 4 hours. Atlantic time: 1 hour ahead Eastern. Standard time: Same as daylight savings time during the summer
HISTORY & CULTURE
One Island, Two Nations
St. Maarten / St. Martin is the smallest island in the world to be divided between two different nations. The island is split between the Dutch and French, and the two cultures live very peacefully together on 37 sq. miles. In fact, the island’s inhabitants are quite proud of their nearly 350-year history of peaceful co-existence.
St. Maarten has an incredible year-round climate with spectacular landscapes and is renowned for it’s hospitality and an enchanting international ambience. Exclusive shops, culinary delights and amazing activities are just some of the things to satisfy every thrill seeker or casual tourist. There are virtually no limits to what you can see and do on this tropical paradise.
Much of the architecture in Philipsburg, the capital of St Maarten, has a strong Dutch influence. Its main streets are lined with pastel colored houses adorned with elaborate carvings and wrought iron balconies. Historic sites on the island include a number of ruined forts. The best known of these is Fort Amsterdam in Philipsburg’s Great Bay. St Maarten and St Martin have very rich cultural environments. Attractions include many historic sites, Caribbean art galleries and fabulous annual carnivals. There are significant cultural differences between the French and Dutch sides of the island. Carnival in St Maarten is larger and more grandiose than it is in St Martin, and the restaurants on the French side of the island are among the best in the Caribbean.
Detailed information about cultural events can be found in many free brochures available from tourist centers.
St. Maarten / St. Martin has 37 beaches that are secluded areas of beautiful white sand. All kinds of water sports are available including; windsurfing, swimming, sailing, jet skiing, diving and snorkeling. Half-day or full-day sailing excursions to undeveloped beaches nearby are also available. The stretch of beach that Mary’s Boon Resort sits on is one of the most pristine on the island.
St. Maarten / St. Martin has the best of nightlife on both sides of the island. Casinos (on the Dutch side), nightclubs and dance bars are just some of the attractions available on the island. In addition, there are literally hundreds of fine restaurants to choose from, including The Tide’s Restaurant at Mary’s Boon resort is one of finest on the Island and we boast the fact that we offer the only beach side dining on the Dutch side.
St. Maarten’s / St. Martin’s climate and natural beauty make it a perfect place for other types of sports and recreation. Golf, tennis, biking, horseback riding and hiking are just some of the other activities that allow you to explore the island’s natural splendor.
Close proximity to the PJIA airport
Everything for your vacation
Enjoy activities in Sint Maarten