The Best Beaches in St. Maarten/St. Martin
- Dawn Beach, St. Maarten: The views of St. Barts, great beach bars, excellent windsurfing, and superb snorkeling enchant at any time of day.
- Mullet Bay, St. Maarten: This beautiful beach has a couple of beach shacks serving food and drinks and a sprinkling of umbrellas and chairs, but nowhere near the activity it once enjoyed as the silky strand fronting the Mullet Bay Resort, the island's first resort and now in a state of (seemingly) perpetual ruin after Hurricane Luis took it out of commission in 1995. The blue pearlescent waters are calm, and the snorkeling isn't bad along the rocks.
- Simpson Bay, St. Maarten: In spite of its proximity to the airport and the cluttered bar/casino/restaurant activity around the Simpson Bay area, this beach is quiet and peaceful, with long stretches of curving sand and sparkling turquoise seas. A good place to access the beach is at Mary's Boon Beach Resort.
- Orient Bay, St. Martin: This happening strand may be clothing optional, but it also happens to be a beautiful beach. If you're looking for watersports action and a lively beach-bar scene, this is the place to find it.
- Baie Longue, St. Martin: The longest and perhaps most private stretch of sand on St. Martin, and a fine place to spot celebrities staying at Belmond La Samanna.
- Baie de l'Embouchure/Galion Beach, St. Martin: This crescent is encircled (and protected) by a reef, making it a prime family beach. But the steady breezes lure windsurfers, too. It's a great place to glide, and learn.
- Happy Bay, St. Martin: You can only reach this pretty, remarkably deserted scimitar of sand by boat or by a short hike from Friars Bay; bring a snorkel and fins.
- Pinel Island, St. Martin: This tiny offshore cay makes for a wonderful day trip with a perfect lagoon to paddle around in.