A 5-minute boat ride from French Cul-de-Sac, Pinel Island is a day-tripper's castaway fantasy, an uninhabited isle where jade peaks frame a half-moon beach and you can spend hours noodling about in the clear, bottle-green lagoon. This tiny island (and protected nature reserve) has two beach bistros, each with its own beach chairs and umbrellas (€20 for the day) in the powdery white sand. Our favorite is the French-run Karibuni, now in its 20th year of business and set in a palm grove inhabited by flitting birds and big iguanas. The food alone is worth the trip: grilled lobster and fresh fish, and fresh salads and tropical fruits. You can get cheeseburgers as well as mahi-mahi burgers, not to mention fresh ceviche, shrimp kebabs, and barbecued ribs. Most dishes come with island-style Creole rice. Drinks are rum-centric, but you can't beat a chilled Carib beer for your beach idyll. To get to Pinel, take one of the small ferryboats that leave from French Cul-de-Sac daily on the hour from 9am to 5pm; it's $6 per passenger.
St. Maarten/St. Martin
Travel Guide
St. Maarten/St. Martin› Nightlife
Karibuni
Pinel Island (Ilet Pinel), St. Martin
Our Rating
Neighborhood
Pinel Island
Hours
Daily 9am–5pm
Transportation
Ferry from French Cul-de-Sac
Phone 690/39-67-00 Web site Karibuni
![2 star(s) 2 star rating](/assets/rating/fromm-rating-2star.png)
Phone 690/39-67-00 Web site Karibuni
Map
Pinel Island St. Maarten/St. MartinNote: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.