Join us in Saint-Martin Nature hike and reward yourself by relaxing on an idyllic stretch of beach nearby. During this hike through the island's natural landscapes. As you will see firsthand, the environment offers a glimpse into Saint-Martin's rich biodiversity and natural beauty. Following your nature hike volunteer efforts, you will enjoy the setting of a pristine beach, Orient Beach, an area known as the Saint-Tropez of the Caribbean. Feel free to spend the time there however you please, which could be doing nothing more ambitious than lying in the sun without a care in the world. The waters are typically bright turquoise and calm, so be sure to take a refreshing swim in the sea.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Admire where the land meets the sea as you make your way up the trail.
• Enjoy the natural setting of the island, which extends beyond the land and into the sea.
• Relax on nearby Orient Beach, a gorgeous setting on the island’s northeastern shore.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Sail aboard the original Golden Eagle Catamaran known for its 5 star service and professional crew that will attend to your every need. Sail gently down the scenic coast of St. Maarten viewing Fort William, Pelican Point, Simpson Bay and the famous St. Maarten "airport beach", with planes landing just feet over the mast. After a brief orientation you’ll be ready to snorkel in the crystal clear waters of Little Bay. Next, you’ll stop at a beautiful white sand beach, where you can swim in a quiet cove or relax on the beach for 45 minutes up to 1 hour, time permitting.

On the return, the crew sets the sails, as you listen to great music, enjoying an open bar with free champagne, rum punch, sodas, and gourmet ham and cheese sandwiches served on fresh baked French baguettes. Snorkel equipment and pool noodles are included. The vessel is fast, stable, and has plenty of shade with custom built stairs for easy access to the water.

Enjoy the view of riding on an open-air double decker bus. Drive from Philipsburg, the Dutch capital of St. Maarten, past the Great Salt Pond and through the countryside on the way to Marigot, the French-side capital. Here, you’ll have a photo-stop with a truly European atmosphere, having the waterside, open-air markets, quaint shops, boutiques or sidewalk cafes as your backdrop.

Back on board the Double Decker, you will pass through St. Maarten’s latest infrastructure addition, the Causeway Swing Bridge, where you can spot lovely sailboats or magnificent Mega Yachts on the lagoon, depending on the time of year.

Arriving at Maho you may watch for airplanes overhead as they are landing at the Princess Juliana International airport. The journey will proceed across the south for views of Simpson Bay Lagoon where we'll stop at a local Rum Distillery for a free tasting of various flavors of rum. Your experience concludes with a tasting at the Amsterdam Cheese and Liquor store for a tasting of Old Amsterdam Gouda Cheese.

OVERVIEW

Treat yourself to the ultimate cruise on a classic wooden schooner where everything is first class, including the service. You will travel on the luxurious Spirit of St. Maarten, a one-of-a-kind, 114-foot vessel designed for comfort. Features include a second-level sun deck, shaded and open areas below and bowsprit netting where you can ride above the waves. You will cruise through Great Bay, past 17th-century Fort Amsterdam and on to Little Bay, where the ship will anchor in sheltered waters that are ideal for snorkeling. If you prefer, you might just take a refreshing swim in the crystal-clear bay or remain on board and luxuriate in whatever way you find most pleasurable. Feel free to take advantage of the open bar and indulge in a tropical-inspired lunch that the chefs will prepare from scratch. If conditions permit, you will pass Maho Beach, the perfect spot to watch airplanes land and take off just over your head. Spirit of St Maarten is owned by a charitable foundation, with some of its proceeds going toward a range of educational and empowerment programs for the island’s vulnerable youths.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cruise along the island’s southern shore on a luxurious wooden schooner.
• Luxuriate onboard as the crew sees to your every need.
• Snorkel, swim, kayak and paddle board in Little Bay if you like (snorkel, mask & fins provided).
• Enjoy a freshly grilled lunch onboard and an open bar.
• Your excursion provides a sustainable future for local youths while you enjoy the beauty of the island!

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing with a swimsuit underneath.
• Bring a towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Savor samples of locally produced beer and rhum on the way to Maho Beach, the ultimate spot to watch incoming jets land directly over your head. While browsing SXM Beer with a cold beer in hand, you will learn how this largest brewery in St. Maarten produces its crisp, easy-drinking lagers. Topper’s Rhum is another local favorite, but the product line is much more diverse as you will discover while touring the distillery. You will be offered a sample of its signature rhum cake as well as a rhum that may be flavored with mango, elderflower or cotton candy. Free time follows on Maho Beach, a thin stretch of sand at the very end of the runway for Princess Juliana International Airport, whose code is SXM, the inspirational for brewery’s name. No other place in the world offers such a close-up view of planes landing. Depending on where you stand, you can feel the blasts from the jet engines.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Tour St. Maarten’s largest brewery with one of its award-winning lagers in hand.
• Enjoy a sampling of rhum cake and an exotically flavored rhum at a local distillery.
• Watch planes land shockingly close overhead at Maho Beach at the end of the runway.
• Opt to spend free time shopping near Maho Beach, if you prefer.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Ride an open-air wheeled trolley train through Old Town with occasional stops to sample products that reflect local life in the Dutch-governed side of the island. As you travel through the compact and historical downtown of Philipsburg, you will hear enlightening commentary about the capital city, which was founded in 1763. Chances are, you will ride along Front Street, a shopping hub of designer stores known for its colorful colonial architecture. Tastings will enhance your appreciation for local products such as rum, which was first distilled in the 17th century using molasses. You will also sample Gouda – one of the world’s most widely consumed cheeses – at a boutique cheese shop that specializes in Dutch products. The selection of merchandise will be even more diverse at bustling Philipsburg Market, where you will find everything from one-of-a-kind jewelry to artisan handicrafts such as woven baskets.

HIGHLIGHTS

• See the landmarks in Old Town from the comfort of an open-air trolley train.
• Learn fascinating facts about Philipsburg’s history, which dates to the mid-1700s.
• Stop to sample signature products such as rum and Gouda cheese.
• Browse Philipsburg Market, where you may be offered more tastings.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Pause at popular spots known mostly to locals for tastings that best reflect the traditional cuisines of both the Dutch and French sides of the island. While the exact dishes will vary depending on the season and what’s freshest, you can expect to sample a hearty Caribbean barbecue at an open-air grill known as a lolo. You will also get a taste of local life as these types of dining venues are immensely popular. You’ll enjoy a delightful tasting of French desserts, offering a sweet contrast and showcasing the island's French culinary influence. You will also sample fried Johnny Cakes, a doughy staple throughout the island.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Visit several popular dining venues and sample the island’s signature dishes.
• Enjoy favorites such as fried Johnny Cakes.
• Get a glimpse of local life by dining on barbecue at an open-air grill known as a lolo.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Behold the natural beauty of St. Maarten from several perspectives, perhaps the most remarkable being from a Sky Explorer chairlift as it glides up and down towering Sentry Hill. The chairlift is just one of attractions on the restored 17th-century Rockland Estate, which includes a small museum that details its history. From the hill’s summit, you will enjoy spectacular 360° panoramic views of the island and neighboring Saba, St. Barts, St. Eustatius and Anguilla. Few sights will be quite so memorable. Across the border in St. Martin – the French side of the island – you will enjoy free time in the capital of Marigot. Rows of brightly colored houses, sophisticated shopping and a laid-back ambiance are but a few of its charms. You will also stop at Maho Beach, a lengthy stretch of sand at the end of the airport’s runaway. There is no better spot to watch planes landing and taking off.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Ride the Sky Explorer up and down Sentry Hill, one of the island’s highest points.
• Take in the spectacular tropical views from the summit.
• Independently explore Marigot, the fashionable French colonial capital.
• Watch airplanes land and take off right over your head from Maho Beach.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

All Aboard the Tschu-Tschu Train! Immerse yourself in Philipsburg’s natural, cultural, and historic landmarks on this scenic ride through town in a custom Trolley Train.

When the first Dutch settlers arrived on St Maarten in 1631, they chose the sandy strip separating Great Bay from Great Salt Pond to build their capital, Philipsburg, where your ship is moored today. This excursion combines the exhilarating experience of a classical Tschu-Tschu Train ride with the natural, cultural, and historic landmarks on this scenic ride through Philipsburg, starting at the official Old Amsterdam Venue to taste the famous Dutch Gouda Cheese. Then you have 30min to enjoy your favorite spot in Philipsburg before we pass by to pick you up to finish the tour or you can enjoy more free time to discover Philipsburg and get back to ship at your own leisure.

OVERVIEW

See both the Dutch and French sides of the island on a spectacularly scenic drive to an idyllic beach where you can relax however you please. Before leaving Dutch-governed St. Maarten, you will pass the Great Salt Pond, which for centuries was a source of salt for export. Upon crossing the border into French-governed St. Martin, you will notice that the landscape is less developed until you reach Marigot, the fashionable French capital that is tucked along the island’s western shore. Colorful colonial buildings dot much of the vibrant downtown, which is known for extraordinary shopping. It will be quite the contrast to your beach experience as a stretch of sand will be chosen so you can completely relax and enjoy the serenity. Exactly what you do there will be totally up to you. Feel free to bask in the sun, stroll along the shore and take a refreshing swim in the sea.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive through both the Dutch and French sides of the island.
• Pass through the somewhat undeveloped countryside and the French-governed capital of Marigot.
• Relax on a gorgeous stretch of sand along the turquoise sea.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Conclude your enlightening exploration of the island with an innovative Japanese- and Caribbean-influenced lunch on picturesque Orient Beach. You will discover much about the island’s history and culture on the panoramic drive through both Dutch-governed St. Maarten and the French Collectivity of St. Martin, which occupies the northern half of the island. A stop atop Harold Jack Hill will present a sweeping view of the island’s Dutch southern portion, which is quite different from the French-governed half. That contrast is most noticeable in Marigot, the French colonial capital, where you will meander about its largest open-air market. You can expect to find a wide variety of locally sourced seafood, garden-fresh produce and aromatic spices. It will surely whet your appetite, which you will satisfy at KKÔ, a restaurant directly on Orient Beach. The dishes will be a fusion of Nikkei and Caribbean cuisines, each prepared to maximize its unique flavors.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Drive through both the Dutch and French sides of the island.
• Pause at a lookout that offers sweeping view of the island’s gorgeous southern portion.
• Browse an open-air market in the French capital of Marigot.
• Dine on a fusion of Nikkei and Caribbean cuisines at the beachfront restaurant KKÔ.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Snorkel above an unusual underwater sculpture park that features hundreds of symbolic figures resting on the ocean floor. The Spirit of Soualiga Sculpture Park in Little Bay celebrates the local culture and history in a most provocative way. As you snorkel along the underwater trail, the island’s story will come to life through the sculptures in the different galleries. These detailed objects of art – all cast from members of the community using environmentally friendly materials – include representations of the indigenous Taino people, dancers celebrating the emancipation from slavery and islanders enjoying the annual Carnival. The sculptures also serve as sanctuaries for marine life, so you can expect to see an abundance of brightly colored fish and perhaps even sea turtles. More spectacular tropical vistas await you while cruising from the park in Little Bay to the Simpson Bay Lagoon. They include Fort Amsterdam and some of the island’s most affluent waterfront neighborhoods.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Snorkel through an underwater sculpture park that depicts the island’s culture and history.
• See hundreds of highly symbolic sculptural figures displayed on the ocean floor.
• Admire the gorgeous tropical scenery while cruising from the sculpture park to a lagoon.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.