BEACH OF THE WEEK: PINEL ISLAND
Pinel Island – Where the Atlantic and the Caribbean beaches meet
Pinel island is a small (roughly in between of one kilometer and mile in surface) island right off the coast of French side St Martin. At its closest point, it is only 50 metres from mainland St Maarten / St Martin. A large inland bay separates it from French Cul De Sac and Orient Bay.
Legend has it the island was called after a stranded pirate named Pinel. Nowadays, many residents and visitors “in the know” choose for a voluntarily Robinson Crusoe experience. Until the last boats depart this piece of paradise at 5pm that is, when the island becomes a full nature reserve.