MUST SEE NATURE SPOTS
St. Maarten / St. Martin became famous for its natural beauty and that goes well beyond its 37 famous beaches. See below 9 suggestions to explore island nature!
1. Natural pool
Between the Guana Bay and Point Blanche areas, you find the Natural Pool area. Apart from this famed pool carved out by the Atlantic, on your hike there, an impressive view unfolds over the ocean all the way to St. Barths. A designated hiking trail is devised by NGO EPIC.
2. Pinel Island
Pinel island, only meters off the coast of St. Martin, does not just offer a pristine calm beach with bars, but also a rough Atlantic beach landscape with views from Anguilla to St. Barths. Little hiking paths easily guide the way through this nature reserve.
3. Mangroves
St. Maarten’s / St. Martin’s many lagoons and Salt Ponds traditionally had various mangrove forests on its shores. Some are still to be enjoyed, like the ones on the Simpson Bay Lagoon – see a designated hiking trail by EPIC for exploration.
4. Loterie Farm
In the shadows of the islands highest peak Pic Paradis, one finds Loterie Farm. This historic plantation, its entertainment park for children and restaurant built on top of the old stable makes Loterie Farm a great place to spend time. A trail leads up to Pic Paradis, but the lush plantation on the valley slopes is a nature experience on itself.
5. Tintamarre
Tintamarre is a protected island about half a mile off the coast of Orient Bay Beach. A gorgeous beach on its west end often offers views of sea turtles; goats and trees have taken over the rest of this once inhabited island and former airport. As no amenities are available, a true Robinson Crusoe experience.
6. Baie L’Embouchure / Baie Lucas
The European Union assisted with building a tower overlooking this impressive bay with small rocky islands and mangroves. Small beaches allow for a picnic combined with cooling off in the surrounding waters.
7. Great Salt Pond Birding Platform
In the corner of the Great Salt Pond along Philipsburg a floating birding platform with information panel has been installed. A great information point on this International Birding Area – bring your binoculars!
8. Fort Amsterdam
There is no place bringing you closer to the St. Maarten national bird the Brown Pelican than Fort Amsterdam. You can watch the pelicans fly, nest and hunt all from this historical fortress overlooking Great Bay and Philipsburg.
9. Amuseum Naturalis
All of above island nature information and more is explained in the Amuseum Naturalis, a great project carried by volunteers and based in the Old House plantation house in between of Orient Bay and French Quarter.
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