Seven Day St. Maarten / St. Martin Itinerary for An Active Holidays
So are you the type that can’t sit still during your Caribbean getaway, as relaxing as it might be supposed to be? Are you the adventurous type of visitor that on a pristine, sunny beach keeps looking at the yonder where all the watersports are happening?
Then, St. Maarten / St. Martin is just the place to be. Praised for its vast variety of activities in general, sports and adrenaline pumping activities are widely on offer. Many thrillseeker excursions are even unique and / or record breaking in global perspective – a feature that must appeal to the competitive sportsman.
To be of assistance how to create an excitement filled St Maarten holiday, see below a seven day trajectory to return from the island in full fitness. The occasional beach advice will accompany your exercise packed program to make sure sun is part and parcel of your journey.
Day 1 (Saturday): Kayaking on Kim Sha Beach
In the bustling and megayacht filled Simpson Bay Lagoon area, kayaking is the most active and fun way to get around. From departure point Kim Sha Beach it is only five minutes of paddling through the Simpson Bay Lagoon bridge, and you see two wholly different St. Maarten sceneries in one tour. In Kayak tours can be done at Kim Sha Beach alone or in combination with the lagoon.
Kayak Snorkel Tour
Kayak Lagoon Tour
If you are more of an independent sportsman / sportswoman, you can also rent a kayak on your own.
After all the sports is done, ensure you get a taste of the Simpson Bay area‘s culinary variety. Taste a locally brew rum at Toppers and / or try South-American, Lebanese, Mediterranean or Mexican food restaurants. As a dessert to your sun soaked day of action, try great bars like Buccaneer Beach Bar and Huppel The Pub and finish your night out at Club Lotus.
The Simpson Bay area is well connected via the Philipsburg to Maho bus line during the day. Keep in mind parking is not always easy in this area. If this bustling resort and nightlife area fits your adventurous nature, consider Simpson Bay Resort, Atrium Beach Resort & Spa, Simpson Bay Suites, Travel Inn Hotel, Hilton Vacation Club Royal Palm or La Vista Resort as your hotel of choice.
Day 2 (Sunday): Biking, Mullet Bay Beach & Golf
Today, grab a bike in Simpson Bay for the Tour de Lagoon. Did you ever do a binational biking tour in 4 hours? Today you will. The route will take you to French side capital Marigot, Fort Louis and Devil’s Hole, circling back via the high end Lowlands area.
For lunch on this end of the “Simpson Bay Strip”, seaside beach clubs K’s and The Boon are at your disposal.
The Simpson Bay Trisport location is a 10 minute bus ride to the golf course on the Philipsburg to Maho line. Mullet Bay Beach is not just one of the five most famous beaches on island on its own merits, it is also unique as the St. Maarten golf course runs along its full length. If you are an avid golfer, you must see an amazing combination to make the Maho or Cupecoy area your base of operations. If you are into swinging a golf club daily before or after your activities in this schedule, consider Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino & Spa, Sonesta Ocean Point or Sapphire Beach Club Resort as hotel of choice. All three are located within a five minute walk of the golf course.
Hungry already? After your active explorations of Simpson Bay and Maho, restaurants close to the latter are Tortuga, Spices of India, Mr Chow and Roma.
Day 3 (Monday): Sailing
Home to the Caribbean Multihull Challenge and the St Maarten Heineken Regatta, St. Maarten / St. Martin is synonymous to sailing for decades. With the Simpson Bay Lagoon as a natural shelter for both visiting yachts and its yacht club as training ground for the next generation of sailors, for adventurous visitors, a day of sailing is a must.
You can do so via group excursions with Eagle Tours or Aqua Mania Adventures, or even charter your own boat via Renegades or Private Yacht Charters. Both come with captain, guidance and expertise and lodging on board.
Day 4 (Tuesday): Great Bay Beach & Steepest Zipline In The World
Are you ready to break your own record? The Flying Dutchman Zipline is the steepest zipline in the world, plunging deep into the Cul-de-Sac Valley from Sentry Hill, one of the highest peaks on island.
But there are more thrills to be sought in surrounding Rainforest Adventure Park. After the Soualiga Sky Explorer chairlift brought you to the top, take some time to enjoy the spectacular views all the way to surrounding islands Anguilla, St Barths, Statia and Saba. In addition, another peak-to-peak zipline can be enjoyed as practice before you plunge down the “Dutchman”.
After your zipline adventure, head to nearby Philipsburg. The boardwalk is home to the yearly “Beat The Marines” contest, unique to St. Maarten, in which the Dutch marine corps invites the fittest teams in the world to challenge them. But for now, you are here for a delicious Dutch pancake lunch at Dutch Blonde Beach Bar!
After lunch, enjoy one of the four themed “Escape Rooms” at the Dutch Blonde Beach Bar. If you successfully Houdini-ed your way out, treat yourself to a delicious dinner at Aziana, an Indonesian and Japanese fusion restaurant. Afterwards, unwind on the nearby Great Bay Beach and enjoy a beautiful sunset to end your evening.
Rainforest Adventures Park is on the St. Peters bus line to Philipsburg. From Philipsburg, buses connect with Maho, Cupecoy, Marigot and French Quarter.
Day 5 (Wednesday): Little Bay Beach Day: Lob a ball at SXM Padel and snorkel UnderSXM
St. Maarten has become the preeminent location of padel in the Caribbean. This is for a large part due to the efforts of SXM Padel, that has kept adding new courts over time and even made padel courts an international St. Maarten export product. International Padel competitions take place at the center located in Belair, as do international celebrities like Sandy Farquharson visit to play the courts near the sea. But it is not just the vicinity to gorgeous Little Bay Beach that makes playing padel extra appealing on St. Maarten. The vicinity of hotels like Divi Little Bay Beach Resort, Belair Beach Hotel and L’Esperance Hotel, all in a 5 minute walking distance of the courts, provides for the ability for padel fans to center their holidays around this novelty in the world of sports. Also Oyster Bay Beach Resort and Princess Heights Hotel are known to be fully “game” with the new sports.
After a good padel session, wind down at Pure Ocean or Gizmo’s Bar & Grill for a well deserved beach side lunch.
Right outside these restaurants starts your afternoon thrill : the UnderSXM snorkeling and dive park. Hundreds of submerged statues showing the history and culture of St. Maarten can be visited with an Aquamania boat tour including snorkel set. It is the largest underwater statue park of the Caribbean, and the variety of colorful fish swimming in between the artwork will not disappoint.
If you still have energy left, walk up and down scenic Fort Amsterdam for some minutes, or lay your towel at Little Bay Beach. Should you have adventurous children like their parent, consider to take the seaside package including water toys and chairs.
Suggested spot for dining to cool down from your adrenaline rushes is Mix, the chique rooftop bar of Divi Little Bay Resort, providing amazing sunset views over both Little and Great Bay. All restaurants of Divi Little Bay are open to non-guests too.
Though bus lines from Philipsburg and Maho pass by within a 20 minute walking range of Little Bay, it is advised to take a rental or taxi to get there.
Day 6 (Thursday): Scavenger Hunt in Philipsburg & Horses at Cole Bay Beach
At 10am in the morning, discover Philipsburg in a way you did not get to know any capital in the world yet. In a thrilling Scavenger Hunt Adventure Race you and your team solve puzzles, find hidden clues and retrieve treasures.
Don’t linger too long – you are off to go horseback riding. For lunch, stop at Ital Shack on the way for a deep dive into the Rastafarian culture of the Caribbean. The late Anthony Bourdain highlighted this food shack and was chosen top 4 Caribbean restaurant by USA Today readers.
Your horse is ready at Seaside Nature Park at Cole Bay Beach. Next to a one hour trail along coastal scenery, your horse will shortly dip in the Caribbean. As horse seats are limited, make sure you make a reservation.
To finish your day move over the hill to Buccaneers for a great sunset barbecue.
Day 7 (Friday): Go Fly A Kite in Orient Bay
Start your adrenaline-filled day with an ATV tour around the island. Twin Island Excursions will pick you up from your accommodation and guide you on this thrilling adventure! Get ready for an amazing experience as you explore St. Maarten from a whole new perspective – aboard your very own Sports ATV Quad bike. This 4-hour tour takes you past stunning beaches and the island’s hidden treasures.
After an exciting morning, it’s time to cool down – actively! Kitesurfing is done on various places on the French side of the island, combining strong Atlantic winds, high jumps and gorgeous beaches. Especially Orient Bay Beach and Le Galion Beach are popular amongst kiteboarders globally. Both have protected nature reserves in their areas: your sports should never be a burden to nature, so follow the strict rules where to unfold your kite, where to launch and surf. Various schools and rentals are nearby.
The Orient Bay area is a great place to dine after a day of surfing – a perfect way to finish a week of adrenaline rushes.
Orient Bay Beach is not easily reached by minivan buses; Le Galion even less so. Using a car rental or taxi is recommended.
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