St. Maarten Seven Day Itinerary “All Beaches Beach Hop”
If it is anything St. Maarten is famous for, it is its abundance of pristine beaches. It’s hard work, but not impossible to be able to claim you visited all St. Maarten / St. Martin beaches in a one week stay. It just will require some hiking, kayaking and ferries to reach some of them and a daily discipline not to linger a full day at a gorgeous beach paradise you discovered en route.
But if you are a beach fan, you need to lay down your towel too once in a while or it defeats the purpose of these relaxing sandy shores. Below suggested travel plan alternates between getting to your ambitious target and time off for deep dives into some of these famous coastlines. It will also switch from the southern or Dutch side to the northern or French side on many occasions, but as St. Maarten and St. Martin have the longest history of open borders in the world, this will only add value to your trip and not be a nuisance. Going over the border is generally seamless travel – you will often not notice you did. The great thing about your record beach visit attempt is that you will explore many areas, districts and landscapes in the process.
For the route below it does not matter where you stay on island – all resort, villa and boutique hotel areas will be touched at a certain point and the beaches are clustered per area. To keep the pace, a rental, taxi or island tour driver is recommended. Lastly, this suggested journey still leaves days off for exploring the most beautiful of the close to 40 beaches you saw during this day-by-day plan.
Day 1 (Saturday): Arrival, Check-In & D’s Beach Bar
Welcome to your ambitious itinerary! Start small today with a sneak peak at D’s Beach Bar & Grill at Simpson Bay Beach for a quiet, in-the-know beach bar to get accustomed to your Caribbean getaway. Laid back D’s has beach chairs for a lazy beach day and serves dinner to prepare for an intense week of beach hopping.
Day 2 (Sunday): West side beaches: From Maho Beach to a Triple Grand Case Beach Hop
On your first full day of beach exploration, plunge right in with some of the most famous beaches on island, and start early. As various beaches are not connected by public transport, this day is only feasible by rental car or taking out a taxi or tour for the day.
Start in style with the best known beach of all in the morning – Maho Beach. The scene of airplanes landing and departing is known the world over. In fact, a manually guided webcam draws 4 million viewers per year.
Right after the bustling Maho area, you find Mullet Bay Beach. This awarded, scenic beach hidden behind the bushes at the namesake golf course will be a strong temptation for you to lay your towel – Don’t, because you have a busy itinerary still ahead.
Right before you transgress the French / Dutch border in this day-by-day plan, you reach the quaint resort town of Cupecoy. The beach with the same name is some steps down its cliffs. The beach seems small from here, but is in fact far longer. It alternates between little coves, caves and steep cliffs in between.
Right across the French border, more beach spotting awaits. The Lowlands area has three of the largest and most gorgeous beaches of the island in a row. As they are somewhat removed from the busiest resort areas, they are also tranquil in nature. In consecutive order Long Bay, Plum Bay and Red Bay are pristine, quiet stretches of sand living up to the dreamt Caribbean image of a picture perfect beach. Red Bay or “Baie Rouge” was a favorite of the late Anthony Bourdain. Continuing your route along the Simpson Bay Lagoon, stop shortly at Nettle Bay. This small but beautiful beach is the epicenter of a popular resort area.
You are already in the outskirts of Marigot now. Use the fact that you will pass by its seaside lunchrooms and Lolo’s for a quick shot of energy before you continue this fast paced beach exploration. Take your time for a sumptuous lunch, as the pace will go down from here.
Following the Marigot coastline to the north, you will pass by Galisbay Beach. Your first stop will be the lush cove of Friars Bay. This beautiful hidden gem has a path leading to secluded Happy Bay Beach, home to the famous SXM Festival.
Take your time at these two beaches to relax somewhat from your earlier adventures, as you are closing in on the highly productive first day of your self-chosen beach craze.
The final stop of today is Grand Case, a fishing village famous for its sunsets. First, drive to its northernmost part. Grand Case Beach Club is located on not one, but two very scenic beach coves. Its elevated Moonrise Bar is an amazing spot to see the sun go down.
Now, delve into the town’s main street some minutes south of the resort for dinner and your final beach of the day. Alongside Grand Case Beach you find many famous restaurants like L’ Auberge Gourmande and Ocean 82.
Congratulations – you have seen 12 beaches in one day.
Day 3 (Monday): Uninhabited islands Tour – Caye Verte, Pinel & Tintamarre
For day 3, you need a boat. You can book a charter via Aqua Mania Adventures, Eagle Tours, Renegades or Private Yacht Charter.
For a Sailing and Snorkeling excursion in one, take the Santino Around the Island Snorkel Tour.
Eco Friendly Tour around the island:
Let them take you off coast to uninhabited beach paradises Pinel and Tintamarre. Both have two beaches to explore – a calmer, St. Maarten / St. Martin facing one and a more rugged Atlantic beach.
If the charter (and your schedule) allows, also visit small islet Caye Verte, ticking off another beach.
No stress during this day – tell the charter where you want to spend most of your time. Pinel comes with two restaurants, Tintamarre has none – but most charters can stock drinks in any scenario.
Ask the charter to drop you off at Orient Bay Beach. This very large beach is famous for its beach club restaurants and a clothing optional zone on its southern tip. From here, there is always a taxi available back to your resort.
Day 3 just added 6 additional beaches to your list – keep it going.
Day 4 (Tuesday): Kayak in Kim Sha, Lagoon & Small Beaches Pelican
For day 4, you will get wet – but that is supposed to be the idea of a beach crawl. Rent out a kayak in Simpson Bay, allowing to explore popular Kim Sha Beach and a variety of hidden beaches along its east side like Pelican Key. The Trisport kayak rental location can be reached by bus from the directions of Philipsburg and Maho / Cupecoy.
If you are into a longer kayak tour, head into the Simpson Bay Lagoon via the Simpson Bay Bridge. Here you find an uninhabited island with an additional beach.
Kim Sha Beach is an ideal location to have lunch, for example at Buccaneer Beach Bar, La Patrona or Juliettes Bistro. All three also serve breakfast before your Kayak tour commences. Spend some time on the beach, but if in need of a beach chair make sure to make a reservation.
Your day is not done yet – and neither is your schedule. Walk over the Simpson Bay bridge to its namesake beach, through the old Simpson Bay village behind its busy restaurant strip. Though the latter lively area offers a variety of restaurants and bars for night owls, this itinerary is supposed to focus on beaches so let’s look for a befitting beach club in style.
Simpson Bay Beach is surprisingly tranquil compared to its busy main street Airport Road. On its far end towards the St. Maarten airport, you find The Boon, K Beach Club & Restaurant and D’s Beach Bar & Grill. All three are well known beach clubs by locals, a great spot to see the sun set and known to provide fun well into the night. You are again close to the Philipsburg – Maho bus line, but you can also order a cab.
Your impressive score now stands at 23 beaches visited.
Day 5 (Wednesday): Far North, Far South: Anse Marcel Hike & Divi Little Bay
For beach hop day 5, a rental, taxi or tour is recommended as some beaches are off the beaten track.
Start with a morning hike from French Cul-de-Sac along tiny Petites Cayes Beach and Lovers Beach to find out why this two person beach has such a romantic name, to end up at Anse Marcel Beach. If you are with a cab or day tour, ask the cab driver to pick you up from there.
You will round the corner most popular for wave surfing on island, as the Atlantic comes in here with full force. The green cove of Anse Marcel surrounding a picturesque turquoise bay invites to swim after your hike and by all means, do so.
End your fourth day in relaxation on Le Galion Beach. This quaint nature reserve is a spot locals would spend a full beach picknick day. There is no amenities here, so bring a good stock of drinks and snacks.
For dinner, head over to Veranda Bistro in Oyster Pond via the small beaches of Baie de L’Embouchure. Veranda overlooks Oyster Bay Beach and Dawn Beach and has a great view of St. Barths.
Six more beaches are now added to your sandy shore spree, bringing the total to 29.
Day 6 (Thursday): Southern Beaches – Guana Bay Beach to Cole Bay Beach
For day 6 a rental or taxi is recommended once again to connect the dots efficiently. Start today with seeing the sun rise at Guana Bay Beach. Head for nearby Great Bay Beach alongside capital Philipsburg. With an early breakfast at Big Bastards or Ocean Lounge you are well in advance of the one day cruise visits that will lead to a bustling beach later. Your next stop is pristine Little Bay Beach. If a fan of snorkeling, dive to the underwater UnderSXM sculpture park with one of the morning snorkel tours. if you are more of a history fan, go up and down Fort Amsterdam where the national bird of St. Maarten, the Brown Pelican is guaranteed to be spotted.
Take a beachside lunch at noon at Fort Amsterdam Café, Pure Ocean or Gizmo’s.
Cay Bay Beach, also known as Indigo Beach, is right next door (5 minute drive). A short pause at the roundabout on the top of the hill will give you a short but great overview of the lush cove.
Ten minutes down, the next beach on this row is Cole Bay Beach in the Seaside Nature Park. You can book one hour horseback riding tours here, that take a short detour through the Caribbean sea!
With five more beaches visited today, you are now at a whopping total of at least 34 shores sighted in five days – and you still have holiday time to spend! You should grant yourself an evening off from beaches and celebrate. In the bustling Simpson Bay Area, there is a restaurant catering to any taste you might have. Try South-American / Venezuelan inspired cuisine at Balls & Wine, go in-depth Levant – Lebanese at Beirut or take any Mediterranean dish at Al Pasha. For a celebration drink, head for Dutch inspired Huppel the Pub or Lotus Nightclub.
Day 7 (Friday): Select Your Own!
Have you seen every beach on island? Depending on your definition of a beach, you might have not – there is for sure some small sandy shore not included in above list. But you have diligently covered all beaches that matter in record speed.
Use day 6 for where Caribbean beaches are intended for – relaxation and laid back reading, swimming or resting. As you can consider yourself an expert now, select whether you thought beaches at lively Great Bay, Maho or Orient Bay were worth another visit, or to spend your last beach day on quiet beaches like Mullet Bay, Red Bay or Friars Bay.
It can also be that you are done with beaches for now. Consider inland hotspots like Rainforest Adventures Park and its Flying Dutchman zipline as a great antidote to your sand-filled week. Toppers Rhum Distillery Tours can show you the history of the ingredient you so often tasted in your beachside cocktails this week.
If souvenir shopping needs to be done, spend some hours on famed Front Street. For other activities suggested, see our non-comprehensive catalogue of things to do or one day itineraries.
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