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Find Saint Martin’s main airport on a map and you've found Maho Beach. How close is it, you ask? Well, if you’ve ever seen a photo of sunbathing tourists gawping as 747s approach the runway just yards above their heads, it was probably taken here. So come by all means and get your own snap, but you may well find that the roar of engines and the smell of jet fuel deters you from staying too long.

Thankfully things are calmer on Mullet Bay Beach, a short walk away. This is the tropical paradise you've always dreamed of: white sands, swaying palms, clear water. Waves can get surprisingly high here, making it a magnet for the island’s surfers. Mullet Bay is also the site of the island’s only 18-hole golf course.

Maho & Mullet Bay

St. Maarten’s longest beach has all the ingredients of a perfect Caribbean paradise: soft white sand, clear and calm turquoise water, and gently waving palms. Though located just behind the Princess Juliana Airport, Simpson Bay is surprisingly quiet and unpopulated. The BasicsTravelers have many options to explore Simpson Bay as part of half-day or full-day tour in a speed boat, a self-drive inflatable boat, or even a dinner cruise combined with visits to beautiful beaches to sunbathe, swim, and snorkel. Additional stops may include the Dutch capital of Philipsburg, the Creole Rock nature reserve, swimming with sea turtles off Tintamarre Island, or dinner at a beachfront restaurant on Pinel Island.Things to Know Before You GoSimpson Bay tours may include round-trip hotel transfers, marine park fees, food and drinks, use of snorkeling equipment, towels, and guides. Check tours for specific details.Adventure tours may have minimum ages.Remember sun protection, swimwear, and water for hydration.How to Get ThereSimpson Bay is located along the island’s southwest coast next to the main airport, which is about a 10-minute drive from both the French capital of Marigot and the Dutch capital of Philipsburg. Parking is available at any of the small beachside hotels and restaurants. When to Get ThereThe best times to visit St. Martin/St. Maarten are the shoulder seasons of spring and fall, when cheaper rates are offered and rains less likely. The weather is pleasant year-round, with summer months being the hottest. Humpback whales can be observed from February to June.Carousel and GelatoA must see for the family while at Simpson Bay is the charming historical carousel. Inside a unique 16-sided structure, the gentle amusement ride is surrounded by beautiful and fragrant gardens, but the main attraction is the delicious creamy gelato, available in an array of flavors. 

Simpson Bay

Maho Beach can't boast that it's one of the most peaceful beaches in the world, but it certainly has a unique claim to fame, particularly if you're an aviation lover. This is because Maho Beach is located right next to an airport and the planes fly directly over the beach so low that you feel they might land on you.
Kids especially love watching the planes soar overhead multiple times throughout the day at Maho Beach, but even adults quickly get caught up in the wonder of seeing a large inflight plane so close up. Hang out by the fence on the edge of the beach closest to the airport and you'll even be able to feel the blast of the jets as a plane takes off – and probably some sand particles being swirled up around you. In addition to plane watching, Maho Beach is a fun place to swim and snorkel.

Maho Beach

Off the southern coast of St. Maarten, the diminutive and isolated island of Saba is a thriving sanctuary for tropical plant and animal life. Though Saba doesn’t have any beaches, the pristine volcanic island is a paradise for hikers and a world-class destination for scuba divers. The BasicsThe best way to explore Saba is to either go high or go low. Hike through Saba’s Elfin Forest Reserve, named for its dreamy high altitude mist and fantastical mossy appearance, to reach the summit of the island’s highest volcanic peak, the aptly named Mount Scenery. Or dive into the dramatic underwater topography of underwater cliffs, mountains, abysses, and famous pinnacle dive sites where towers of volcanic rock rise to about 85 feet (26 meters). Things to Know Before You GoSaba is a must-visit for adventure travelers and nature lovers.Remember sun protection, swimwear, and water for hydration.Travelers must have a valid passport upon check-in to take a tour.The hikes may be strenuous; hikers should be relatively fit and wear appropriate shoes.The Mt. Scenery Trail requires purchasing a badge for about $3, which is a donation for trail upkeep. How to Get ThereLight planes from St. Maarten land at Saba’s small airport, but if the idea of landing on the world’s shortest international runway doesn’t appeal, opt for the easy ferry service connecting St. Maarten to Saba; crossing time is about 90 minutes. When to Get ThereThe best times to visit Saba are the shoulder seasons of spring and fall when cheaper rates are offered and rains less likely. The weather is pleasant year-round. Saba's Carnival takes place the last week in July and includes parades, steel bands, competitions, and food.Saba LacePop into one of the many boutiques of Saba’s capital city, The Bottom, to find the island’s most precious commodity: handmade lace. In the late 19th century, Mary Gertrude Johnson learned the intricate craft at a Catholic convent in Venezuela before bringing it back to her island home. Today the women of Saba make beautiful needlework textiles in trademark Saba styles. 

Saba

Little Bay Beach is a secluded hideaway just outside of Philipsburg. The beach itself sits just over the western peninsula of Great Bay, and it’s soft white sand offer an enticing backdrop to the idyllic turquoise water that ever so gently laps the shore. Because of the consistently calm water, Little Bay Beach is a great spot for snorkeling, and you can also find watersports like jetskiing, paddleboats and parasailing, not to mention a selection of bars and restaurants, among the handful of resorts along the bay. From the eastern end of Little Bay Beach, you can take a short hike to the tip of the peninsula to explore Fort Amsterdam, which was built by the Dutch in 1631.

Divi Little Bay Beach Resort

To enjoy incredible views and take panoramic photos of St. Maarten’s capital and coastline, head to Cole Bay Hill. You can drive up the hill to Harold Jack lookout point, a scenic overlook where you can gaze down upon Simpson Bay, Philipsburg and Great Bay, and even catch a glimpse of nearby islands Saba, St. Eustatious (Statia) and Anguilla. Cole Bay Hill is the ideal spot to capture morning photos of the sun glinting off Simpson Bay Lagoon, the largest inland body of water in the Caribbean, and it’s also a great place to enjoy the Caribbean sunsets.

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