Things to do in

St Martin

Enjoy a 4.5-hour circular tour of the French and Dutch sides of St. Maarten (St.Martin), and experience a true Caribbean welcome. You will drive northeast to Dawn Beach and Oyster Bay, crossing one of the symbolic borders before stopping at Coralita Bay Natural Reserve for breathtaking views of the tropical wilderness. Next we head to one of the most stunning and popular beaches, Orient Beach where you can stroll along the pure white shore, swim or sunbathe, stretching out on the soft sand as you marvel at the turquoise water that sparkles in the tropical sunlight. Orient Beach has over 30 bars, restaurants and all the facilities to make you feel at home. Orient Beach lies next to a naturist resort and sometimes those guests may wander over to the clothing section of the beach. Now it’s time to shop in Marigot, the charming capital of St. Martin, where a lovely French atmosphere unfurls along colonial streets and the open-air bazaar. Next, explore the upscale area of Lowland, crossing another border back to the Dutch side to reach Maho Beach. Watch as the jumbo jets fly low over the sand to land at Princess Juliana International Airport. Your tour ends with a drive past Simpson Bay, stopping at Cole Bay Hill for one last picturesque view. If you wish, you can be dropped off in Philipsburg to explore on your own, instead of returning to the port.

A 4-time winner of the prestigious Tour of the Year award, Rhino Safari Excursions is a St. Martin original. Experience on-the-water excitement piloting your very own Rhino Rider on this 3-hour tour. These zippy 10-foot inflatable motorboats are yours to commannd for a thrill-of-a-lifetime ride on a vessel that’s safe, sturdy, reliable, and tons of fun! Unlike some other tours, you won’t be driving around in circles. Following your friendly guide, you'll cruise safely alongside mega-yacht marinas and boat anchorages before exiting Simpson Bay Lagoon to the French-side capital of Marigot. On the way to a snorkeling site, you'll admire the spectacular tropical coastline of St. Martin. Pass by the beautiful beaches of Galisbay, Friars Bay, Happy Bay, and Grand Case. Experience the breathtaking beauty of the best snorkeling site on the island, located within a protected marine reserve. Immerse yourself in the underwater world and meet its amazing inhabitants. Afterwards you’ll enjoy a complimentary drink in the dazzling Caribbean sunshine.

Following pick-up from the cruise port at Philipsburg, transfer to Orient Beach to discover the longest beach in St. Maarten. Orient Beach boasts a wide range of beach bars and restaurants, all within easy reach of the sand. Take advantage of water sports facilities (own expense) such as jet skis, sailboats, paragliding and kids activities. Enjoy a refreshing dip in the pristine, clear blue waters. You will have 2 hours at Orient Beach before the transfer to Maho Beach. Arrive at Maho Beach at approximately midday, just in time to see the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380 come into land at nearby Princess Juliana International Airport. The huge planes will fly just a few meters over the beach for a thrilling spectacle. With 2 hours at Maho Beach, you will automatically become a guest of the Sunset Beach Bar and Grill. Here you can enjoy a cocktail or tasty lunch (own expense). Listen to the live feed of the control tower communicating with the approaching aircraft. Sit back and relax and feel the cool breeze of the Caribbean Sea. Stroll along the pure white sand and get lost in the sound of the waves crashing against the rocks.  Then transfer back to your hotel or the cruise port, having achieved the official status of a St. Maarten beach bum!

St Barts is aptly called "The Jewel of the Caribbean". Just 45 minutes from Pelican Marina with the "Edge" ferries. Depart at 9 am from Simpson bay marina to arrive in Gustavia Harbour, the hub of activity. Sidewalk cafes offer crepes and croissants for breakfast, car rentals meet the boat, the taxi stand is a few feet away, and boutiques are open for business. This exceptional island has white sandy beaches, good snorkeling, great restaurants and a unique shell museum. A day guaranteed to entertain with sights and delights. The taxi tours offer island sightseeing and a stop at St Jean Beach for shopping, beaching and lunch, and then return to Gustavia with a short time to spare for shopping before the ferry departs. Check in for the boat is at 3:45pm, for departure at 4pm. Arrival at Pelican at approximately 4:45pm. St. Barts also has some great scuba diving. Little pinnacles, reefs and wrecks are abundant with marine life and local dive shops are available. Dive trips can be arranged with St. Barts Plongee or Plongee Caraibes

Feel your adrenalin soar as you focus your camera on jumbo jets just feet above your head, coming in to land at the Princess Juliana International Airport. Experience five hours at the beach with some extreme plane spotting! Start out with a drive from the St. Maarten cruise port along the Great Salt Pond. Take in aerial views of the island from Cole Bay Hill. See the nearby islands of Saba, St. Eustatius, and Anguilla as well. When you arrive at Maho Beach, the Sunset Beach Bar & Grill has the flight arrivals listed on a surfboard so you don’t miss a landing. A live feed of the communication between the airport control tower and the arriving aircraft is aired as well.

Ride along the waters of Simpson Bay on a 3-hour dinner cruise from St. Martin. At Pelican Marina, board Tango, a large, 63-foot catamaran, sister ship to Lambada. Then you will set sail on a Caribbean-style dinner cruise. Show up in informal dress and relax as Tango sets off. You will be served drinks and snacks and can enjoy a full open bar while sailing the coastline of the island. Just after sunset, the anchor is dropped and a buffet dinner is served on board the catamaran. Dine on a sumptuous choice of Creole chicken, succulent baby back ribs, salads, breads, rice and beans, and steamed veggies. Afterward, you will be treated to dessert. Then enjoy music and dancing until the evening comes to an end.

Sand Dollar is a great half day trip offering sightseeing, snorkeling and swimming. Captain Nevison Jr. is one of our most complimented staff members. The cruise takes guests through the lagoon, along our beautiful coastline and up to Creole Rock, off Grand Case. Creole Rock is a large rock formation with a reef extending out towards to the mainland, about a mile offshore. Waters are shallow and calm and provide excellent snorkeling. The boat picks up a mooring in a large sandy patch, in about 8' of water. A large cooler provides beers and sodas, and French baguette and Gouda cheese are served to hungry snorkelers. Guests should bring towels, hats and sun block, and have bathing suits on. Underwater cameras are sold in our boutique. Non swimmers are always welcome. The boat ride is enjoyable with great views of Anguilla from Creole Rock, and refreshments included on board. This trip is very popular in the afternoon at 2 pm for combo divers and snorkelers. Often a family member would like to accompany a diver and snorkel, Sand Dollar offers this opportunity. The site is a shallow one for divers, but the reef life is great with chances of seeing the rare frog fish, puffer fish, occasional barracuda and many different varieties of reef fish.

Enhance your St. Maarten holiday with a full-day sail to the gorgeous and unspoiled islands of sun and sand – Prickly Pear. The Lambada has a long history of boat fun, family gatherings, and an outstanding crew. This is always a top-ranked excursion. Departing from Simpson Bay Resort, the Lambada sails down the coast of St. Maarten and across the Anguillan channel with a heading bound for Prickly Pear Cays. The 16-mile trip from St Maarten is about an hour and 45 minutes. After snorkeling the reefs at Prickly Pear, enjoy a tasty buffet of chicken and ribs served with tasty sides right on board the catamaran. Have a dip after lunch before we move onto the second stop of the day. On the way back to St Maarten, anchor off Mead's Bay for a refreshing swim before pulling up the sails for the trip back to Simpson Bay. During the nice leisurely sail back you’ll be treated to foot-tapping Caribbean rhythms and a tasty rum punch.

Named the Unspoiled Queen, Saba is an Eco-Paradise and quite the getaway for avid divers, hikers and nature enthusiasts. She is as beautiful on top as she is underneath. Edge ferries provide a regular schedule year round – Wed through to Sun each week. The journey is 75-90 minutes, and docks in Fort Bay, the only proper access to the sea on Saba. Taxis meet the passengers at the boat and tour up into the island. First stop is a village called The Bottom, on up to Windwardside, where the trails start for hiking and tours continue over through Hells Gate with a look down to the airport, precariously balanced out on a lava overflow. Taxi tours are the only way to get up and into the island as the walk up from Fort Bay to The Bottom is vertical and strenuous. The views are spectacular. The hiking in Saba's rain forest is not to be missed with the main trail, Mt. Scenery, being the most popular. Scuba Diving in Saba is world renowned. Many divers will ensure that a day trip to Saba is part of their dive vacation plan. All dive shops offer the highest standards of service and professionalism, and meet the divers as the ferry arrives. Saba is very unspoiled and a refreshing change from the cosmopolitan hustle and bustle that St. Maarten and St. Barts provide.

Spend the day aboard a luxury catamaran touring Sint Maarten’s coastline. Sail past gorgeous beaches and watch the planes taking off at Maho. Have fun in the water with kayaks, snorkels, and floating mats. Relax on the sunny deck with fine food and cold drinks. Set sail from Dock Maarten in the morning for a day of sunshine and sea. Snack on fresh fruit and cake and pause at one of the island’s picturesque beaches to dive into the refreshing Caribbean water. Continue to either Maho or Sunset Beach to watch the planes taking off and landing.  Enjoy a cold drink and lunch on the sunny deck. Get back in the sea to play on the floating mat, paddle a kayak and explore with a snorkel. End the luxurious day trip back at the dock.