Hiking
The
best way to really appreciate the island is
by exploring on foot. You'll meet the local
people, learn the customs and above all see
the scenery, flora and fauna that you will never
see from the main road.
The
deceptively small Dutch St. Maarten presents
some interesting contrasts for the explorer.
Wide beaches along the coast, full of sunbathers
and watersurfers, seem a far cry from the quiet
country roads and small towns of the hillsides.
In the evening the hills of the interior become
even more peaceful, while the glittering casinos
and pulsing clubs of the coast just begin to
come alive.
Heading
north from Philipsburg, visitors soon arrive
at the Madam Estate area, site of the island's
zoo. Governed by the St. Maarten Zoological
and Botanical Garden, it features animals, birds
and plants native to the Caribbean Basin and
South America, including St. Kitts monkeys.
Northeast
of the zoo are Dawn Beach and Oyster Pond, the
first best known as a favored snorkeling and
windsurfing beach. According to legend, Oyster
Pond is the point where a Frenchman and Dutchman
stood back to back and starting walking around
the island in either direction, determining
the present-day boundaries between Dutch and
French St. Maarten. Oyster Bay remains divided
between two governments, but the border is extremely
informal--swimmers can cross back and forth
between French Forestand Dutch territory without
even noticing!
For
a view and a taste of history, visitors can
climb Mount Concordia, which rises along the
border in the center of the island. In 1648,
the treaty that divided the island was signed
here, and Mount Concordia continues to serve
as a proud symbol of St. Maarten's 350-year
history of peaceful co-existence between the
two cultures.
Scuba
Diving and Snorkeling
| Scuba
Diving Schools |
Blue
Ocean
Address: Baie Nettle
Phone: (590) 590 87-8973
Fax: (590) 590 87-2636 |
Dive
Buddy
Address: Bellevue
Phone: (590) 590 87-1390
Fax: (590) 590 87-8977 |
Funny
Blue Bubble
Address: Cul de Sac, ( Hotel Little Key
)
Phone: (590) 590 29-5529
Fax: (590) 590 87-0201 |
Funny
Blue Bubble
Address: Cul de Sac, ( Hotel Little Key
)
Phone: (590) 590 29-5529
Fax: (590) 590 87-0201 |
Octoplus
Address: Grand Case Boulevard
Phone: (590) 590 87-2062
Fax: (590) 590 87-2063 |
Scuba
Fun Caraibes
Address: Anse Marcel
Phone: (590) 590 87-3613
Fax: (590) 590 87-3552
www.scubafun.com |
Sea
Dolphin
Address: Hotel Flamboyant
Phone: (590) 590 87-6072 / (590) 590 87-1283
Fax: (590) 590 87-6073 |
Sea
Horse Diving
Address: Baie Nettle
Phone: (590) 590 87-8415
Fax: (590) 590 87-8474 |
Sailing
St.
Maarten is one of the Caribbean's leading sailing
venues, playing host each year to the St. Maarten
Heineken Regatta and offering plenty of stunning
anchorages. Fully equipped marinas welcome visiting
boats and rent everything from speedboats to
canoes. Day trips can also be arranged for deep-sea
fishing or for visits to secluded nearby islands.
Every March, hundreds of participants from Europe,
the United States, and the Caribbean visit St.
Maarten to compete in one of the world's biggest
sailing events --- the St. Maarten Heineken
Regatta. The event has come to symbolize the
island's prominence as a sailing venue, and
St. Maarten is one of the few places in the
world where the average person can sail on a
world-class racing boat.
St.
Maarten SailingThe St. Maarten 12 Metre Challenge,
offered year round, gives visitors the chance
to experience first-hand the thrill of America's
Cup racing. Aspiring sailors serve as crew aboard
the U.S. Stars and Stripes, which raced in 1987,
or the Canadian contenders Canada II, True North,
and True North IV, as these high-performance
boats are put through their paces on a shortened
America's Cup course. Previous sailing experience
is not necessary, only a sense of adventure.
| Boat
Charters and Trips |
Bay
Island Yachts
Address:
Phone: (590) 690 47-7145 |
Bubba
Charters
Address: Marigot
Phone: (590) 590 49-7980 |
Caraibes
Sport Boats
Address: Auberge de Mer
Phone: (590) 590 87-8938 |
Catacaraibe
Address: Rue du Palais de Justice 6
Phone: (590) 590 87-5949
Fax: (590) 590 87-7007 |
Catamaran
Charters
Address: Rue du Pres. Kennedy 3
Phone: (590) 590 29-3593 / (590) 590 87-9141
/ (590) 590 29-3476
Fax: (590) 590 29-3458 |
Centurion
Charters Reunis
Address: Oyster Pond
Phone: (590) 590 87-3049
Fax: (590) 590 87-3158 |
Compagnie
des Goelettes
Address: Res. Amandiers
Phone: (590) 590 87-1016
Fax: (590) 590 87-1019 |
Cruise
St. Martin
Address: Marigot
Phone: (590) 590 87-4320
Fax: (590) 590 87-4320 |
Marigot
Shipping Company
Address: Les Portes de St. Martin
Phone: (590) 590 87-2696 / (590) 590 87-2693
Fax: (590) 590 87-5085 |
Marine
Time (VHF Ch. 10)
Address: Port Marigot
Phone: (590) 590 87-2028 / (590) 590 29-3058
Fax: (590) 590 87-2078 |
Master
Ski Pilou
Address: Presquile de Gustavia
Phone: (590) 590 27-9179
Fax: (590) 590 27-5570 |
Moorings
Saint Martin
Address: Oyster Pond
Phone: (590) 590 87-3526 / (590) 590 87-3255
/ (590) 590 87-4947
Fax: (590) 590 87-3254 |
Nautor's
Swan Charters
Address: Anse Marcel
Phone: (590) 590 87-3548
Fax: (590) 590 87-3550 |
Omega
Hotels and Yachts
Address: Oyster Pond
Phone: (590) 590 87-3788
Fax: (590) 590 87-3742 |
Pelican
Address: Baie Nettle
Phone: (590) 590 87-9223
Fax: (590) 590 29-0381 |
Privilege
Vacances
Address: Port la Royale 9
Phone: (590) 590 29-0996 |
Sea
Class
Address: Res. Amandiers
Phone: (590) 590 87-0822
Fax: (590) 590 87-0495 |
Sportsail
Address: Rue de Hollande
Phone: (590) 590 87-8521
Fax: (590) 590 87-5770 |
Stardust
Yacht Charters
Address: Captain Oliver's Marina, Oyster
Pond
Phone: (590) 590 87-3049 / (1-800) 772-3500
Fax: (590) 590 87-4031 |
Sun
Yacht Charter
Address: Pyster Pond
Phone: (590) 590 87-3049
Fax: (590) 590 87-3158 |
Sunsail
Address: Marina Royale
Phone: (590) 590 87-8341 / (590) 590 29-0913
Fax: (590) 590 87-1830 |
Tropical
Yacht Service
Address: Anse Marcel
Phone: (590) 590 29-5231
Fax: (590) 590 29-5232 |
Voyager
Charters
Address: Marina Port La Royale, Marigot
Phone: (590) 590 87-4345
Fax: (590) 590 29-3479 |
VPM
Yacht Charters
Address: Anse Marcel
Phone: (590) 590 29-4135
Fax: (590) 590 29-4275 |
Fishing
The
island holds big game fishing tournaments periodically
but daily fishing charters are available any
day.
Marlin,
Dolphin, Wahoo are the most common game fish
in these waters. If you have your own rod and
tackle however you can try salt water fly fishing
from the beaches, its still a relatively undiscovered
past time here.
Deep-sea
fishing is a popular St. Maarten activity, with
full-day and half-day charters available year-round.
The best fishing grounds are conveniently near
the island, meaning less time spent traveling
and more time fishing. Charters usually include
tackle, bait, food, and refreshments. Bareboat
charters are also available. The day's catch
can include yellowtail, snapper, grouper, and
marlin. Tarpon, barracuda, snook, bonefish and
jacks can be caught year round.
| Fishing
Charters and Guides |
Big
Sailfish Too
Address: Anse Marcel
Phone: (590) 590 27-4090
Fax: (590) 590 87-3396 |
Caraibe
Fishing
Address: Rue Felix Eboue
Phone: (590) 590 29-0866
Fax: (590) 590 29-0749 |
Compagnie
des Vagues
Address: Grand Case
Phone: (590) 590 87-7746
Fax: (590) 590 87-8488 |
Deep
Sea Fishing et Charter
Address: Rue Yellow Tail, Sandy Ground
Phone: (590) 590 87-8683 |
E
J P Marine Services
Address: Les Villages de St. Martin
Phone: (590) 590 29-3201 |
Major
Fishing
Address: La Fregate
Phone: (590) 590 87-9676
Fax: (590) 590 87-9676 |
Monia
Cruise
Address: Baie Nettle
Phone: (590) 590 87-9341
Fax: (590) 590 87-9341 |
Pro
Aquatic Raiders
Address: Mont Vernon 1
Phone: (590) 590 87-4499 |
Zing
Fishing Charters
Address:
Phone: (590) 590 61-8184 |
|
Golf
The
St. Maarten Golf Association (SMGA)
is an organization open to all members of the
community of St. Maarten / St. Martin. Tourists
to the island are encouraged to join and to
participate in all the golfing activities and
the many annual functions sponsored by the SMGA.
-
Sint
Maarten Golf Association website >>
Links
& Sources:
|
