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Things to do & places to see

St Maarten has been shared peacefully by the French and the Dutch for over 300 years. St Maarten, on the Dutch side, is a busy, bustling and informal place, whereas on the French side you'll find cafÃ(c)s, bistros and the latest Parisian fashions. If you're a nature-lover, visit the wildlife at St Maarten Park and zoo or the natural salt ponds of Philipsburgh.

Example shore excursions

When you hit dry land, you can trust us to offer a choice of experiences that really gives you a close-up view. See some featured excursions at this port below.

See all shore excursions from St Maarten

French Connection/St Martin See & Sea Island Tour

This tour combines the best of land and sea as you leave Philipsburg on the Dutch side of the island and drive east to Grand Case, a quaint, unspoiled fishing village surrounded by an idyllic bay.  Here you will board the Seaworld Explorer, a state-of-the-art semi-submarine, which takes you on a 45 minute narrated tour of the coral reefs surrounding Creole Rock.  Sit in air-conditioned comfort five feet below the surface of the water, in this cruising underwater observatory.  Watch as the diver jumps overboard and is surrounded by schools of brightly coloured fish and spotted moray eels as he feeds them in front of your eyes.  Listen to the fascinating information given by a knowledgeable marine expert before returning to shore for a complimentary refreshing drink.  Finally, back on land and on to the French capital of Marigot where you will have time to meander amongst the sidewalk cafes, open-air market and duty free shops before making your way back.

Natural Wonders of St Martin

This tour takes you on a journey of discovery of St Martin's best ecological attractions.  Your first stop is the Philipsburg natural salt ponds where you will learn of the importance of these ponds to the eco-system.  Then it's on to St Martin's Park where your guide will introduce you to some very unique residents, including blue and gold parrots, green winged and scarlet macaws, Jamaican fruit bats and monkeys.  Stop for a drink at the monkey bar before continuing through the mountainous middle region towards the Oyster Pond area.  Here you will find the reefs and mangroves, an extremely rich eco system providing breeding grounds and food for an abundance of marine creatures.  Finally your tour continues past Simpson Bay Lagoon towards the Great Bay where from the vantage point of Cayhill you can see the many surrounding islands.  Here you can stop for photos and listen as your guide informs you of the hisorical background of this fascinating island.