What You Need to Know

St. Martin packs about 37 beaches onto one small island split between French and Dutch sides. Sounds overwhelming, right? After multiple trips and plenty of trial and error, these five consistently deliver – though each works better for different situations. Orient Bay: The Action Beach Orient Bay stretches for roughly 1.5 miles on the French side, making it the second-longest beach on the island (Baie Longue takes the top spot). This is where everyone congregates, which means crowds but also means infrastructure – restaurants, beach bars, water sports rentals, actual bathrooms. The northern section officially goes clothing-optional, which surprises first-time visitors who wander too far up the beach. Southern areas stay family-friendly with calmer water and more facilities. Water sports dominate here. Jet skis, parasailing, paddleboarding, kayaking – basically anything requiring equipment and moderate adrenaline happens at Orient Bay. The beach clubs rent chairs and umbrellas, serve food and drinks directly to your spot, and generally make spending an entire day here pretty comfortable. Downside? It gets packed, especially when cruise ships dock. Weekday mornings offer the best crowd-to-space ratio. Maho Beach: The Plane Spotting Spectacle Maho Beach sits directly at the end of Princess Juliana Airport's runway. Planes – big ones – land maybe 30 feet over beachgoers' heads. It's absolutely insane and completely addictive to watch. The beach itself? Pretty average honestly. The sand's decent, water's fine, nothing special. But watching a 747 roar in so close you feel the heat from the engines? That's why people come. The Sunset Bar posts flight times on a board so everyone knows when to look up. Fair warning – the jet blast from departing planes literally knocks people over. Signs warn against it, people ignore the signs, hilarity and occasional minor injuries ensue. Don't be that person clinging to the fence during takeoff unless confident in your grip strength. Kids find this beach endlessly entertaining. Adults either love the novelty or find it gimmicky. Either way, worth experiencing at least once. Mullet Bay: The Local Favorite Mullet Bay on the Dutch side flies under tourist radar despite being genuinely excellent. Long crescent of white sand, clear turquoise water, decent waves for bodyboarding without being overwhelming. Fewer facilities here – some food trucks, limited chair rentals, no major beach clubs. Brings more locals and fewer cruise ship crowds. The vibe stays relaxed, almost neighborhood-beach feeling despite the beauty. Snorkeling works better on calm days near the rocks on both ends. The center section offers the best swimming and wave action. Weekends bring local families setting up elaborate picnics and playing music – the authentic island experience tourists claim they want but often avoid. Parking fills up on weekends. Arrive before 10 AM or accept walking from farther lots. Baie Rouge: The Scenic One Baie Rouge (Red Bay) on the French side delivers that classic Caribbean postcard look – red-tinted cliffs contrasting with white sand and impossibly blue water. Relatively small beach, maybe 500 yards long, which keeps crowds manageable. The water stays calm and clear, perfect for snorkeling around the rocky areas. Two beach restaurants serve solid French-Caribbean fusion without the tourist-trap markups found at more popular spots. Getting there requires navigating some rough roads that rental car companies probably don't want you driving on. The approach keeps casual visitors away, which honestly improves the experience for those who make the effort. Clothing becomes optional at the far ends, similar to Orient Bay. Middle section stays conventional if that matters. Pinel Island: The Effort-Required Paradise Pinel Island requires taking a small ferry from Cul-de-Sac on the French side – about 10 minutes and $12 USD round trip per person. That minor barrier filters out enough people that the two main beaches never feel overwhelming despite being genuinely spectacular. Powder-white sand, crystal-clear shallow water, excellent snorkeling, basically everything promised in Caribbean brochures actually delivered. Two restaurants on the island serve fresh seafood and cold drinks. Some beach chairs available for rent, or just bring towels and find a spot. The island has zero development beyond the two beach restaurants – no hotels, no roads, just beaches and nature. Makes it feel special, almost private despite being accessible to anyone willing to take the ferry. Weekdays offer the best experience. Weekend ferry schedules bring more day-trippers, though still nothing compared to Orient Bay crowds. Choosing Smart Want action and facilities? Orient Bay delivers despite crowds. Need the plane experience? Maho's the only option. Seeking local vibe? Mullet Bay works. After scenery and better food? Baie Rouge fits. Willing to take a ferry for something special? Pinel Island justifies the effort. The island's small enough that hitting multiple beaches in one day works if motivation exists. Most people find their favorite and keep returning though. Can't really go wrong with any of these five.