Saint Martin – The French Caribbean Haven
Located in the northeast Caribbean Sea, east of Puerto Rice, the island of St. Martin is a unique destination in more ways than you may know of. Its 37 square miles are shared by the Dutch (Sint Maarten) and the French (Saint-Martin), devoid of country borders, but with distinct languages, currencies and cultures. The highly diverse society lends to a rich gastronomy scene, friendly citizens, and a laid-back atmosphere. The surroundings are marked by 37 beaches dotting the coasts of the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. It is no surprise then, that St. Martin has been a popular vacation destination for discerning American and European travelers since the 1950s. You might, perhaps, catch a glimpse of celebrities like Diana Ross, Usher, Alicia Keys, and John Legend sailing in their mega-yachts or taking refuge at their private beach villas.
Pastel and white varnished resorts and villas blend into the lush tropical hills on the northern French side of the island. The most popular area for visitors is Orient Bay Village, home to several sparsely crowded and clothing-optional white sand beaches, cozy family-friendly cottages and aparthotels, as well as easygoing cafes and international restaurants.
At Cul de Sac Bay, you will find the all-inclusive adult-only Secrets St. Martin Resort and Spa that draws inspiration from the island’s stylish Caribbean and European roots to adorn its 258 ocean, marina and mountain view suites. For a more intimate escape, stay at a villa located at the boutique Karibuny Hotel, fitted with personal plunge pools and private boat service. For a longer stay, head to the Lowlands area, known for its secluded beach villas overlooking turquoise waters and lush gardens. Here you can rent a three-to-fifteen-bedroom private home, fully endowed with a private butler, concierge and resident caretaker.
Strung along the limestone bluffs and white sands of Baie Longue is the chic Belmond La Samanna hotel. Here you will find tons of waterfront activities, great tennis, two freshwater pools, two restaurants, and the largest private wine collection (over 15,000 bottles) in the Caribbean. The modern suites and villas are serviced by well-trained staff to address the needs of the pickiest moguls.
St. Martin offers tons of land and water activities to propel your desire for adventure. On land, take a guided hike to Pic Paradis, the highest point on the island, or traverse through sugar mill ruins on horseback, a bike or quad. Test your physical abilities on a zip line and obstacle course at Loterie Farm, and reward yourself with a glass of chilled champagne while relaxing by a natural pool. For airborne adrenaline, take a helicopter ride, parasail or skydive. Enjoy a calm day on a yacht sailing to one of the smaller islands. The clear waters at Tintamarre and Creole Rock are idyllic for swimming, snorkeling and sunbathing. And the uninhabited Ilet Pinel has a full-service beach club with two restaurants, equipment rentals and a water taxi service. In the afternoon, appreciate a stunning Caribbean sunset from the water.
Spend a few hours exploring the capital of Marigot, with its bustling Marina Port La Royale, duty-free shopping along rue de la République and rue de la Liberté, open-air markets selling beach wraps and souvenirs, and ceramic and hand-painted murals depicting the island life. Climb up to Fort St. Louis for a breathtaking panoramic view. Take a break at a patisserie for pain au chocolate and café noisette or try traditional journey cakes and guava berry rum at a lolo (low-cost outdoor eatery). Learn how to blend your favorite fragrance to create a custom perfume with your own label, at Tijon in Grand Case.
St. Martin’s extraordinary blend of cultures makes it the culinary capital of the Caribbean. While you can find a wide variety of cuisine ranging from Italian, German, Indian, Haitian, and Franco-Caribbean food here, the island has some of the finest French food and wine in this part of the world. The Caribbean’s famous restaurant row in Grand Case stretches along a narrow beach overlooking Anguilla. There’s everything from lobster BBQ on the beach, Caribbean-style chicken curry (Scooby’s), cod fritters and creole red snapper (Villa Royale), to escargots (Ocean 82 by the Sea), and foie gras and caviar, paired with imported French wines. The semi-circle plaza, La Place Du Village, has several dinner options and live music. Celebrated chef Bastian (trained by Joêl Robuchon in France) offers tasting menus at Villa Hibiscus’s casual and unpretentious home environment, overlooking the valley.
Celebrity chefs were drawn to St. Martin for its first annual Festival De La Gastronomie in November 2021. Discovery menus, culinary competitions, cooking classes and charity gala dinners gave local and visiting diners an opportunity to explore the best of the island’s cooking. Michelin-starred chef Laurent Huguet, French food influencer Herve Cuisine, and Tristen Epps from Red Rooster Overtown in Miami, inspired the students at the Danielle Jeffry vocational high school to pursue a career in culinary arts.
Francophiles will love to spend a few days in St. Martin, but its prime location makes it easy to island-hop to neighboring Saba, St. Barts, and Anguilla. Board a ferry or rent a sailing charter to extend your vacation and experience the different sceneries and cultures around the Caribbean.
https://www.st-martin.org
Contributor Profile:
Sucheta Rawal is an award-winning food and travel writer who has contributed extensively to publications such as TIME Magazine, CNN Travel, HuffPost, Travel+Leisure, AAA and Zagat. She is the author of a series of children’s books about a traveling cat – Beato Goes To, and founder of the Atlanta-based nonprofit, Go Eat Give, that raises awareness of different cultures through travel. Sucheta is a frequent speaker on sustainable and adventure travel at The New York Times Travel Show, The United Nations, National Public Radio, ABC and Fox news. She was named one of the “five most influential bloggers in the world” and “40 under 40 best and the brightest.” Sucheta has traveled to over 100 countries and all 7 continents.
