Saint Martin, or Sint Maarten, is known as the "island of 36 beaches". With so many beaches, how do you choose? Sure, you can just go to the one closest to your hotel (chances are there is one), but you might be missing out. Since Saint Martin is such a small island, it's easy to "beach hop", or spend a day driving around, finding beaches, and picking your favorite to spend the rest of your vacation at. In case you can't do that though, I've compiled a list of my three favorite beaches on Saint Martin.
1. Friar's Bay Beach
This beach is one of the less populated beaches on the island, though it's not really completely empty. There is a restaurant on the beach as well as chair rentals. Why this beach is my top favorite is because of the soft sand, the crystal clear warm water, and the length of the beach, which makes you feel as though you're one of the only people on the island. The waves are perfectly calm, allowing you to swim out fairly far without risk of being pulled out to sea. The clear water allows you to see straight to the sand (so you can see if there are any critters around) and the beach is almost completely devoid of seaweed. It is also very close to almost all of the major hotels on the island, and there is a dirt path that cars can drive down, providing easy access.
2. Baie Rouge (or Red Bay Beach)
This next beach is on the list simply for the activity that it provides. Apart from having pretty awesome waves, water, and scenery (but let's face it, which beach on Saint Martin doesn't have amazing water?), this beach has a challenging swim, which my family and I have affectionately dubbed the "Death Swim". You start on the beach at Baie Rouge, and on the right you will see a large rock outcropping. If you swim around this (to the right) you will see another, much more secluded beach and a natural rock archway. If you swim through that rock archway, then there is another beach and another archway waiting for you. While this swim doesn't really accomplish anything besides leaving you feeling awesome and exhausted, it is really fun. Be warned though: extremely experienced and strong swimmers only. I would also advise wearing water shoes because the rocks towards the first archway are extremely uneven and the tide is really strong (it will pull and push you into rocks). If you're able and have friends that are willing to go with you, Baie Rouge offers an adventure!
3. Happy Bay Beach
Happy Bay Beach is on this list simply because of how secluded it is. While it is a little tough to find, the drive is totally worth it. The beach is approximately a 10 minute hike through a wooded area from where you can park your car. I was fine in water shoes, but I definitely would not recommend flip flops for this walk. Once you clear the woods, the sight that awaits is absolutely breath-taking. Happy Bay Beach has gorgeous water with waves that are slightly rougher than other beaches on the island, and the beach stretches on and on. The shoreline is littered with natural rock formations and tide pools that are just big enough for a few people to sit and relax in, creating the feeling of privacy.
While there are definitely other amazing beaches on Saint Martin, these three encompass the epitome of what you should look for in a tropical vacation- a little adventure, a little hiking, and lots of warmth, waves, and fun!
