Touches
of Holland and France mixed with the culture of the
Caribbean makes this an exciting area to experience.
Home to many of the mega and large yachts during the
winter, it is the starting point to visit the islands
of Anguilla, St. Barths, Saba, St. Kitts and Nevis,
and St. Eustatius with a definite stop at Tintamarie.
Anguilla
A 13-mile cruise north of our base brings you to Anguilla,
a British dependency surrounded by unspoilt coral reefs
and miles of spectacular white sand beaches. Nearby
Sandy Island is a popular offshore stop, and further
north, some of the best snorkelling and diving can be
enjoyed at Prickly Pear Cays.
St. Barts
On the west coast, Gustavia, St. Barts’ main town,
is reminiscent of provincial France
and a great place for dining ashore. Ile Fourche is
a perfect lunchtime stop on your way to St. Barts and
the snorkelling and diving here is excellent. The secluded
Baie Columbier is also regarded by many as one of the
best anchorages in the Eastern Caribbean.
St. Eustatius
Known as Statia, this is a peaceful island with a quiet
charm. Visit the spectacular walk-in volcano, which
rises in a perfect cone to 2000 feet. The clear waters
sport some exceptional reefs and hundreds of fish, perfect
for diving and snorkelling opportunities.
St. Kitts and Nevis
A 50-mile reach from St. Barts, the charming island
of St. Kitts boasts beautiful beaches and lush scenery.
You can also explore the dense rainforest on Nevis or
see the wild greenback monkeys at Golden Rock Estate.
St. Maarten is the smallest Island in the world to be
shared by two sovereign governments-namely the Dutch
and French. The Dutch side, with Philipsburg as its
capital occupies the southern 17 square miles of this
37-square-mile island; St. Martin, a French dependency,
occupies the northern half. The dual nationality adds
variety to this most unique of island gems in the Caribbean
Sea. Both Dutch St. Maarten and French St. Martin have
maintained a peaceful coexistence for over 350 years,
the longest of any two bordering nations. The two territories
have enjoyed harmonious relations through their history
and have shared the prosperity of many years without
dispute. The Treaty of Concordia executed on March 23rd
1648 established this coexistence and has the unique
distinction of being the oldest Treaty still in force
today.
As part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Dutch St.
Maarten has been both politically and economically stable.
The territory is not only a safe and pleasant place
to do business, but also to establish roots and raise
a family. The total population has grown from 13,156
in 1980 to nearly 39,000 in year 2000. It is estimated
that the population of St. Maarten consists of 77 different
nationalities. The native languages are English and
Dutch.
Infrastructure and utilities
St. Maarten has an excellent seaport and airport, which
makes the island very attractive as a hub. Government
is presently in the process of a major road enhancement
project, which includes the construction of new roads,
the re-paving of existing roads, the implementation
of roundabouts and traffic lights.
St. Maarten has a modern and up-to-par telecommunication
system. 3 companies offer telephone services and cellular
phone services. St. Maarten also several Internet providers
and a cable TV company that offers over 50 different
channels. Electricity and water is produced and distributed
at the island by Government controlled companies.
General Info
Location/Size
The island is in the Caribbean Sea, 18.02 latitude and
63.07 longitude, 150 miles southeast of Puerto Rico.
it covers 37 square miles, with Dutch St. Maarten on
the South spanning 16 square miles and French Saint
Martin on the North covering 21. The island is the smallest
landmass to be shared by two separate governments. Capitals
- Philipsburg on Great Bay is the capital of St. Maarten.
Marigot is the capital of Saint Martin.
Nationalities
As a part of the Netherlands Antilles and the Kingdom
of the Netherlands, St. Maarten boasts 77 different
nationalities. Saint Martin is a commune of Guadeloupe,
an overseas territory of France.
Languages
English is spoken everywhere, but Dutch is the official
language of St.Maarten, and French the official language
of Saint Martin. On the Dutch side, you can also hear
Spanish, Papiamentu, Italian, Hindi, Chinese, and other
languages. On the French side, Creole Patois is also
spoken
Population
41,000 people live on St.Maarten and 36,000 on Saint
Martin.
Climate
Sunny and warm year-round, with some cooling from trade
winds. Average temperature during the winter season
is 80F (27C) and a few degrees warmer anymore humid
in the summer. Occasional showers in late summer and
early fall, with average annual rainfall of 45 inches.
Airlines
Air service from the U.S. to Princess Juliana International
Airport in St. Maarten is provided by: American Airlines
direct from New York, Miami and San Juan with connecting
flights to numerous cities throughout the U.S. Plus
seasonally by: TWA from New York with connections to
other U.S. cities; by Continental from Newark, N.J.,
with connecting flights throughout the U.S.; Northwest
from Detroit and Minneapolis, with connections to other
U.S. cities; and by USAir from Charlotte and Philadelphia
with connections to other U.S. cities. In addition,
numerous charter flights are available from throughout
the continental U.S. Other airlines serving the island
include: ALM Antillean Airlines from Aruba, Curacao
and Bonaire; LIAT from Antigua, Anguilla, St. Croix,
St. Kitts, St. Thomas and Tortola; and Windward Islands
Airways (WINAIR) from St. Thomas, St. Kitts/Nevis, Saba,
St. Eustatius, Anguilla, St. Barts, Dominica and Tortola.
Entry Requirements
U.S. citizens need a valid passport or birth certificate
with raised seal and photo identification and a return/continuing
ticket. Naturalized citizens must show an original naturalization
certificate with photo identification. Green Card holders
must have a valid passport and a return/continuing ticket.
Canadian citizens need a valid passport and a return/continuing
ticket. "Landing permit" with valid passport
and return/continuing ticket.
European Community: Valid passport and a return/continuing
ticket
Customs
St. Maarten is the only completely duty-free port in
the Caribbean. No vaccination certificates are required
unless arriving from an area experiencing an epidemic.
Airport Departure Tax
For International destinations, there is a tax of US$20.00
for those age 2 and up. For islands within the Netherlands
Antilles, the departure tax is US$6.00.
Accommodations
Island accommodations range from large, comprehensive
resort facilities and condominiums to small, intimate
guest houses, timeshares and apartments. With over 2,000
rooms on the island, there is a property to suit every
taste.
Dining
St.Maarten expresses its culinary soul not by creating
a single cuisine, but by giving voice to cooking styles
from the far-flung corners of the globe. Diners can
select from more than 300 restaurants offering French,
Dutch, Caribbean, Italian, Chinese, Indonesian, Creole
and more.
Casinos
The island's 12 casinos are all on the Dutch side and
offer gaming in the European mode.
Time
St. Maarten is on Atlantic Standard Time year-round.
During the fall and winter, noon in New York equals
1 p.m. on the island. During daylight savings time in
the U.S., the hour is the same on the Eastern Seaboard
as it is on the island.
Electricity
Most hotels in St. Maarten are wired as in the U.S.:
110 volts, 60 cycles. On the French side, all run on
220 volts, 60 cycles so a converter and adaptor plugs
are needed for travel appliances.
Radio and Television
Most hotels on both sides of the island have radio and
television broadcasts in English - There is cable TV
with over 50 channels - all major US networks and some
European channels are available. Most hotels have their
own video entertainment and direct TV systems.
Satellite television reception is also available for
private homes. Including DirecTV, DISH Networks.
Newspapers
In addition to several local newspapers, visitors can
pick up one or more of the publications directed toward
them. These include St. Maarten Nature Magazine, St.
Maarten Events, Discover St. Maarten, St. Maarten Nights,
Ti Gourmet and Vacation St. Maarten.
Telephone
When dialing the Dutch side from the U.S., dial the
international access code 011, the country code 599
and the local number. Special codes are required from
one side to the other, though only a local number is
required when calling the same side.
Pet Regulations
Animals are admitted temporarily to the island with
the following papers: a health certificate dated no
more than 10 days before visit and a record of inoculations,
including a rabies shot administered no more than 30
days prior to the visit.
Marriage
A 127-year-old residency law has been changed allowing
non-residents to marry on St. Maarten.
Medical Facilities
St. Maarten Medical Center in Cay Hill and L'hospital
General de Gaulle
St. Martin in Marigot offer medical services. Airlift
is available to Puerto Rico and the continental U.S.
in case of extreme medical emergency.
St.
Martin
History
Before Columbus arrived here during his second voyage
in 1493, the island had already been inhabited for some
one thousand years. The first people to settle here
were a tribe of Arawak Indians who left their homeland
in the Orinoco basin of South America and kept migrating
upwards along the chain of islands in the Caribbean.
They gave it the name "Sualouiga" meaning
"Land of Salt" for the salt-pans and the brackish
water they found here in great abundance. The few fresh
water springs around Paradise Peak, Mount William, Billy
Folly, and in the Lowlands could only support a small
population, and this is where they mainly tended to
congregate. A number of artifacts from this period are
to be found preserved in the St.Martin Museum: On the
Trail of the Arawaks. The Arawaks were later supplanted
by a more aggressive tribe of Indians, the Caribs, who
came down from North America and for whom the entire
Caribbean is named.
Columbus never actually set foot on the island, but
rather claimed it for Spain as he was passing by. He
sighted the island on November 11, 1493, the feast of
St.Martin, thus giving the island its name. Aside from
asserting title to the place, the Spanish never took
much interest in St.Martin, so the Dutch, seeking an
outpost halfway between their colonies in Brazil and
Nieue Amsterdam (now New York), occupied the island
in 1631. The Dutch West India Company installed Jan
Claeszen van Campen as governor, erected their first
fort on the site of Fort Amsterdam, and began to mine
salt. Before long, however, the Spanish, who wished
to maintain their state monopoly in this essential preservative,
became aware of the incursion and in 1633 they recaptured
the island, expelling all of the Dutch, who then moved
on to occupy Curacao.
Over the next fifteen years, a number of abortive attempts
were made by the Dutch to reclaim their lost possession,
notably an assault led by Peter Stuyvesant in 1644 in
which the future governor of Nieue Amsterdam lost his
leg. The Spanish Commander, who was regularly besieged
during this period, asked permission after his last
victory to abandon the island, and in 1647 this right
was finally conceded to him by the King of Spain. Laborers
were brought in from Puerto Rico to dismantle the fortress,
and the Spanish set sail, leaving behind, according
to legend, a small contingent of French and Dutch who
hid on the island and then sent out to neighboring colonies
for reinforcements.
How the Dutch and French finally partitioned the island
makes for a great story. Supposedly, the two groups
held a contest. Starting at Oysterpond on the east coast,
they would walk westwards -- the French along the northern
edge, the Dutch along the southern -- and where they
met they would draw a dividing line across the island.
The French set off, having fortified themselves with
wine, the Dutch with gin. The ill effects of the gin,
however, caused the Dutchmen to stop along the way to
sleep off their drunk; consequently, the French were
able to cover a much greater distance. In truth, though,
the French had a large navy just off shore at the time
the treaty was being negotiated, and they were able
to win concessions by threat of force. The treaty was
signed on top of Mount Concordia in 1648, but despite
the reputation for peaceful cohabitation, the border
was to change another 16 times until 1815 when the Treaty
of Paris fixed the boundaries for good.
The cultivation of sugar cane introduced slavery onto
the island, and hundreds of African men, women, and
children were imported for this purpose. The French
finally abolished slavery on July 12, 1848 -- a date
now celebrated as Schoelcher Day. The Dutch slaves were
emancipated 15 years later. Following the end of slavery,
the island entered a serious depression that lasted
until 1939, when the island was declared a duty-free
port. The Dutch began developing a tourist industry
in the 1950's, but the French didn't take advantage
of this opportunity until the 1970's. St.Martin continued
its large-scale construction projects throughout the
1980's, but now most of the development has been completed,
and great care has been taken to preserve the island's
natural resources.
Today, St.Martin belongs to the prefecture of Guadeloupe
and is considered to be just another part of France.
Islanders are entitled to vote in French elections.
General info
Passports
U.S. and Canadian visitors are only required to bring
proof of citizenship (an original birth certificate)
plus a standard photo ID (such as a driver's license).
Otherwise, a valid passport or an expired passport no
more than five years old will suffice. Tourists are
granted admission (upon arrival) as tourists for 14
days (maximum 3 months, upon request). A $20 tax is
imposed upon departure from the Juliana Airport. Those
arriving on the French side may stay up to three months,
but a visa is required for longer stays. A 3 euros departure
tax is included in the price of airfare for those leaving
from Esperance Airport.
Currency
In St. Martin, Euro is the legal currency currency,
and in St. Maarten it is the Antillean florin or guilder,
but U.S. dollars are accepted everywhere. Banks are
open Monday to Friday 8:00 am to 1:00 pm, with an additional
hour on the French side Monday to Thursday 2:00 pm to
3:00 pm and on the Dutch side, Friday 4:00 pm to 5:00
pm.
Tipping
Hotels on the French side typically add 5% occupancy
tax per person, but a small gratuity is greatly appreciated
for exceptionally good service. Restaurants also add
a service charge to the bill. For taxi drivers it is
customary to tip between 50 cents and a dollar, while
porters at the airport usually get $1 per bag.
Clothing
Choice of clothing should be casual and comfortable
but neat. Swimming attire is not appreciated in hotel
lobbies or for walking around town. At night dress remains
somewhat informal, but jackets and shawls are recommended
since casinos and restaurants can get a little chilly.
Language
Officially, French is the language of St. Martin and
Dutch in St. Maarten, but almost everyone speaks English,
and many speak Spanish as well. French Creole and Papiamento,
a Creole language of the Netherlands Antilles, is spoken
here locally, especially in the southern parts of the
island.
Driving
For getting around from place to place a car is virtually
indispensable although most hotels offer shuttle service
to the casinos on the Dutch side of the island. Rental
agencies are located at both airports and at the major
hotels. Driving is on the right side of the road, and
most of the roads are in fairly good repair. Motorcycles
and mopeds are also available for hire.
Telephone
Dialing from abroad, the country code for French St.
Martin is (590)590 fallowed by the local number witch
is six digits long. The country code for Dutch St. Maarten
is (599)5 followed by the five digits of the local number.
Calls between the two countries are also international.
From St. Martin to St. Maarten, remember to use the
prefix 00599 54 then the number for fixed phones or
00599 55 or 00599 5 the the number for cellular. Calling
the other way requires the prefix 00 (590) 590 then
the number for fixed phones or 00 (590) 690 the the
number for cellular. Phone cards, which must be used
for all public phones, must be prepaid and bought at
the post office or at some stores in downtown Marigot.
Electrical Current
Electrical appliances run at 220 volts (50 Hz), following
the European standard, in St. Martin, and at 110 volts
(60 Hz), after the American standard, in St. Maarten.
Visitors to the island should bring the appropriate
converters, depending on where they plan on staying.
Poisonous Plants
The Manchionneel tree is extremely poisonous, and it
grows all over the island but mainly along the beaches.
It can be recognized by its deep green leaves and attractive
green fruit that look like little apples. Both the sap
and the fruit are caustic and will burn the skin. In
case of contact or ingestion, contact a physician or
a pharmacist immediately.
Getting Married in St. Martin
The bride or groom must be residing on the island for
at least six months prior to the wedding date. However,
Ms. Lucie Davis of "I Do Bridal Center" offers
a wedding package that requires a boat ride to nearby
Anguilla, where a marriage license can be obtained at
the magistrate's office. The ceremony and celebration
can take place back in St. Martin. Ms. Davis can also
handle all wedding arrangements from rental of gowns
and tuxedos to pictures, video, etc.
Beaches
St. Martin is famous for its beaches. They are great
in number and each distinctively attractive. To learn
more about our beaches, visit St. Martin's Beaches page.
Deep-Sea Fishing
The offshore waters offer a wide and challenging variety
of gamefish including marlin, tuna, dolphinfish, barracuda,
and kingfish. The Marlin Cup occurs in the month of
May and the Saint-Martin Billfish Tournament takes place
here every year in the month of June. Boats can be chartered
at reasonable rates all year long, although some of
the fish are only in season in these waters from December
through March. Charters typically include bait, tackle,
and some form of refreshment.
Diving & Snorkeling
Visibility in the waters around the island typically
extends for about 100 feet and sometimes can even reach
up to 200 feet. The coral reefs offer a wide variety
of sea life, and just off the coast of St. Maarten in
the Great Bay lies the wreck of an English battleship
dating back to 1801. Dive operators may be found at
many of the major resorts and hotels as well as at a
number of independent shops around the island. Instruction
from beginning to advanced is readily available, and
certified divers should remember to bring their licenses
as well as their diving logs. Equipment may be rented
easily, and snorkeling is especially inexpensive.
The Dolphin Club is opened for children (5-12) during
July & August as well as for the Christmas &
Easter vacations. Your children can take any snorkeling
equipment for free.
Blue Ocean
Tel: 0590 87 89 73
Fax: 0590 87 26 36
www.blueocean.ws
contact@blueocean.ws
Sailing
Small boats, like Sunfish and Sailfish, may be rented
out at many of the hotels, and larger craft can also
be chartered from a number of different operators around
the island for longer trips to more isolated spots like
the Ilet Pinel. Sailing instruction is also included
if desired. For racing enthusiasts, a number of regattas
are held here every year usually at the end of March.
Water Sports
Windsurfing, water-skiing, parasailing, and jet-skiing
are activities that are regularly offered at the more
popular beaches and in the inland lagoons. Rental and
instruction tend to be fairly inexpensive.
Hiking
For those who want to experience the natural beauty
of the island on foot, there are 25 miles of clearly
defined footpaths running through the mountains and
along the shore, revealing some truly spectacular panoramas.
Horseback Riding
The Coralita Beach Resort operates a small stable and
rents out horses for romantic rides along the beach.
Tennis & Squash
Tennis remains one of the favorite pastimes in St. Martin,
and there are more than 70 courts over the whole island.
Many of these are to be found in the hotels, and squash
is available at a number of sports clubs and fitness
centers. Tennis pros are on hand in several of these
places to give instruction for a modest fee. It should
be kept in mind that appropriate attire, although not
necessarily tennis whites, is required on nearly all
of the courts.
Golf
The one 18-hole golf course on the island is located
on the Dutch side of St. Maarten nearby at Mullet Bay.
The course is open to all visitors; call ahead to reserve
a slot.
Dining & Dancing
St. Martin is perhaps most famous for its restaurants
and the elegance of its cuisine. From the most sumptuous
of French delicacies to the tangy blends of Creole cooking
to more exotic tastes like Chinese and East Indian,
the island provides a wide variety of restaurants, bistros,
brassieres, and barbecue shacks called lolos that delight
even the most sophisticated of gourmets. The St. Martinois
take a deserved pride in their cooking, which approaches
something of an art form here. For dinner at most of
the more fashionable dining spots, reservations are
definitely recommended, although usually they are not
necessary at lunch time. Many places also provide music
for dancing, as do the many nightclubs around the island.
Bands play a variety of zouk, calypso, reggae, jazz,
and pop.
Duty-Free Shopping
One of the great attractions of the island has been
the duty-free shopping available on both sides of the
island. Luxury items from all over the world, French
and Italian clothing fashions, Dutch and Japanese electronics,
Indonesian batiks and Chinese embroidery, jewelry, leather,
crystal, liquors, and fine porcelain, free of all taxes
and customs, are regularly offered at bargain prices.
The French side also provides a more leisurely shopping
experience since the crowds from the cruise ships tend
to be attracted more to the Dutch side.
Casinos
French St. Martin does not have any casinos; however,
just a short ride away, are eight casinos on the Dutch
side. Most hotels provide round-trip transportation
to the casinos.
France
and a great place for dining ashore. Ile Fourche is
a perfect lunchtime stop on your way to St. Barts and
the snorkelling and diving here is excellent. The secluded
Baie Columbier is also regarded by many as one of the
best anchorages in the Eastern Caribbean.
