St. Maarten Beaches and Volunteer Work

There are really 37 beaches here on the island of St. Maarten!  They vary in size from the large, popular tourist beaches to a tiny beach for two.  Some of the beaches can only be reached from the water.  The one that most of you will recognize is Maho Bay, a little beach at the end of the runway with low flying aircraft where everyone meets at Sunset Beach Bar.  Mullet Bay is very popular and is the expected Caribbean beach with lots of white sand, palm trees and a fringe of sea grapes on the beach.  Orient Beach is on the windward side of the island but protected by the reefs and the southern end is clothing optional with a naturalist resort, no cameras allowed!  Tintamarre Island is only accessible by boat and has not only white sand, but many sea turtles.  Dawn Beach, the location of Oyster Bay Beach Resort, at one time had pink sand before a resort filled the mangrove pond.  Pinel Island has a great beach for snorkeling and requires a water taxi ride.

Anse Marcel is on the north side of the island and protected by the high hills allowing a calm place to anchor.  Grand Case beach is not very wide, but lovely and filled with some of the best French restaurants on the island.  Friar’s Bay is a bit rough by road, but one of our favorite beaches with two good restaurants and plenty of beach chairs.  Happy Bay, clothing optional, is only reachable by water or a walk up and over the hill from Friar’s Bay and is a frequent stop for daytime snorkeling trips.  Long Bay is beautiful, with one of the most expensive resorts on the island with only access by water.  Cupecoy has beautiful sandstone cliffs producing coves and caves and clothing optional.  Great Bay in Phillipsburg is the cruise ship port with a large beach created by the dredging of the cruise ship terminal.  A big beach, many restaurants, and duty free shopping – what else do you need?  Simspon Bay Beach is one of the longest and nicest beaches, and our favorite on the eastern side with white sand and Caribbean clear blue water with a great view of the bay. 

We are staying at one of the IGY marinas here and they support their community with volunteers and donations.  We were asked to volunteer to paint a foster home ran for many years privately by a lovely, generous couple.  They currently have 20 children and five of them are 1 year old or younger.  About 30 volunteers headed off to the foster home and painted 14 rooms and part of the outside of the huge home in the mountains in one day!  It was so gratifying to see the transformation for these kids, and some of them helped with the project.  IGY Marina fed us, gave us t-shirts, caps, drinks and a thank you party at the end of the day.  We also met some new cruising friends, too!  Love this island!