Quick Facts
| Currency | Euro (1 USD ≈ 0.94 Euros) or Netherlands Antillean guilder (1.79 USD = 1 guilder)* |
| Population | 32,489 in Saint Martin and 41,177 in Sint Maarten |
| Primary Language(s) | French and Dutch |
| Independence | None! |
*The Netherlands Antillean guilder is set to be dissolved in the near future, to be replaced with the Caribbean guilder. However, both sides of the island will accept euros or even US dollars given their relationship with France, the Netherlands and the United States
Looking for a relaxing week away from it all? Look no further than the Caribbean Island of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin!
This duel protectorate island is located in the northern part of the leeward islands in the Caribbean. Half the island is a constituent country of the Netherlands, the other half is an overseas collectivity of France. The island was devastated by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and is still recovering.
While we were there, we didn’t spend much time exploring Saint Martin. Because of the pandemic (especially the emergence of the omicron variant towards the end of our trip), we chose to keep to ourselves. However, we did go out and explore Marigot. Here are our suggestions for what to see and eat in Marigot, Saint Martin, Caribbean!
Walk up to Fort St. Louis
Fort St. Louis was a fort built to protect Marigot in the late 1700’s. The vantage point from the fort is amazing. Overlooking Marigot and the Simpson Bay Lagoon, you can watch planes land at Princess Juliana International Airport here, or just watch the boats bob in the port. The walk up is rather steep from the parking lot (there are maybe 75-100 steps), but the views are worth it! This is also a great place to see some local wildlife. We saw maybe 5 iguanas in the 20 minutes that we were there.
Wander the Marigot Market
The Marigot Market is located near the Marigot Port and is full of vendors selling everything from fish to souvenirs. We decided not to buy anything this trip, but there was a great selection of everything from keychains to t-shirts to hand crafted wooden items. It’s definitely worth a stroll. Be sure to bring cash!
Questions we got from family
- Did you need to know French in Marigot?
While it would have definitely been beneficial to speak French, most of the locals speak French, English, and the local dialect. They are happy to speak to you in the language you prefer! I think reading French would be most beneficial if you plan on cooking your own meals and need to purchase food from the grocery store. Luckily, Brittany spent a summer in France and knew what items to buy 😊
- Where is the best place to stay in St. Martin?
St. Martin has no shortage of places to stay. We chose Marigot because we were looking for a nice relaxing week. Our AirBnb had it’s own private beach and the market was right across the street. If you are looking for adventure, I would suggest checking out Orient Bay on the French side. If you are looking for nightlife or gambling, I would recommend Philipsburg on the Dutch Side. I really think there’s something for everyone on the island!
- So you just drove from one side to the other? No border control?
Yep! We got a taxi at Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch side, told our driver we were staying in Marigot and off she went! There’s signs on the side of the road that say you are crossing into the French side, but there is no border control between the sides.
- Is the water really that clear?
Yes.
- Would you go back?
Yes! We are typically adventurous people. For us to sit and read/work for a week without doing anything is very, very rare. There is so much to do on the island that we missed. We would definitely go back and do a rum tour, parasailing, snorkeling, kayaking, etc.
- How’s the food?
You tell us! Here’s just some of the fresh seafood we had during our time on the island!
Oh and don’t forget, you’re in the Caribbean, have some rum!
