Come to the little France in the Caribbean, St. Martin
Although St. Martin is less developed than the Dutch Sint Maarten, its capital which is prettily name Marigot offers superb shopping opportunities, water sports and great cafes. Like its Dutch counterpart, it's a duty-free paradise, chock-full of chic perfume, jewellery and fashion shops.
The town boasts two commercial centers. a public market around the harbor front selling food and souvenirs and the Port La Royale Marina, which is surrounded by a cluster of restaurants and boutiques that spill out onto bustling Rue du Général de Gaulle. Although at first glance Marigot, with all its boutiques and cafés, seems très French, it also has a rich Caribbean side that becomes more apparent the more away you go from the harbor.
Aside from shopping and fine French food, Marigot has a couple of key tourist attractions. Fort Louis (also called Fort de Marigot) consists of little more than some partially intact stonewalls and a couple of cannons where its hilltop locale offers fine views of Marigot and Simpson Bay. You can also come to St Martin Archaeological Museum, on the road to Sandy Ground. The nicely presented museum focuses on the Arawak Period, with shell amulets, bone artifacts, arrow points and pottery pieces illustrating the culture of the island's early Amerindian inhabitants. They also display the town's recent history.
Marigot is so small you can easily stagger from boat to bar to bed without losing your way. Places to eat can be found either at the marina or in downtown Marigot. Port La Royale Marina, at the southern end of town, is lined with fiercely competitive restaurants offering everything from pizza to seafood and nouvelle cuisine. Downtown at the harbor front public market you'll find a mix of bars, lolos (sidewalk barbecues) and French restaurants. There is also a waterfront produce market and a modern supermarket on the north side of town.
Îlet Pinel
Just a kilometre (half a mile) offshore, pristine Îlet Pinel is a popular day trip from French Cul-de-Sac, a small seaside community on the northeast tips of St Martin. The calm waters of the west-facing beach offer good swimming and there is even a specially marked-out snorkeling area - you can hire gear from a water-sports hut. If you get hungry, there are a couple of lolos on hand selling barbecued chicken. With its picture-postcard white sand, this islet understandably attracts hordes of people.
Orient Beach
If you have a desire to get back to nature, head to the clothing-optional Orient Beach. Just below French Cul-de-Sac, the beach is a splendid, gently curving sweep of white sand and bright turquoise water. Famous for its naturist resort, Club Orient, the beach is also a great place for water sports - with or without a bathing suit. The bay is an underwater nature reserve, and the generally calm waters make for good swimming. Windsurfing, Hobie Cat sailing and jet skiing are also available.
Oyster Pond
A bi-cultural experience you can taste in the water at Oyster Pond. This bay, oyster-like in shape, straddles both French and Dutch territory on the east side of the island. The French half of the bay is home to most of the accommodation as well as a marina. The best beach, Dawn Beach, falls on the Dutch side. For a good vantage of the Pond, take the short path leading up the cactus-studded hill on the northeast side of the bay.
Grand Case
Gratify your stomach and eat yourself inane in Grand Case. This small beachside town has been dubbed the 'gourmet capital of St Martin'. Its beachfront road is lined with loads of top-notch places to eat, from local lolos to fancy French restaurants. Some places open for lunch, but you should head on over in the evening, when this melting pot of Caribbean cuisines is at its liveliest.
Pic Paradis (Paradise Peak)
Paradise Peak, crowned by a communications tower, is the highest point in St Martin. It offers woods thick with vine-covered trees, colourful forest birds, good hiking and expansive vistas of both sides of the island.
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