Added: 07/09/2005 |
Two cultures ? One vacation at St. Martin IslandIn the north of the Caribbean's Lesser Antilles chain lies St. Martin island, a small territory shared by two cultures, two countries, and thousands of tourists each year. St. Martin island is divided into two halves roughly through its middle; on the southern side is St. Maarten, a Dutch dependency renowned for its restaurants, while the French dependency of St. Martin occupies the north and offers beautiful beaches and abundant water sports.
Most people will make at least a few trips to the beach while on vacation in St. Martin, but the island's strips of fine white sand are good for more than just sun-tanning. All of St. Martin's beaches are open to the public. On the Dutch side, Mullet Bay and Simpson Bay are generally considered among the best beaches, while Baie de Grand Case and Orient Beach are dominant on the French side.
To really experience the Caribbean, arrange your vacation in St. Martin to coincide with the annual Carnival celebration. This festival of parades, calypso music, and lots of good food takes place before lent on the French side and after Easter on the Dutch, and there are usually plenty of spirited visitors to share your vacation in St. Martin with during this time.
If you're looking for an active Caribbean vacation, St. Martin is the place to be. The island abounds with exciting water sports opportunities on both the French and Dutch sides. Arranging water activities at these beaches is very popular with visitors to St. Martin. Orient Beach is St. Martin's best spot to see and be seen. Orient Beach offers snorkeling excursions, parasailing and windsurfing, along with day trips like horseback rides or sailing excursions to one of the island off of Orient Beach.
Tours of St. Martin island by land, sea, and even air are widely available and make for fun day excursions. Touring with a knowledgeable guide or at the least, an informative brochure, is a great way of taking in some of St. Martin's unique cultural and ecological heritage. Most island tours will occupy several hours to a half-day, so plan in advance and schedule in some time away from the beach.
St. Martin scuba diving attracts visitors to the island because of its warm waters and excellent visibility. Beautiful coral formations and sunken ships also make St. Martin scuba diving more interesting than your run of the mill dip in the Caribbean. Off the French east coast, the Green Key barrier reef offers beautiful views. One of the most popular St. Martin scuba sites is Proselyte Reef, a sunken 200-year-old frigate that has all but been swallowed up by coral formations.
The Butterfly Farm on the French east coast is a popular destination, especially for kids. For a little history lesson, wander around Marigot and Orléans, the largest and oldest towns on the French side, respectively. Touring the Pic du Paradis in the French mountains is just about the furthest away from St. Martin scuba diving one could get, but is no less interesting. This complex of farmland and forest is perfect for a day's hike and the view from St. Martin's highest peak is beyond compare.
St. Martin is a duty-free port. The best places to find St. Martin shopping outlets are in Marigot on the French side and Philipsburg on the Dutch.
Visit St. Martin island, sometimes called the Caribbean's friendliest, if you want to experience two vacations for the price of one!
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