Sint Maarten

Today we find ourselves on the picturesque island of Sint Maarten.This is not the first time i have visited the island, so i have decided to sail to the Dutch halve of this small island and investigate Marigot, before returning cross country to its capitol, Philipsburg.

Although sighted by Christopher COLUMBUS in 1493 and claimed for Spain, it was the Dutch who occupied the island in 1631 and began exploiting its salt deposits.

Spain finally relinquished the island of Saint Martin to the French and Dutch, who divided it between themselves in 1648, and it has remained a divided island up to the present.

Saint Martin is the smallest island in the northeast Caribbean Sea divided between 2 nations:

The French Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The northern half, Saint Martin, is the French side. It is an Overseas Collectivity of France. As part of France, it is a member of the European Union.

The first part of our adventure is aboard a catamaran, sailing around the island to Marigot.

The southern half of Saint Maarten, is the Dutch side. Sint Maarten is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a separate country from the Netherlands with its own government and Customs authority.

The only international airport on the island is Princess Juliana International Airport, which is located on the Dutch side. There is no physical border and no Customs checkpoints between the two sides of the island, and travel between the two sides is not strictly monitored or controlled.

Philipsburg the islands capitol is a four-street runway, all less than a mile long, filled with vibrantly coloured houses, shops, and restaurants, making the Dutch Side capital easy to explore. Located between the Great Bay Beach and the Great Salt Pond, both contribute to the island’s biodiversity and beauty.

St Maarten is guarded by a chain of lush green hills with peaks that display breathtaking views of the valleys, sea and neighbouring islands. Its mountainous landscape is connected by a simple road network which allows for easy access to the whole island. A great place to visit.