Sint Maarten

Sint Maartin

Sint Maartin

Sint Maartin (Dutch) or St-Martin (French – see under French Antilles) The island is shared amicably by the Dutch, who have the southern 37 sq km of the island, and the French,calling their half Saint-Martin, who own the northern 52 sq km, an arrangement settled by the 1648 Treaty of Mount Concordia.

Sint Maarten: Country profile and Map

GEOGRAPHY:
St. Maarten is 1,690 air mls south of New York and 150 mls east of Puerto Rico. The total land area is 37 sq mls with the southern portion of the island, Dutch St. Maarten, comprising 16 sq mls. The capital is Philipsburg.

History of Sint Maarten

The Amerindians who originally settled on the island named it Sualouiga, meaning land of salt. The belief that Columbus discovered the island on his second voyage in 1493 is disputed, with historians now claiming it was Nevis he named St Martin of Tours, and that later Spanish explorers misinterpreted his maps.

Flora & Fauna of Sint Maarten

In 1997 the Nature Foundation Sint Maarten (T20267, F20268) was set up, with assistance from the WWF, to protect and manage natural parks and educate the general population and students on their significance. Two parks form the initial programme, a marine park covering the coastal waters and some adjacent coastline from Oyster Bay to Cupecoy Beach, and a hillside park in the Cul-De-Sac area.

Sint Maarten: Useful information

TOURIST OFFICES:

Saint Martin (Main Official)
Office de Tourisme
Accueil & Administration
Rte de Sandy Ground - Marigot
97150 Saint Martin
Tel:(590) (0) 590 87 57 21
Fax:(590) (0) 59087 56 43
E-mail:info@st-martin.org

Sint Maarten Tourist Information

Local Tourist Offices: Imperial building, 23 Walter Nisbeth Rd, 3rd Flr, T22337, F22734,Well supplied with brochures and guides to St Maarten, and the monthly St Maarten Holiday. Sightseeing tours available by bus or by car.

Before Travelling to Sint Maarten

In addition, under a 1994 Franco-Dutch immigration accord, visitors to Dutch Sint Maarten have to meet French immigration criteria, even if not visiting the French side. Therefore, many nationalities now have to obtain a French visa before embarking on a shopping trip to Philipsburg. The local immigration officials are particularly concerned that you fill in your tourist card with a hotel address, even if you do not know whether you’ll be staying there.

Sint Maarten - What to see and do

DINING:
Restaurants available Local. Fast food. Caribbean. International. Gourmet. Seafood. Steakhouses. Chinese. Italian. French. Mexican. Cuban. Indonesian. Indian & Thai. Service charge of 15% is usually added to restaurant bills.

NIGHTLIFE:

Philipsburg - the capital of Sint Maarten

Philipsburg, the capital of Dutch St Maarten, is built on a narrow strip of sandy land between the sea and a shallow lake which was once a salt pond. It has two main streets, Front and Back, and a ringroad built on land reclaimed from the salt pond, which all run parallel to Great Bay Beach, perhaps the safest and cleanest city beach anywhere.

Sint Maarten - Getting There

No fee yet for Simpson Lagoon bridge. Dutch bridge openings 0600, 1100, and 1730, outbound boats first. The French side opens Monday-Saturday 0900, 1400, 1730, Sunday 0900, 1730. Good groceries and laundry in Lagoon. Radio net VHF 78 at 0730. Send mail with someone flying out or Federal Express. Duty free Caribbean headquarters for boat parts, outboard motors, beer.

Getting Around in Sint Maarten

Foreign and international driver’s licences are accepted. Drive on the right. The speed limit is 40 km per hour in urban areas, 60 km per hour outside town, unless there are other signs. The roads on both sides of the island are very busy and full of pot holes, making them rather unsafe for mopeds or walking, particularly at night. Hitchhiking is possible but allow 30 mins waiting time; it is not recommended for women.

Sint Maarten Festivals

Carnival: Carnival starts in mid-April and lasts for three weeks, culminating in the burning of King Mouí-Mouí. It is one of the biggest in the area, with up to 100,000 people taking part. Most events are held at the Carnival Village, next to the University.

Sint Maarten: Money / Business guide

BANKS:
RBBT. The Bank of Nova Scotia. Bank Van de Nederlandse Antillen. Barclays Bank. SFT. N.V. The Windward Islands Bank.

BANKING HOURS:
Monday to Thursday 0830 1530 and Friday 0830 1630.

BUSINESS HOURS:
Shops 0800 1200 and 1400 1800 (Stores open during lunch hour).

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS:

Shopping in Sint Maarten

Duty-free shopping is a tourist attraction, but it helps if you have an idea of prices at home to compare, and shop around as prices vary. In the electronics and camera shops many outdated models are on display. European visitors planning to take home hi-fi or domestic appliances should make sure that they can be switched to 220 volts. Check your duty-free allowance when returning home.

Diving & Marine Life of Sint Maarten

Water visibility is usually 23-38 metres and the water temperature averages over 21°C, which makes good snorkelling and scuba diving, from beaches or boats. Wreck Alley on Proselyte Reef, has several wrecks which can be explored on one dive.