Boating Around Sint Maarten — Saint-Martin

island-guide Mar 6, 2026

Sint Maarten offers more by water than most visitors realize. From the island's various ports, day trips reach the neighboring islands of St. Barths, Anguilla, Saba, and Sint Eustatius. Closer to home, the waters around the island include sheltered lagoons, uninhabited islets, and coastlines accessible only by boat.

The Simpson Bay Lagoon

The Simpson Bay Lagoon is the Caribbean's largest saltwater lagoon — several square miles of protected water connecting the Dutch side with the northern French half. Large enough for full-size yachts, calm enough for beginners. During winter months, hundreds of yachts anchor here and the lagoon becomes a floating community in its own right.

A word of honest expectation: the Simpson Bay Lagoon is not the Blue Lagoon. It is an active working body of water — ferries serve Anguilla from here, residents commute by boat rather than car, and the eastern end near Cole Bay has pollution from the settlement. The main lagoon, however, has excellent water quality, continuously monitored by French side authorities, with healthy marine life throughout and conditions suitable for swimming and snorkelling.

The lagoon connects to the open sea through a channel under a drawbridge at Simpson Bay, which opens several times daily to allow yachts of up to 300 feet through to the marinas inside. A second drawbridge on the northern side leads to Marigot. Boats, kayaks, and small motorcraft can be rented from several companies in Simpson Bay. Many bars and restaurants along the Dutch shore have docking for arriving boats.

Explorer Island sits in the center of the lagoon — a small uninhabited island with a beach and palm trees, ideal for a picnic or a sunset stop. Further west, the shores of Terres Basses reveal the million-dollar estate homes of one of the island's most exclusive neighborhoods, technically part of France. To the north, Baie Nettle's low-rise hotels and condominiums line the sandy shore before the channel opens to Marigot's Marina Royale — a European-style yacht harbor with restaurants, elegant shops, and a dinghy dock for visitors arriving by water.

Practical Advice for Smaller Boats

The lagoon is safe in almost any weather. The open sea is another matter. The trade winds that make the Lesser Antilles so appealing to ocean-going sailboats can create uncomfortable chop for a modest runabout. The eastern Atlantic coast of Saint-Martin is exposed and unsuitable for small craft at most times. The northern coast — from Marigot along Friar's Bay to Grand Case — offers more protection and is generally navigable on calm days.

One rule without exceptions: do not go out on open water without a VHF radio. A mobile phone is not a substitute. If the engine fails, you need to be able to call for assistance.