Saint Martin

Saint Martin offers sheltered anchoring and marina options on both sides of the island, with most activity centered around Simpson Bay Lagoon. Sailors are attracted by the wide range of yachting services, easy entrance procedures and good availability of French food and wines.

Fort Louis is an easy walk from Marigot harbour and gives clear views over the bay, lagoon entrance, and nearby anchorages.​

There are several hiking options on the island, including the popular trail up Pic Paradis, the highest point on Saint Martin, which offers expansive views across the island.​

Saint Martin also has many beaches, with several sandy bays offering accessible swimming and snorkelling within short sailing or dinghy range of the main anchorages.​

Places to stay

Below are the most popular and highly rated places to stay, based on reviews from the noforeignland community:

Anchorages

	Grand Case ★ 4.3 Anchorage offers good holding and access to a charming town filled with restaurants and shops. The area can be prone to gusty winds, creating difficulties with anchoring in certain spots. Visitors appreciate the clear waters and various dining options, but caution is necessary regarding wind conditions.
	Long Bay ★ 4.3 Little rolling can occur due to medium swells despite generally good conditions. The beach is praised for its beauty, and visitors appreciate the quietness during the night compared to busier daytime hours.
	Guichard And Friars Bay ★ 4.2 Conditions vary, with some reports noting significant wake from passing traffic, especially during the day. Beaches are accessible, offering clear water and amenities, although dinghy landing and shore walks can pose challenges. Overall, the anchorage is considered calm at night.
	Anse Marcel ★ 3.9 The anchorage experiences significant roll from incoming swells, particularly from the north. Check-in for customs is efficient and the holding ground is acceptable, although some visitors mention issues with odors depending on wind direction. Nearby amenities include a restaurant and a mini-market.
	Orient Bay ★ 3.8 The anchorage is marked by variable swell conditions and offers no dock for dinghies, making landings challenging. While it is suitable for kitesurfing and wingsurfing, several visitors found it uncomfortable for anchoring due to the rolling seas. Access to the beach varies, with erosion noted in certain areas.
	Simpson Lagoon - French Side ★ 3.7 Protection is afforded from various directions in this anchorage, with good holding in mud. Water quality is poor, and there are disturbances from fast boats and jet skis. The area is quieter on the French side compared to the Dutch side.
	Marigot ★ 3.5 Marigot Bay features good holding and convenient access to provisioning and services. Expect some choppy conditions due to traffic, with specific areas experiencing rolling swells. Clear checks can be completed at local chandleries, but be cautious of strong wakes from ferries and powerboats.
	Potence Bay ★ 2.9 Anchoring is possible on sand near Potence Beach, with good holding noted by several visitors. However, ferry wakes consistently disrupt the experience, leading to uncomfortable conditions. Proximity to Super U for provisioning is a noted benefit.

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Marinas

	Anse Marcel Marina ★ 4.2 Anse Marcel Marina features a calm environment with restaurants and shops. Reservations are helpful for accessing amenities and services are available, though some visitors reported issues with check-in procedures. Staff interactions were generally positive, enhancing the overall experience.
	Marina Fort Louis ★ 3.2 First-hand accounts highlight inconsistent service at this marina. While some visitors appreciated the staff's assistance during challenging conditions, issues such as limited availability and infrequent responses by the office raise concerns. Clean facilities and proximity to local amenities were noted positively.

Moorings

No image	Grand Islet Buoy ★ 5.0 Well-maintained moorings are managed by Ton and his team. Assistance is provided for picking up lines, and fresh baguettes are delivered on Sundays. Visitors appreciate the attentive service and the option for boat care while traveling.
	Tintamarre Moorings ★ 4.5 The mooring balls are in good shape, with 15 well-maintained options available. Reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance for overnight stays. Visitors may encounter some rolly conditions, particularly in light northeast winds.
	Marigot Mooring Field ★ 2.0 Mooring buoys have design issues, leading to chafing lines and safety concerns. Gusty winds and boat traffic can result in drifting yachts. Recent reviews report multiple incidents of broken buoys and damaged lines, cautioning visitors to check installations thoroughly.

Boat services

Below are the most popular and highly rated boat services, based on reviews from the noforeignland community:

Boatyards

Time Out Boat Yard ★ 4.8 Service for boat maintenance is efficient and well-organized. Supportive staff facilitate haul-out procedures, with skills in various specialties highlighted. Security is noted to be good throughout the yard, contributing to a positive experience.

Chandlers

	Boat Paint and Stuff ★ 5.0 Service includes a selection of boat building supplies like fiberglass, resins, and core materials. Inventory is consistently stocked, and fair pricing is noted. Gilles is recognized for being friendly and attentive, contributing to a positive shopping experience.
	Ile Marine Chandlery ★ 4.6 The chandlery is well stocked for its size, with helpful staff available. Visitors can expect good prices and convenience with easy access to the dock. Customs clearance is also available at the entrance.
	Island Water World Marigot ★ 4.0 The chandler stocks a variety of boating products and has helpful staff. Visitors noted that returning items can be challenging, particularly regarding exchange policies. A recent review mentions poor customer service during a return, which affected overall satisfaction.

Useful yacht clearance links:

Yacht clearance reviews

The following lists summarize noforeignland user reviews for clearing in at ports of entry and when using clearance agents in Saint Martin:

Charts of Saint Martin's waters are generally reliable, but care should be exercised around shoal areas, particularly near the entrances to the lagoon.

Off‑season in Saint Martin still sees activity in the lagoon and nearby marinas, with facilities open for haul‑outs, refits, and long‑term berthing. Crews who prefer to sit out the main hurricane period often relocate further south, while those who remain monitor forecasts closely and follow local yard or marina guidance.

• Best times of year to sail here: December to April
• Most common type of shore power: 220–240V, 60 Hz
• Cost for provisioning: Medium/Low (generally cheaper than the other French islands)
• Currency: Euro
• Personal security: Generally safe, with occasional petty crime.
• Emergency phone numbers:
  • Police 17
  • Medical 15
  • Fire 18
• International dialing code: +590
• Time zone(s): UTC -4

Saint Martin was first settled by Amerindian peoples, including groups later known as Arawaks and Caribs, who moved through the Lesser Antilles by canoe and used local bays for fishing and coastal travel. European powers arrived in the early colonial period, and by the 17th century France and the Netherlands both claimed the island, eventually agreeing to share it under the Treaty of Concordia.

Through the following centuries, anchorages around the island supported regional trade in sugar, salt, and other goods, with small forts and batteries built to watch over the approaches. Remains such as Fort Louis above Marigot still overlook the harbour and give a clear view of how the main bay was used to shelter trading and supply vessels.

In recent decades, Saint Martin has developed into a busy service centre for yachts, with marinas, haul‑out facilities, and chandleries around Marigot and Simpson Bay Lagoon. The island also hosts regular regattas and cruising events, adding a steady flow of visiting boats alongside the charter and refit activity that now dominate its maritime traffic.