Marigot Regions Guide - excursions

Grand Case
Fronted by a sweeping curve of beach the little fishing village of Grand Case, at the northern tip of St Martin, is famed for its fine foods and distinctive style of architecture. The small wooden houses are decorated in gingerbread style and painted pastel colours. Numerous good restaurateurs have chosen to congregate in the town's main street, which has become one of the finest dining centres in the eastern Caribbean.

Ilet Pinel
On the north coast of St Martin are the tiny hamlets of Anse Marcel and Cul-de-Sac, from which operate boats ferrying passengers on a two-minute hop to the uninhabited offshore islet of Ilet Pinel. Anse Marcel features some large hotels, a marina and a sandy beach, while Cul-de-Sac boasts St Martin's mayoral residence. Ilet Pinel is pristine and offers calm waters for bathing, and excellent snorkelling opportunities.

Paradise Peak
Paradise Peak, St Martin's highest point, rises from the centre of the island to a height of 1,390ft (424m), crowned with a communications tower. Visitors can climb through thick woods twisted with vines and full of colourful birds to reach the summit, where there are two observation decks providing spectacular views of the island. *Note: Following several incidents of muggings and theft from tourists and parked vehicles, visitors are advised to be cautious with their belongings when visiting the area.

Beaches
The largest and most popular beach on the island of St Martin, Orient Beach, is bursting with facilities for watersports, shops, restaurants and beach bars. The southern end of the beach has been reserved as a nudist resort. Prune Beach (or Plum Bay) is frequented by surfers while Rouge Beach offers great snorkelling and is regarded as the island's most beautiful. Long Beach is on the border with Dutch St Maarten and has little shade and generally no breeze, so it is known as a hot spot. Le Galion Beach is the island's best windsurfing beach and has shallow, calm waters. Anse Marcel in the north is usually quiet and favoured by French tourists. Friars Bay just north of Marigot is backed by a lagoon containing various waterfowl, and just north of Friars is Happy Bay, beautiful and peaceful because of its inaccessibility. Reaching Happy Bay requires a 10-minute uphill walk from Friars.