Caribbean Travel Journal

If you decided to spend your vacation in Caribbean and forget about city noise and traffic  you will not be able to find more suitable place than Dutch-French island St. Maarten.

When you begin your trip here, starting from your first step you feel this unique atmosphere. Reasonable question is: “Why unique?” Answer is simple: attractive and rich Latin culture here so close to free Dutch life, at the same time it’s not such wild as Central America. Anyway this is European branch of Caribbean.

St. Maarten is a beautiful 37 square mile island in the Caribbean in about 150 miles east of Puerto-Rico. It’s a small island divided between two governments: Dutch side which is 16 square miles and French side which covers remaining 21 square miles. So it’s a twice nice and you should expect both and “bonjour” and “goedemorgen”. Dutch side has capital Philipsburg and French side’s capital is Marigot. It’s real paradise and things it can offer will definitely surprise you. If you are hungry  there is a lot of food in world-class restaurants and hotels here will offer you first-class services. When your belly is full and you comfortable in your room, look outside your window on beautiful green hills, blue water and cloudless blue sky. Feel the warm sun on your face and just imagine yourself climbing on my hills, swimming in warm water and looking for local sunrise.

You can take part in annual carnival. Season is time for all people reunion. They coming here and together all of us can have fun during this 2-week period. People dressed in costumes are dancing, everybody is happy and laughing.

St.Maarten carnival, annual holiday

First of all, your trip to St. Maarten is incomplete without visit to museum. It has unique exhibition of ancient artifacts, fascinating photos about plantation life and slavery. Usually is very crowded here. Also museum shopping is organized here. Visitors also can see real videos of hurricanes and respect people, who used to live here. Sometimes they give donations. If you interested in history you can discover unique experience tasting local salt, tobacco, indigo, roam and coffee. All of this tightly came into island’s culture. Here you can find out how it was a couple of centuries ago, watch all tools, equipment, houses of slaves.

St. Maarten museum, history of slavery

Dive safari is situated close to museum. This place is opportunity to see color reefs and everything else. Sea Park is a place, surrounded with cliffs. You can simply get your gear off and cool up into beautiful water of the Caribbean. Strap your mask and go into water to explore shipwrecks, 16-sentury canon and even Scotland yellow submarine. Instructor will provide you information about safety breathing in deep salt water. Being around turtles, fishes and other water life is experience you never forget. This is underwater tour. Also you can use special underwater suite or make a trip in submarine with glass windows.

Underwater trip, shipwreck

If you want to touch marine life  enjoy deep sea fishing. There are a lot of catamarans which you can take, sunset dinner cruises, full day snorkeling trip on motorboat, dolphin trip, kids water play stations, trip where you drive your own watercraft as a captain, underwater navigation and kayak tour in largest saltwater lagoon in the Caribbean are available.

Deep sea fishing, exiting job!

After sea activities you can visit mini golf, available for everybody, learning here costs 5$ per person.

Mini golf

If you are person who is interested in nature you can visit a butterfly farm. There you can learn how to create your own butterfly farm and make a tour around (about 20-30 minutes). You don’t need to make an appointment, you just come.

Butterfly farm

Horsebackriding is the activity which you can enjoy while on island. You can take a tour to untouched parts of island. Instructor will be happy to take picture of you there.

Horse riding, horseman

Next kind of activity is parasailing  you fly like a bird in the sky behind the boat. Probably this is most unforgettable experience.

Parasailing, flight upon the sea

Tags: Dive safari, history of slavery, St. Maarten