St Maarten

St. Maarten: Jeep Tour Dutch & French Sides with Beach

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Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/9

Duration3h 30m

GroupUp to 40

LanguagesEN · FR +1

PickupAt your hotel

Drive Both Sides of St. Maarten in One Jeep, Ending at the Beach

You drive your own Jeep (or ride as a passenger) across both sides of St. Maarten with a guide leading the way via radio. The route includes overhead jet landings at Maho Beach, a nature reserve stop on the French side, the unmarked border at Oyster Pond, and ends with a swim and beach time at Philipsburg. No border formalities, small groups, and you're back at the cruise port in time to relax before departure.

3h 30m

Step-by-step itinerary

Watch jet landings at Airport Beach
Visit Lucas Bay nature reserve
Pass through Oyster Pond community
Relax and swim at Great Bay beach

The Experience

Yeah, so you're basically steering your own Jeep around the whole island in a few hours — which sounds wild until you realize the guide in the lead Jeep is radioing ahead the whole time, and you're just following the route. The loop hits both the Dutch and French sides without any border hassle (there's literally just a sign on the road), and you stop at Maho Beach first, where the planes come in so low you can practically wave at the pilots. It's the kind of thing that looks unreal in photos, but standing there with the jet overhead and the beach right there, you get why people make it a must-do.

After Maho you head into the quieter side of things — Lucas Bay on the French side, where the water's shallow and the nature reserve is just peaceful. You're not swimming there, just cooling off your feet if you want. Then you loop through Oyster Pond, which is this half-French, half-Dutch residential area perched on a hill overlooking two resort beaches. The guide points out the border marker (spoiler: it's tiny) and explains how the whole thing just works without paperwork. It's the kind of detail that makes you realize how small and interconnected this island actually is.

The Jeep tour wraps at Philipsburg Beach, which is the 2-mile stretch right in front of the cruise port. Three-quarters of it is lined with the Boardwalk — bars, restaurants, shops, the whole thing — and the other quarter is basically empty sand if you want quiet. You get time to swim, walk around, grab lunch if you're hungry, and there's good photo stuff nearby: old Creole houses with the gingerbread trim, Front Street for shopping if that's your thing. The whole day is paced so you're not rushed, and since you're driving yourself (with a valid physical license), you control the speed and can linger at stops.

Max five people per Jeep, so it stays small. You'll need to bring your actual driver's license — not a photo on your phone — if you want to be behind the wheel. When you book, just let them know your ship name or where you're staying on-island so they can time the return right.

What’s included

Your tour includes a local guide, use of a Jeep with fuel, and radio communication between your vehicle and the guide's Jeep. You'll visit Maho Beach (for the jet landings), Lucas Bay on the French side, Oyster Pond, and finish with a swim and beach time at Philipsburg Beach near the cruise port.

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Blue Bubbles

Is this one for you?A good fit if you want to see both sides of the island without arranging your own transport or worrying about timing — the guide handles the route and radio communication, and the return is timed to get you back to the ship or your accommodation without stress.