ATV Riding in Philipsburg: Explore Both Sides of the Island

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.97 (206 reviews) 97% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/3

Duration3h

GroupUp to 40

LanguagesEN

Mobile ticketAccepted

Navigate rugged trails and coastal roads between St. Maarten’s French and Dutch shores

ATV riding in Philipsburg puts you behind the controls of your own single or double ATV for 3 hours, crossing the Dutch and French sides of St. Maarten with a live English-speaking guide. You get an in-depth tutorial before departure, then navigate mostly on-road with some off-road sections at a sightseeing pace, stopping at Maho & Mullet Bay to watch planes land, the Moses Walk for photos, French Quarter to feed iguanas, and Marigot, the French capital. The tour suits anyone with moderate fitness and a valid driver's license (18+); weather and traffic may shift timing between stops.

Step-by-step itinerary

UTV/ATV Guided Tour Highlights

See planes land and take off
Do Moses walk and take pictures
Feed iguanas in French Quarter
Enjoy scenery and take pictures
Pass through Marigot capital
Drive around island stops

The Experience

You'll check in at 8:30 AM for the 9 AM departure or 12:30 PM for the 1 PM tour, then spend time learning how to operate the ATV before the group rolls out. The guide leads you across the island at a pace that lets you take in the scenery—mostly paved roads with a stretch of off-road riding mixed in. Fuel is included, and you wear a helmet throughout.

The first major stop is Maho & Mullet Bay, where planes descend low enough that you can watch them land and take off from the beach. From there you'll head to the Moses Walk for photos of the surrounding landscape, then cross into the French side to French Quarter, where you can step out and feed the iguanas. The drive between stops takes roughly two hours total, though weather and traffic can shift those timings. You'll pass through Marigot, the capital of French St. Martin, before heading back to the Dutch side to wrap up.

Swimwear is recommended—you may get wet during or after the tour if you choose to swim. The weight limit per ATV is 360 pounds for a single rider or combined for a double. Late arrivals may not be accommodated, so plan to arrive at your check-in time; public transportation options are available nearby if you need them to reach the meeting point.

What’s included

Your own ATV with helmet and fuel.
an in-depth tutorial on how to operate the vehicle before departure.
a professional live guide in English leading the group across both the Dutch and French sides of the island.
multiple stops at Maho & Mullet Bay to watch planes, the Moses Walk, French Quarter to feed iguanas, and Marigot.

Good to know

Moderate physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for back problems

Operated by Island Life Explorer

Is this one for you?Choose a single ATV if you want to ride independently, or pick the double if you'd rather share the experience with a friend or family member—both let you operate the vehicle yourself instead of watching from a passenger seat, and the 3-hour loop fits comfortably into a morning or afternoon without eating the rest of your day.