St. Maarten & St. Martin tour: both islands in one day
Planes landing meters overhead at Maho Beach
A full-day tour of St. Maarten and St. Martin covering both the Dutch and French sides, with stops at Orient Beach, the iguana farm, Marigot's capital shops, Fort St. Louis overlooking Anguilla, and Maho Beach for plane-spotting. The tour runs about six hours with a live English-speaking guide, air-conditioned transport, bottled water included, and hotel or ship dropoff at the end.
4h–5h
Step-by-step itinerary
Explore St.Maarten and St.Martin highlights
- Start tour at 9 am
- Reef photo shoot (10 mins)
- Iguana park photo shoot (10 mins)
- Visit Orient Bay Beach (1 hr)
- Visit Marigot and Fort St. Louis (30 mins)
- Border Monument photo shoot (10 mins)
- Planespotting at Maho Beach (2 hrs)
- End tour with drop-off options
The Experience
The day starts at 9 am and moves through both nations without backtracking. You'll spend an hour at Orient Beach, one of the island's most visited stretches of sand, then cross into the French side to browse Marigot's shops and catch the view from Fort St. Louis before hitting the border monument. The real draw is Maho Beach, where planes descend so close overhead you can read their fuselage numbers—two hours there gives you time to watch multiple landings and take photos from the runway-adjacent beach.
Transport is air-conditioned throughout, with water provided. The itinerary also includes quick stops at the iguana farm and a photo point at Cole Bay Hill with the St. Maarten flag. Dropoff happens at your hotel, the cruise ship, or downtown Philipsburg, so you can spend the rest of your day however you want. A minimum of four people is required for the tour to run.
What’s included
- Air-conditioned vehicle with private transportation.
- bottled water.
- live English-speaking guide.
- hotel, cruise ship or downtown Philipsburg dropoff.
Operated by Red Rose Island Tours
Is this one for you?The two-hour block at Maho Beach is the centerpiece—if you want plane-spotting photos and time to actually watch the landings instead of rushing through, this tour builds the day around it. The pace is steady but not rushed, with an hour at Orient Beach and a half-hour in Marigot, so you're not sprinting between stops.
Traveler reviews
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Top questions
What is Orient Beach like, and how much time do you spend there?
Orient Beach is one of St. Martin's most famous beaches and the tour includes a full hour there, giving you time to swim, walk the sand or just sit and watch the water.
Can I really see planes landing at Maho Beach, or is it just a viewpoint?
Maho Beach sits directly under the flight path to Princess Juliana International Airport—planes land and take off just meters overhead, and the tour allocates two hours there specifically for plane-spotting and photos.
Do I need to arrange my own transportation, or is pickup included?
Pickup is included; the tour provides air-conditioned transport throughout the day and drops you at your hotel, cruise ship, or downtown Philipsburg at the end.
What's the difference between the Dutch side and the French side on this tour?
You'll explore both Sint Maarten (Dutch) and Saint Martin (French) in one day, crossing the border and visiting Marigot's shops and Fort St. Louis on the French side, plus beaches and attractions on both.
Is this tour suitable for children?
Yes, children are welcome from age one, and specialized infant seats are available if needed.
How long is the full tour, and what time does it end?
The tour runs about six hours, starting at 9 am, so you'll be back by mid-afternoon with time to explore on your own or rest before dinner.
St. Maarten & St. Martin tour: both islands in one day
4h–5h · EN · at your hotel
from US$ 75 per person
★★★★★★★★★★4.8878 reviews
