Saint Martin

Saint Martin offers sheltered anchoring and marina options on both sides of the island, with most activity centered around Simpson Bay Lagoon. Sailors are attracted by the wide range of yachting services, easy entrance procedures and good availability of French food and wines.

Fort Louis is an easy walk from Marigot harbour and gives clear views over the bay, lagoon entrance, and nearby anchorages.​

There are several hiking options on the island, including the popular trail up Pic Paradis, the highest point on Saint Martin, which offers expansive views across the island.​

Saint Martin also has many beaches, with several sandy bays offering accessible swimming and snorkelling within short sailing or dinghy range of the main anchorages.​

Places to stay

Below are the most popular and highly rated places to stay, based on reviews from the noforeignland community:

Anchorages

	Happy Bay ★ 4.7 Moorings feature sand with reliable holding in 15-20ft of water. The area can be rolly even in calm conditions, though it remains tolerable. Visitors appreciate the low light pollution, enhancing stargazing opportunities.
	Grand Case ★ 4.3 Anchorage offers good holding and access to a charming town filled with restaurants and shops. The area can be prone to gusty winds, creating difficulties with anchoring in certain spots. Visitors appreciate the clear waters and various dining options, but caution is necessary regarding wind conditions.
	Guichard And Friars Bay ★ 4.2 Conditions vary, with some reports noting significant wake from passing traffic, especially during the day. Beaches are accessible, offering clear water and amenities, although dinghy landing and shore walks can pose challenges. Overall, the anchorage is considered calm at night.
	Long Bay ★ 4.2 Conditions vary with swell impacting stability. Daytime sees a busy anchorage, while nights offer quiet. Visitors appreciate the clear water and beach access.
	Anse Marcel ★ 3.9 The anchorage experiences significant roll from incoming swells, particularly from the north. Check-in for customs is efficient and the holding ground is acceptable, although some visitors mention issues with odors depending on wind direction. Nearby amenities include a restaurant and a mini-market.
	Orient Bay ★ 3.8 The anchorage is marked by variable swell conditions and offers no dock for dinghies, making landings challenging. While it is suitable for kitesurfing and wingsurfing, several visitors found it uncomfortable for anchoring due to the rolling seas. Access to the beach varies, with erosion noted in certain areas.
	Simpson Lagoon - French Side ★ 3.7 Protection is afforded from various directions in this anchorage, with good holding in mud. Water quality is poor, and there are disturbances from fast boats and jet skis. The area is quieter on the French side compared to the Dutch side.
	Marigot ★ 3.5 Marigot Bay features good holding and convenient access to provisioning and services. Expect some choppy conditions due to traffic, with specific areas experiencing rolling swells. Clear checks can be completed at local chandleries, but be cautious of strong wakes from ferries and powerboats.
	Potence Bay ★ 3.0 Access to Potence Bay is feasible for anchoring on sand, with good holding noted by multiple visitors. However, noise and wake from passing ferries create discomfort, particularly during strong easterly winds, leading to an unpleasant experience for some.

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Marinas

	Anse Marcel Marina ★ 4.3 The marina offers a calm environment, with a polite and competent staff. Facilities include restaurants, bars, and shops. Be prepared for limited shore power compatibility and potential charges from the harbor master for clearance services.
	Marina Fort Louis ★ 3.1 Service at the marina is variable. While some visitors note helpful staff, multiple reviews mention difficulties with reachability and limited availability. Facilities are considered adequate, but there are concerns about unhelpful responses during emergencies.

Moorings

No image	Grand Islet Buoy ★ 5.0 Well-maintained mooring buoys are provided by Ton and Dominique. They offer support during arrival and assist with boat maintenance while you travel, which includes running equipment like water makers. Fresh baguettes are delivered on Sundays, enhancing the service experience.
	Tintamarre Moorings ★ 4.5 The mooring balls are in good shape, with 15 well-maintained options available. Reservations must be made at least 48 hours in advance for overnight stays. Visitors may encounter some rolly conditions, particularly in light northeast winds.
	Marigot Mooring Field ★ 2.0 Mooring buoys have design issues, leading to chafing lines and safety concerns. Gusty winds and boat traffic can result in drifting yachts. Recent reviews report multiple incidents of broken buoys and damaged lines, cautioning visitors to check installations thoroughly.

Boat services

Below are the most popular and highly rated boat services, based on reviews from the noforeignland community:

Boatyards

	Geminga boat Yard ★ 5.0 Service at the boat yard is recognized for its friendliness and solutions orientation. Multiple reviews highlight the yard's affordability and the presence of capable staff. Visitors should check recent Reviews for additional context or updates.
	Time Out Boat Yard ★ 4.8 Hurricane storage is available, and staff communication is efficient. Visitors reported a sense of community on-site, as well as positive experiences with various technicians. Overall, many appreciate the yard's clean facilities and well-organized operations.

Chandlers

	Boat Paint and Stuff ★ 5.0 Service includes a selection of boat building supplies like fiberglass, resins, and core materials. Inventory is consistently stocked, and fair pricing is noted. Gilles is recognized for being friendly and attentive, contributing to a positive shopping experience.
	Ile Marine Chandlery ★ 4.6 The chandlery is well stocked for its size, with helpful staff available. Visitors can expect good prices and convenience with easy access to the dock. Customs clearance is also available at the entrance.
	Island Water World Marigot ★ 3.6 Encountered issues with staff interactions at Island Water World, particularly regarding return experiences, where customers reported aggressive behavior and a lack of professionalism. However, several visitors appreciated the inventory and helpfulness of staff, finding it well stocked with hard-to-find items.

Useful yacht clearance links:

Yacht clearance reviews

The following lists summarize noforeignland user reviews for clearing in at ports of entry and when using clearance agents in Saint Martin:

Charts of Saint Martin's waters are generally reliable, but care should be exercised around shoal areas, particularly near the entrances to the lagoon.

Off‑season in Saint Martin still sees activity in the lagoon and nearby marinas, with facilities open for haul‑outs, refits, and long‑term berthing. Crews who prefer to sit out the main hurricane period often relocate further south, while those who remain monitor forecasts closely and follow local yard or marina guidance.

• Best times of year to sail here: December to April
• Most common type of shore power: 220–240V, 60 Hz
• Cost for provisioning: Medium/Low (generally cheaper than the other French islands)
• Currency: Euro
• Personal security: Generally safe, with occasional petty crime.
• Emergency phone numbers:
  • Police 17
  • Medical 15
  • Fire 18
• International dialing code: +590
• Time zone(s): UTC -4

Saint Martin was first settled by Amerindian peoples, including groups later known as Arawaks and Caribs, who moved through the Lesser Antilles by canoe and used local bays for fishing and coastal travel. European powers arrived in the early colonial period, and by the 17th century France and the Netherlands both claimed the island, eventually agreeing to share it under the Treaty of Concordia.

Through the following centuries, anchorages around the island supported regional trade in sugar, salt, and other goods, with small forts and batteries built to watch over the approaches. Remains such as Fort Louis above Marigot still overlook the harbour and give a clear view of how the main bay was used to shelter trading and supply vessels.

In recent decades, Saint Martin has developed into a busy service centre for yachts, with marinas, haul‑out facilities, and chandleries around Marigot and Simpson Bay Lagoon. The island also hosts regular regattas and cruising events, adding a steady flow of visiting boats alongside the charter and refit activity that now dominate its maritime traffic.