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 ★ 4.4 The anchorage features beautiful clear water and plenty of nearby dining options. Gusty winds can create challenging conditions, making anchoring somewhat difficult. Despite this, many Reviews express enjoyment of the locale and activities available ashore.
	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.
	Simpson Lagoon - French Side ★ 4.0 Anchoring in Simpson Lagoon offers good protection from swells. Multiple visitors report excellent holding ground, though there are wind gusts and traffic from fast boats during the day. The water quality raises concern due to rapid growth and overall cleanliness.
	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.
	Marigot ★ 3.6 Marigot Bay features a large anchorage suitable for various vessels with good holding. While many report significant wakes from passing ferries and powerboats, access to local amenities and dining options is noted as a convenience.
	Potence Bay ★ 3.1 The anchorage is often uncomfortable due to ferry wakes and noise. While some find it manageable, others report significant disturbances. Nearby amenities including shopping and good holding conditions are positively noted by multiple visitors.

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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

	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.
	Geminga boat Yard ★ 4.5 The boat yard offers affordable services with friendly staff who are open to solutions. Caution is advised regarding liveaboards. Multiple positive Reviews highlight the pleasant working environment and expertise of the personnel.

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 ★ 4.3 The chandlery is known for its availability of a good variety of items necessary for boating. Reviews highlight helpful staff interaction and convenient access via the dock, making it a preferred first stop for many visitors.
	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.