Philipsburg

Philipsburg

An exquisite blend of Dutch and French cultures, St. Martin boasts stunning beaches, crystal clear waters, and incredible duty-free shopping. Whether you lunch at a charming French cafe or explore the lively Dutch capital of Philipsburg, you will find the dichotomy of St. Maarten perfectly charming.

Attractions

Compete in an actual race on an America's Cup shortened course. Grind a winch, trim a sail or just sit back and enjoy. Professional sailors will give you a quick lesson, then you're off to compete on Stars and Stripes, one of the most famous sailboats in the world.

Activities

Rendezvous at one of the newest and trendiest restaurants in French St. Maarten. Explore Orient Bay, the French Riviera of the Caribbean, with over 1 1/2 miles of white-sand beaches. Admire the delicate nature and dazzling colors of hundreds of butterflies as you tour St. Maarten's popular Butterfly Farm.

Shopping

There are about 500 duty-free shops on St. Maarten with prices 25% to 50% below those in the U.S. The selection of jewelry and watches is premier on the Dutch side of St. Maarten. Friendly competition between merchants guarantees excellent prices on emeralds, diamonds, rubies, sapphires, pearls, gold and silver. St. Maarten offers a wide selection of fine jewelry and watches from such well-known designers as C2K, Caribbean Hook, Honora, House of Tanzanite, John Atencio, John Hardy, Kabana, Roberto Coin, Starnight, White Diamonds, Alfex, Concord, Faconnable, Gucci, Maurice Lacroix, Michele, Movado, Wenger, La Nouvelle Bague and more. Be sure to try a bottle of St. Maarten's own guavaberry liqueur. The guavaberry is exclusive to this island.

Currency

The official units of currency are the Netherlands Antilles guilder (ANG) and the Euro (EUR). However, U.S. dollars, traveler's checks and credit cards are widely accepted.

Weather Forecast

Sailing Calendar

Click to view sailings.