Tour Overview
| Duration | 8 Days / 7 Nights |
|---|---|
| Destination | St. Martin / St. Maarten — French & Dutch Caribbean |
| Price From | $2,695 per person (twin share) |
| Tour Style | Dual-Culture Island Discovery |
Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Arrive French St. Martin
Arrive in Grand Case on the French side. Check into a charming boutique hotel. Evening orientation walk along Grand Case Boulevard — the restaurant mile. Overnight in Grand Case.
Day 2: Grand Case & Northern Coast
Explore the culinary capital: cooking class with a local chef (Creole-French fusion: mahi-mahi with passion fruit, accras, coconut flan). Afternoon: hike to Petites Cayes, a remote beach accessible only by trail. Beach time and a visit to Loterie Farm, a former plantation turned into a nature sanctuary with zip-lining through the forest canopy. Overnight in Grand Case.
Day 3: Marigot & French Culture
Explore Marigot: the waterfront market, Fort St. Louis (1789) for panoramic views, and the Merveilleux bakery for the best croissants in the Caribbean. Visit a parfumerie making fragrances from local flowers. Afternoon at Friar’s Bay Beach Club for lunch and swimming. Overnight in Grand Case.
Day 4: Dutch Side Transition & Maho Beach
Move to the Dutch side. Visit Philipsburg, the Dutch capital: Front Street’s duty-free shops, the courthouse built in 1793, and the boardwalk along Great Bay. Afternoon: Maho Beach for the legendary plane-spotting — arriving jets pass just 30 meters overhead, a bucket-list aviation experience. Sunset at Sunset Bar & Grill. Overnight in Simpson Bay.
Day 5: Island Safari & Cole Bay
Full-day island safari covering both sides: Corilita Natural Reserve, Pic Paradis (the highest point at 424m, offering views of Anguilla, St. Barts, and on clear days, Saba and St. Eustatius), and hidden beaches. Lunch in a traditional “lolo” (roadside grill) for johnny cakes and jerk chicken. Overnight in Simpson Bay.
Day 6: Pinel Island Day Trip
Kayak or take a small ferry to Pinel Island, a tiny nature reserve in Orient Bay. The island is divided between two beach restaurants — the yellow umbrellas of Yellow Beach and the more laid-back Karibuni. Snorkel the marked underwater trail among green turtles. Lunch: grilled lobster on the beach. Overnight in Simpson Bay.
Day 7: St. Barts Day Trip & Farewell
Day trip to St. Barts (45 min ferry). Explore Gustavia, Shell Beach, and the Swedish clock tower. Farewell dinner: a tasting menu at a Grand Case gourmet restaurant. Overnight in Simpson Bay.
Day 8: Depart
Transfer to airport.
Inclusions
- 7 nights (3 nts Grand Case French side, 4 nts Simpson Bay Dutch side)
- Daily breakfast + 4 dinners
- Creole cooking class
- St. Barts day trip
- Pinel Island kayak/snorkel trip
- Island safari with guide
- Loterie Farm zip-line
- All transfers
