Culture

Named by Christopher Columbus after St Martin of Tours. The European colonial history of St Martin is easily visible through the island's archaeology. But the country holds on to its proud Caribbean roots through untamed rain-forest like conditions, varied indigenous wildlife and typically friendly and welcoming people.

With a fantastic blended heritage, the culture of Saint Martin is welcoming as it is colourful with influences from both Europe and the Caribbean. Features of the island's Roman Catholic religion can be seen across the island, as can the remains of its colonial history.

Cuisine

As you would imagine from an island with the rich cultural heritage enjoyed by St Martin, essences of Europe penetrate the cuisine. An exciting infusion of afro-Caribbean, Dutch and French cuisine merge to deliver some truly mouth-watering, once-in-a-lifetime flavours.

With a mouth-watering array of French and Creole tastes to enjoy, St. Martin is a food-lover's paradise. From fine dining experiences to the island's tasty barbecue shacks known as lolos, you'll find the highest concentration of fine dining experiences of anywhere in the Caribbean. Enjoy traditional French dishes from escargot to pastries as well as the locally made guavaberry liqueur.

Out & About

Due to the diverse geographical layout of St Martin, there are a plethora of activities to keep you entertained. From staying around the coast on catamaran trips to heading for the hills on scenic nature walks. One extremely popular location is Maho beach, which sits just in front of the airport making for some pretty spectacular viewing when a plane comes in to land.

From Fort St. Louis, the largest historical monument in Saint Martin to the colourful sights and sounds of the Saint Martin Carnival, there are plenty of things to do during your stay in St. Martin. Dive beneath the waves to find a kaleidoscope of colour with lionfish, lizardfish and turtles all calling the waters their home.