St. Martin (the French side of the island shared with Sint Maarten) and its beautiful beaches with silky sand and turquoise shades are inspiration material for vacation dreams.
As much as I love the beaches in St Maarten, my favourite ones are on this side.
Some are great for swimming, some are good for relaxing while watching the blue horizon, and some are fantastic to get away from it all. You’ll find tons of secluded beaches over here.
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These are the 10 top beaches in Saint Martin (French side)
Table of Contents
Best Beaches in St Martin for Families
Friar’s Bay Beach
This is a great beach for families, as the not so long stretch of powdery sand (with some rocks here and there) has a gentle slope entering the Sargasso-free, calm and crystal clear water.
There are some bars on site serving food and drinks, with chairs and umbrellas for rent.
Access to Friar’s Bay Beach is through Rue de Friar’s Bay, which is off the main road that goes around the island (you’ll need to rent a car to get here). Take the exit located south of the beach, as if you would be going towards Anse des Pères. Even though it has some bumpy sections, access is easier on this side.
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Visit during the week if possible to avoid crowds.
If you can stand the smell, walk towards the nearby Etang Guichard for birdwatching.
Galisbay Beach
Galisbay Beach is a small beach located north of Marigot (the capital of Saint Martin).
The calm, clear waters are good for a relaxed swim, a short walk away from the hustle and bustle of Marigot. If you’re around late in the afternoon you’ll be treated to a wonderful sunset.
Grand Case Beach (Baie de Grand Case)
This magnificent, long beach is one of the few truly “postcard material” beaches that is easily accessible by public transit as it’s close to the main road that goes around the island.
Long, wide, with beautiful and clean sand and calm clear waters, and plenty of options to eat nearby.
Hotel Bleu Emeraude: stay at this beachfront hotel in Grand Case, with modern units having AC, flat-screen TV, WiFi, a kitchen and a washing machine. Continental breakfast included.
Stay at this beach hotel, with a rating of 9.5 based on more than 35 reviews.
Anse Marcel Beach
Tucked away in a secluded bay dotted by boats and stretching far into the coast, Anse Marcel Beach is one of the nicest beaches, with calm waters coloured like beach dreams. You’ll also find restaurants where you can rent umbrellas and chairs and grab drinks or a bite to eat.
Access to the beach is either by boat or by car, after driving through a windy road through the mountain.
There are several hotels and apartment for rent in Anse Marcel, a few steps from the beach:
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If you’re up to explore the island beyond the beach, close to Anse Marcel you can find the trailhead of one of the best hikes in St. Martin.
Best Scenic Beaches in St Martin
Happy Bay Beach
Happy Bay Beach is my favourite beach in St. Martin and in the whole island. The verdant hills frame this scenic beach where gentle waves crash into the silky sand.
Since there are no facilities and there is no direct access to the beach unless you get here by boat, it’s less crowded. We came here on a weekday and had the beach for ourselves.
How to get to Happy Bay Beach in St Martin?
Once you park at Friar’s Bay Beach, walk north towards the other end of the beach to find the trailhead of La Piste Anse Guichard, a short trail that goes over the hill and ends in Happy Bay Beach.
On your way there, enjoy the scenic views of the coastline from the cliff.
Red Bay Beach (Baie Rouge)
Red Bay Beach is long, scenic, and a good option if you’re looking for a less crowded beach.
There are no facilities and you’ll find strong waves and currents so it’s not the ideal place for families. The calmer section with the least amount of rocky patches is on the east side, close to the parking lot.
The nearby Pointe du Bluff is listed on some maps as a scenic viewpoint. I walked on the access road (you can’t bike or drive on it as it’s private property) and I found it kind of meh. There are better viewpoints around the island, I think your time is better spent somewhere else. Trou David (David’s Hole), a more scenic point, is nearby. I didn’t find it, but you may.
Best Secluded Beaches in St Martin
Little Cayes Beach (Baie des Petites Cayes)
Little Cayes Beach is the ultimate beach for seclusion in St.Martin (actually, in the whole island). After hiking a nearly one-hour scenic coastal trail along sunny (emphasis on sunny) green paths and climbing through a few rocky sections you’ll arrive in Little Cayes Beach.
Since this is the most off-the-beaten-path beach and there are no facilities, you can expect to find few people (or to have the whole beach to yourself like it happened to us).
This is not the best beach for swimming as waves are powerful, but you can find some “calmer” spots towards the ends.
Bring tons of water (don’t underestimate how hot it can get on the hike -and remember you have to do it back and forth), a hat and enough sunblock.
If you want to spend more time at the many secluded beaches in Saint Martin and less time getting there you can book a private speed boat for the day (perfect for a group) or join a catamaran cruise.
Long Bay Beach (Baie Longue) and Plum Bay Beach (Baie aux Prunes)
Plum Bay Beach is located north of Long Bay Beach, within close distance. These are not your beaches if you want to swim in calm waters with a sandy seabed.
Long Bay Beach is on the rough side and the entrance is quite rocky (not a good combination). Plum Bay Beach is also somewhat rough, but you can find some sandy spots on the north end with an easy entry, good enough for swimming.
These are your beaches if you’re looking for seclusion, and scenic long walks.
Access is through the guardhouse at the entrance of Les Terres Basses Residential Complex (you must rent a car to get here). Tell the guards you’re going to the beach and they’ll indicate the best route, which you can also follow on Google Maps.
You’ll need to bring anything you may need (drinks, snacks, chairs) as there are no facilities. And no shade. None. Bring an umbrella if you don’t want to fry while laying in the sand and come in the morning if you want to take a long walk, for a more comfortable experience.
La Samanna Hotel: you can stay in this off-the-beaten-path location overlooking Long Beach at this exclusive, gorgeous, and expensive hotel.
Treat yourself to a stay in La Samanna, with a rating of 9.0 based on more than 30 reviews.
Lover’s Beach
I was debating with myself: should I or should I not add Lover’s Beach to this list?
This beach is famous for being the smallest beach in Saint Martin (perfect for only two people), for the cliffs that make it scenic, and for being secluded and hard to find. A lovers’ dream.
All the things that made it famous are still there, but one thing has changed.
The small sandy patch you see in pictures and videos taken before hurricane Irma is gone after huge rocks fell from the cliff, leaving a treacherous access and reducing the tiny beach to a point that it’s almost non-existent (as you can see from my pic). So this is more like a heads up.
If you still want to check it out (there are beautiful viewpoints along the hike and you can say hi to the cows), drive towards Anse des Pères (the cove south of Friar’s Bay) and hop on the coastal trail behind this gate:
A short hike will lead you to Lover’s Beach, but you must pay attention as you walk along the cliff as it’s a blink-and-you-miss-it scenario.
Saint Martin is an ideal place to take a beach vacation. Do you prefer to swim in calm waters or to sit on the sand while looking at the waves crash on the shore? Whatever is your preference, you’ll find your place here. Share this post with a friend planning a beach escape to help them find their slice of paradise.
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I used to be a travel agent and absolutely loved sending clients here. The beaches are just sooooo stunning!!! Great comparisons!!
I bet your clients loved you. Beaches so stunning are hard to find!
They all look so beautiful 😍 But I think I’d start with The Long Bay Beach 🥰
Perfect for avoiding the crowds.
Those beaches look absolutely gorgeous 🤩
The ideal winter escape!
I am sold! So much beauty here and I love the beach! You have captured these beaches with such an enticing post for your readers. Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for reading!
These look absolutely divine, I love the look of lovers beach and the hike to get to it, though it does look a bit of a challenge and possibly dangerous… sad though as I’d love to visit it
Before hurricane Irma there was a -small- stretch of sand that you see in most pictures you find online, but it’s gone since 2017. But the coastal hike is still beautiful! 🙂
OOh craving for some sand, sea, sun. These visuals are making me daydream happy thoughts. Thank you so much. I’m sold and can’t wait for summer.
St. Martin beaches=happiness
This looks like a fantastic time. I might have to accidentally put it on the to do list for the boyfriend to look at it you’ll never know the difference. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for reading. 🙂