Catamaran Charter in Marigot

Things You Should Not Miss When Catamaran Chartering in Marigot

The vast majority of activities in Marigot revolve around the beach. Even more so since the passage of Irma. Windsurfing and surfing are practiced in particular in the Bay of the Mouth and Nettle Bay, but the operators are still few to have returned to service. If you are interested in kayaking during your catamaran charter in Marigot, the equipment is available for rent at the Pinel Islet jetty. The motorized activities (jet-ski, parasailing ...) and cruises are mainly offered on the Dutch side, which leaves the French side beaches a greater tranquility. Diving is possible to do everywhere on the island. But, again, only a few operators have resumed their activities after Irma. The same goes for horse riding.

Hiking

There are 15 hiking trails inside the island, mainly around peak Paradise. Even the beacons and the vegetation have suffered a lot from Irma. However, the panoramas remain spectacular. There are also paths on the coastline which are around 10 km.

Scuba diving

If you are planning to dive into the water while catamaran charter in Marigot, obviously avoid the hurricane season (September-October) and be wary of the period from mid-December to late January. The winds are quite durable, and the conditions of immersion sometimes is a little sporty, especially on the exposed sites.
Even though Hurricanes Luis (1995), Lenny (1999) and Irma (2017) all have hardly hit the seabed, but they did not destroy it. The divers will be surprised to see how the coral deer horns survived the storm swell. With around 55 dive spots, Saint-Martin and the neighboring islands have landscapes that are very different from those of Martinique and Guadeloupe. Benefit from a less developed local fishing activity, the waters are home to larger populations of fish. It is much more common to see sharks, rays, and turtles. Wrecks lovers will be able to approach the Roro, The Bridge, Gregory II, Fuh Sheng, Renee, Porpoise, Isabelle, the tugboat at Tintamarre and new wrecks immersed over the years to form reefs.
Marigot is also a good starting point for diving around nearby islands: Saba, its marine reserve and its pinnacles (deep dives); Saint-Barthélemy, its reserves, and its numerous islets; Saint-Eustache, its reserves and its many wrecks, including the Charlie Brown (100 m long); The marine chart of the area you want to explore is available from the Naval Hydrographic and Oceanographic Service.

The Old Marigot Prison

Located in a small alley that goes up to Fort Louis, the prison was built at the same time as the fort. Until 1968, prisoners were detained there. The prison was later converted into a fire station in Saint-Martin. Although it has undergone many transformations, its frontage located rue Perrinon remains close to that of origin. Currently, there is no prison in the French part of St. Martin. The prisoners are incarcerated in the prison of Basse-Terre, in Guadeloupe.

Festivals

During your catamaran charter in Marigot, if you go there at the right time, the highlight of your trip is obviously the carnival. On the French side, it takes place in February. On the Dutch side, it lasts 17 days during the second half of April, the main parade coinciding with the birthday of Queen Beatrix (April 30) and the current king, his eldest son (born April 27, 1967). Also, not to miss the Heineken regatta in the early March, as well as the SXM Electronic Music Festival in mid-March.

Grand Case

On the northwest coast of Saint-Martin, the village of Grand Case is one of the most picturesque French villages on the island. You can take your charted catamaran in Marigot to there. The one and only street of Grand Case is surrounded by beautiful wooden houses, circled by hibiscus. The beach of fine sand bordered by turquoise waters is pretty and not frequently visited. You can also go diving to swimming with a variety of fishes.