Cupecoy
Limestone cliffs worn into caves above three small coves, a couple of kilometres from the runway and a short drive from the French side.
- Arrival
- Princess Juliana, Sint Maarten · SXM
- To Cupecoy
- About 2.6 km from SXM in a straight line
- Private jets
- Separate FBO terminal at SXM
- Best time
- December to August
The city
Steps cut into the cliff.
The sea has eaten into the limestone here, leaving overhangs, caves and odd rock shapes above three narrow beaches. You get down to the sand by steps cut into the stone. The drop-off is steep and the swell can be big, so this is a place for strong swimmers; towards the north-west end, clothing is optional.
Mullet Bay lies just east, a wide arc of palms and seagrapes. Its resort has stood closed since Hurricane Luis in 1995, which keeps the beach uncrowded on weekdays. Inland is the Simpson Bay Lagoon, with marinas on the Dutch shore and the border running out across the water.
Arriving
Two kilometres from the apron.
Princess Juliana International, about 2.6 kilometres away in a straight line, takes both airline and private traffic on one runway of 2,300 metres.
- San Juan 45 min
- Barbados 1 h 15
- Miami 2 h 55
- Atlanta 3 h 55
- Rome 10 h 00 long-range jet
When to go
December to August.
There is little difference between summer and winter: highs of 29 °C in January, 31 °C from June to October. Rain is lowest in February and March, roughly 43 mm in each. Between September and November more than 100 mm of rain falls each month, and that is also when hurricanes are most likely.
- 29° J 63 26°
- 29° F 43 26°
- 29° M 43 26°
- 30° A 65 27°
- 30° M 95 27°
- 31° J 62 28°
- 31° J 76 28°
- 31° A 100 28°
- 31° S 129 29°
- 31° O 109 29°
- 30° N 126 28°
- 29° D 89 27°
What to see and do
Days in and around Cupecoy.
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Landmark
Cupecoy Beach
Three coves under eroded limestone cliffs, with caves at the back of the sand.
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Landmark
Mullet Bay
Palm-shaded beach with good snorkelling along the rocks.
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Landmark
Simpson Bay Lagoon
The large inland lagoon behind the coast, shared by the Dutch and French sides.
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Nature
Loterie Farm and Pic Paradis
From the old estate, forest trails lead up to Pic Paradis, the island's summit at 424 m.
Official site -
Nature
Rockland Estate
Riders take a chairlift to the top of Sentry Hill, then come down on the Flying Dutchman, a zip line falling 1,050 feet over 2,800 feet.
Official site -
On the water
12 Metre Challenge
America's Cup 12 Metre yachts of about 66 feet sail match races with guest crews from Bobby's Marina.
Official site -
On the water
HMS Proselyte wreck
Divers find the cannons and anchors of a frigate wrecked in 1801 on a reef some 15 m deep outside Great Bay.
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On the water
Pinel Island
A short ferry from Cul-de-Sac reaches this islet of the nature reserve, with shallow coral and walking trails.
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Racing & sport
St. Maarten Heineken Regatta
Each March the island's big regatta is run from Simpson Bay; the 2026 edition, its 46th, brought 113 boats from 38 nations.
Official site
On the calendar
A date to plan around.
Dates as published by the organisers. Runways, hotels and slots fill early around these weeks: the sooner we know, the more choice you have.
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4–7 Mar 2027
Sailing
St. Maarten Heineken Regatta
Annual four day regatta organised by the Sint Maarten Yacht Club since 1980; the 2027 race is its 47th edition.
Sint Maarten Yacht Club, Simpson Bay, about 4 km away
In 4 months
Where to stay
Next door on both sides of the border.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
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La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel The nearest five-star house, on the beach just across the border, with a place in the MICHELIN selection.
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Sonesta Ocean Point Suites of 480 to 2,600 square feet, and no guests under adult age.
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The Morgan Resort An infinity pool with a waterfall, slide and grotto at a hotel of 124 rooms above Maho.
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Le Martin Boutique Hôtel Seven rooms, an honesty bar and dinners cooked by the chef, holding one MICHELIN Key.
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Esmeralda Resort Eighteen villas on the east coast, each with its own pool.
Where to dine
Dinner on both sides of the border.
No MICHELIN or Gault&Millau guide covers the island. The first two are listed as fine dining by the Saint-Martin tourist office; the others are Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice winners for 2026.
- L’Oursin Tourist office, fine dining French $$$ La Samanna, Baie Longue, French side, about 3 km
- La Cigale Tourist office, fine dining French $$$ Résidence La Lagune, Baie Nettlé, about 3.5 km
- Le Moulin Fou Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice 2026 French, seafood $$$$ Maho Plaza, about 2 km
- JAX Steakhouse Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice 2026 Steakhouse $$$$ Rhine Road, Maho, about 2 km
- Bovin Steak House Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice 2026 Steakhouse $$$$ Billy Folly Road, Simpson Bay, about 4 km
Flying to Cupecoy?
Choose how you arrive.
A Business or First Class seat on a scheduled airline, or an aircraft of your own. Tell us the date and how many are travelling, and we reply with one final price, our margin included.