Simpson Bay
A former fishing settlement on the Dutch side, wedged between the runway and a lagoon so large that the border runs through the middle of it.
- Arrival
- Princess Juliana, Sint Maarten · SXM
- To Simpson Bay
- The airport stands in Simpson Bay itself
- Private jets
- FBO terminal west of the main building
- Best time
- December to August
The city
Between the runway and the lagoon.
Simpson Bay began as a fishing settlement, and its fish market still trades. Behind the beach lies the Simpson Bay Lagoon, one of the largest inland lagoons in the West Indies, shared by the Dutch and French sides. Yachts come in through the Simpson Bay Bridge to the marinas, and a swing bridge of some 220 feet carries the road across the water towards Marigot.
In the evening the strip fills up: grills and dining rooms, Italian, French, Middle Eastern and Asian, then beach bars, clubs and casinos. The rainiest months fall between September and November, at the height of the hurricane season; from December onwards the island dries out.
Arriving
Landing on the doorstep.
Princess Juliana International sits inside Simpson Bay, on the strip of land between the sea and the lagoon. Its single runway is 2,300 metres long, approached from the sea over Maho Beach.
- Punta Cana 1 h 05
- Barbados 1 h 15
- Miami 2 h 55
- Washington 3 h 50
- Frankfurt 9 h 35 long-range jet
When to go
December to August.
Daytime highs hold between 29 and 31 °C all year, with a sea of 26 to 29 °C. The lagoon side sees least rain in February and March, about 43 mm each. From September to November the rain climbs above 100 mm a month, during the peak of the hurricane season.
- 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 Simpson Bay.
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Landmark
Simpson Bay Lagoon
A broad inland lagoon crossed by the Franco-Dutch border, where the yachts moor out of the swell.
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Landmark
Simpson Bay Fish Market
The working market of the old fishing settlement, still selling the day’s catch.
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Landmark
Maho Beach
At the end of the runway, where landing airliners pass low over the sand and signs warn of jet blast.
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Racing & sport
St. Maarten Heineken Regatta
Racing starts off Simpson Bay, where the 46th edition in March 2026 drew 113 boats from 38 nations.
Official site -
Golf
Mullet Bay Golf Course
Five minutes' drive from the Maho strip, the 18 hole course listed by the tourist bureau sells daily passes to visitors.
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On the water
12 Metre Challenge
Guest crews race former America's Cup 12 Metre yachts, about 66 feet long, out of Bobby's Marina.
Official site -
On the water
HMS Proselyte wreck
Cannons, anchors and ballast from a frigate lost in 1801 lie about 15 m down on a reef off Great Bay, inside the national marine park.
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Nature
Rockland Estate
A chairlift climbs Sentry Hill to 1,125 feet, and the Flying Dutchman zip line drops 1,050 feet back past an 18th century plantation house.
Official site -
Nature
Loterie Farm and Pic Paradis
Marked trails climb through humid forest from the farm to Pic Paradis, at 424 m the highest point of the island.
Official site
On the calendar
Dates 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
In 4 months
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17–21 Mar 2027
Sailing
St Barths Bucket
Regatta for large sailing superyachts based in Gustavia harbour, with four days of racing from 18 to 21 March 2027.
Port of Gustavia, Gustavia, about 30 km away
In 5 months
Where to stay
By the runway, and across the border.
Shown for information. We have no arrangement with any of these hotels.
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La Samanna, A Belmond Hotel Listed by the MICHELIN Guide and rated five-star by the Saint-Martin tourist office, on a sheltered beach at the western tip of the island.
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Sonesta Ocean Point An all-suite resort for adults on the southernmost point of Sint Maarten, with 129 suites of up to 2,600 square feet.
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The Morgan Resort A hotel of 124 rooms and suites rebuilt after Hurricane Irma, whose rooftop deck looks over the planes landing at Princess Juliana.
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Le Martin Boutique Hôtel Seven rooms in all, and the only hotel on the island holding a MICHELIN Key.
Where to dine
Tables on both sides of the lagoon.
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 $$$ La Samanna, Baie Longue, French side, about 5 km
- La Cigale Tourist office, fine dining French $$$ Baie Nettlé, French side, about 4 km across the lagoon
- Le Moulin Fou Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice 2026 French, seafood $$$$ Maho Plaza, about 3 km
- JAX Steakhouse Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice 2026 Steakhouse $$$$ Rhine Road, Maho, about 3 km
- Bovin Steak House Tripadvisor Travellers’ Choice 2026 Steakhouse $$$$ Billy Folly Road, Simpson Bay
Flying to Simpson Bay?
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.