Hiking
By the Hills Residence
Hiking in St Maarten
Sint Maarten/ Saint Martin is full of mountains and beautiful views. The highest mountain of the island is located on the French side and is called Pic Paradis, with an elevation of 1,177 ft (358 m).
A trail starting at Lottery Farm (METTRE LIEN) and going all the way up to Pic Paradis will take you around 2.5 hours, way and back. During your hike you will probably encounter monkeys, butterflies, birds and other small animals.
The island offers many others trails to different locations, each having a different view over the island.
The Froussard
The Froussards Trail starts at Ance Marcel and goes until Wilderness, taking around 4 hours to complete. The trail is along the coast, allowing you to have beautiful views on the ocean, and seeing the beautiful fauna and flora of the island.
The trail of Naked Boy Hill is located in the Dutch territory of Sint Maarten. Its summit rises to 296 meters. Total hiking distance is 1.6 km (approximately 2 hours walking time). Naked Boy Hill entertains families in its name alone. Hiking is very accessible for children, so it’s fun to go with them. If you’re lucky, this trail is also a favorite spot for iguanas, but be careful not to get too close and not to disturb them in their natural habitat. After some effort on the long but not too difficult trail, reaching the top of the hill offers breathtaking views of Saint Barths and Guana Bay. The turquoise waters that stretch as far as the eye can see are a feast for the eyes and a spectacular photo opportunity. Parking is located at Penn Shell Road in Guana Bay at the start of the road.
Chemin des Douaniers
The Chemin des Douaniers is a very nice easy hiking trail with moderately hard rock climbing at the end. It is about 2.5 km long and starts at the small harbor of Garris Bay and continues to Friars Bay. A big promise with a great view of Marigot Bay. You can park your car and put on your shoes at the Garris Bay Commercial Harbor. Drive for panoramic views of Garris Bay Harbour. On the way there is Lover’s Beach, ideal for relaxing. Continuing the road, hikers discover the Anse de Pere. This is a pebble beach, comfortable and not very crowded. Upon arrival you will have to climb the Col de la Batterie. It’s not difficult, but it’s something to consider, especially for families. At the end of the route, the Friar’s Bay, where he has two restaurants serving delicious cuisine based on fresh fish, local fruits and other specialties, comfort makes you forget about the effort.
Pinel Island
Pinel Island At 170 meters from Saint Martin and 950 meters from Cul de Sac, tiny Pinel Island is an incredible natural heritage site. Savanna landscape with many frangipani trees, beautiful white and yellow flowers typical of the Caribbean. Birds abound as well as crabs and, as in many places on St. Martin, iguanas and lizards.
