The first inhabitants, the Amerindians or Smarindians, called it Soualiga, the «Land of Salt» or Oualichi, the «Land of Women». The smallest island in the world ever to have been partitioned between two different nations, St. Martin/St. Maarten has been shared by the French and the Dutch in a spirit of neighborly cooperation and mutual friendship for almost 350 years.

Friendly Island

The border is almost imperceptible. and people cross back and forth without ever realizing they are entering a new country. All the same, each side has managed to retain much of the distinctiveness of its own national culture. The French tend to emphasize comfort and elegance. On the other hand, St. Maarten with its busy cruise port and bustling commercial district, has long been an active center for trade and tourism.

Saint Martin has the characteristics of a dry island, with sparsely wooded hills, and a few areas with heavy vegetation. Its specificity comes from the large bands of sand shaded by sea grape and palm trees, which form the magnificent white sand beaches, which are part of the island’s idyllic decor, and from the salt ponds, the white gold of colonial times.

The Island with 36 pure white sandy beaches, offers a full array of activities such as deep sea fishing, scuba diving, luxurious boutiques for duty-free shopping, quaint creole marketplaces and night life with a lot of restaurants, nightclubs and casinos from which to choose.

St. Martin Tourist Office