You don’t have to worry about running out of things to do on a charter vacation to St. Martin, one of the most appealing islands in the Caribbean. On shore, the island is unique, in that it is the smallest island in the world that belongs to two sovereign nations, France and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, a political division that dates to 1648. As a result, the culture is a charming and inviting mix of Caribbean flair and European sophistication; the island is a true melting pot.
On the water, charters can take you to harbors and beaches all around the island. They also can take you to other islands nearby, Anguilla to the north and St. Bart’s to the south. I’ve done this; it’s both easy and exciting. You can pack a lot of multicultural sightseeing and blue-water cruising into a week’s charter from St. Martin.
The Moorings, which has a large charter base there, just published a list of six unique excursions while you’re still on the island. They include a visit to Rainforest Adventures, a nature park with The Flying Dutchman, the world’s steepest zip line, and to the Parotte Ville Bird Sanctuary, the home of 180 bird species from around the world. The Moorings’ list also advises you to sample authentic cuisine, which is pretty easy, considering that there are more than 200 restaurants in the island; if you get tired of French cuisine, head for the barbecue at Mullet Bay Beach.
Chartering there is easy. St. Martin is about 150 miles east of Puerto Rico, with regular flights to Princess Juliana International Airport, which is next to a popular beach. The Moorings has several powerboats for charter at reasonable rates. You can charter a Moorings 514 power cat for seven nights starting June 9, for example, for $10,931. It’s powered by twin 350-hp Yanmar diesels and has four full-sized cabins with en suite heads. The boat is air conditioned and the salon offers 360-degree views. Up top, the flybridge has a sunbathing platform aft of the helm, U-shaped seating with a table, and a console with a fridge, stainless steel grill and a wet bar. For more:
