Tag: pinel island

PINEL ISLAND

The above video was shot on March 4, 2018

Pinel is a small island on the coast of St. Martin near Orient Bay and across from Cul de Sac. If you have never been to Pinel, trust me it is worthwhile. Pinel has three beautiful white sand beaches two of which are on the other side. The restaurants and activities are located on the first beach as you arrive to Pinel. The two other beaches on the backside of Pinel are wild and for the most part void of people. Sometimes you might come across campers but in general most people visiting Pinel stay on the main beach. If you have adventurous tendencies like me you will want to take a hike to the other side of the island. Plan on wearing good shoes as the terrain is a little rough. The best snorkeling is also located on the other side of the island. The reefs are beautiful and you will come across many different aquatic species. The water can be rough when the swell is big therefore you need to exercise caution when swimming.

 

There are two restaurants on Pinel island. The first restaurant is called Karibuni (scheduled to re-open in March 2018, snack bar and chair rentals open now) and is reputed for its lobster and fresh seafood. I personally choose to eat at Karibuni when I go to Pinel because I love seafood and lobster. The second restaurant, Yellow Beach (Open Date TBD), has a more snack menu and good grilled food. If you don’t want to eat at a restaurant, grab a picnic and head to the more wild side of the island. Trust me it is just as good of an experience just watch out for the iguana’s who might want a piece of your sandwich!

 

Traveling to Pinel is easy and fun. Every 30 minutes there is a ferry running from the pier at Cul de Sac over to Pinel. Quick tip, don’t miss the last ferry or you are on your own. Swimming is always an option! If you like to kayak or paddle board you can park your car at the Cul de Sac pier and leave from there! You can also charter a boat and head to Pinel. Chartering is a great way to experience Pinel as well as the surrounding spots like Orient Bay and Tintemarre. You have the convenience to stay a bit longer on Pinel at the end of the day. Having the Pinel beach to yourself at dusk is a truly beautiful experience. Chartering is affordable especially if you are a group or family. Island hopping is one of the many awesome activities St. Martin has to offer so don’t miss out!
If you know Pinel and love to go every time when you are on-island then you should think about staying at one of our close by villas. Villa Pinel is located minutes away from Pinel via kayak or paddleboard! We also have several villas located in the Orient Bay which are only minutes driving from the Cul de Sac pier.  

written by Harrison Reed, C.O.O. SXMSIR

 

Have you experienced Pinel Island? Tell us about it in the comments!

Shhhh…Keep These Three St. Martin Beaches a Secret

St. Martin is lively, fun, and beautiful. Gourmet Restaurants, little shops, and trendy island bars rest along turquoise water beaches. Perfect for travelers of leisure, servers even deliver ice-cold beverages and five-star meals right to your beach chair. It’s hard not to love these beachside amenities, yet some of us seek out seclusion, adventure–the secret spots. If that’s you, we know three secluded beaches you will love. But shhh, don’t tell anyone.

Petite Cayes (or Wilderness)

After a 30 minute, nature-rich, hike around the edges of the northern tip of the island is Petite Cayes, or as locals call it “Wilderness.” A secluded cove awaits with deep turquoise waters, fine sand, very few people, and beachside forest perfect for shaded naps and lunches.

Two trails lead you to the hidden cove of Wilderness, one that begins in Anse Marcel, and the other from the Transfer Station road. The latter is the more popular trail; it is less strenuous and shorter. This trail begins by walking on bright white and purple colored dried coral, and then through a steep rock maze that leads up to hillside dotted with cacti. Within the first five minutes of the hike, you will be sweating, but rewarded with vast views of the Caribbean Sea, the island of Tintamarre, and Orient Bay. The final 10 minutes of the hike is flat, but over dried coral and rock, so walk carefully. The beach is out of sight until the very end. When you reach a rock wall, step up, look to the left, and then you will see it—a beautiful hidden cove.

Ideally, hike before 9 am before the sun is intense as there is no shade on the trail. Pack lots of water, snacks, and sunblock. It is easy to roll an ankle on the dried coral, so make sure to wear shoes.

Happy Bay

Lined with coconut trees, and white sand is the paradise of St. Martin—Happy Bay. Two trails access Happy Bay, one from an unassuming left-hand turn before Grand Case that leads to a small parking area, or from Friar’s Bay. Both trails take about 10 minutes to walk. The trail from Friar’s Bay is steeper but more scenic. The trail from the parking area at Happy Bay is relatively flat and frequented by local cows.

Perfect for kids or for anyone who likes to wade in the water, most of the bay is a soft sand bottom, and the water in the bay is shallow and calm. The rocks that outline the bay have incredible snorkeling. Swim straight from the beach and in two minutes you will see colorful Caribbean fish. Pack your lunch and water, and get there early to secure a spot under one of the coveted, big shady trees.

Tintamarre — “Baie Blanche”

Take a boat trip 4km away from the northeast coast of St. Martin, and enter onto an uninhabited island with 80 acres low-lying green trees in the middle of the ocean. Enjoy the western side of the island, and its secluded beach of Baie Blanche. Blissfully swim in the shallow turquoise waters with sea turtles and colorful tropical fish. If you are there in March and in April, you might just be lucky enough to swim with dolphins. Rumor has it; mommy dolphins like to give birth in the shallow waters off the island.

Now a nature preserve, the island was once home to a cotton plantation, and then in the 1930’s, and 40’s it had the only airstrip in the region. A few fatal crashes and hurricanes destroyed the airplanes in use and the island never used the runway again. Remnants of this history are found on the island, so bring shoes to take a walk and explore.

Getting to Tintamarre, you will need to arrange either a private boat charter, join a day sailing charter or jump on a ferry. There is no ferry schedule, but you can organize one in advance at Cul-de-Sac, where the Pinel Island ferry docks. Better yet, have our SXM SIR Concierge make arrangements for you!

If you have any questions on how to get to either of these beaches, do not hesitate to write us, at concierge@sxmsir.com or call us US 213 805 0840.