Island Life

By Jason Mills

With quick and easy transfers to otherislands, St. Martin is an ideal destinationfor island-hopping.

We can all agree the beach is perhaps the one place where we can let go and release ourselves from the confines of daily life. In turning 40, with a strong need for self-reflection, I decided I needed to explore as many beaches as possible, and I finally settled on the island of St. Martin. With over 37 beaches to explore along 70 kilometres of coastline, St. Martin is a treasure trove of opportunities to get lost in the magic of island life.

Settling in St. Martin, my friend and I meet our local, private driver to help us with our experience, and, each day, he takes us to new and more progressively spectacular seascapes. St. Martin is best known for Maho Beach, the famous location where visitors can get a one-of-a-kind view of planes arriving at the Princess Juliana International Airport. While not to be missed, we find the quintessential St. Martin experience is in exploring its lesser-known beaches and bays.

Hugged by lush green mountains on each side, Anse Marcel is a tranquil bay – the ideal location for those looking to truly escape the hustle and bustle. The calm emerald waters and soft sandy beaches are perfect for snorkelling, swimming, and kayaking. In the evenings, we join our fellow beachcombers and assemble at the water’s edge to watch the setting sun illuminate the skies in every colour imaginable.

With any visit to St. Martin, a day trip to Pinel Island is a must. This tiny island, just a 10-minute ferry ride from the north end, is paradise. We depart early in the morning with enough time to find an ideal location to base our adventures. The invitingly clear and shallow waters are perfect for spending the day snorkelling, and, in the afternoon, we set off on foot to explore the rest of the island. From up above, at the top of Pinel Island, we’re able to soak in a 360-degree view of the surrounding bays and beaches.

An entire day can be spent exploring the beauty of Grand Case Beach, which is lined with a plethora of gourmet restaurants, cafes and bars. We walk the length of the beach, enjoying espressos, and the French hospitality wine and cuisine.

For the actual day of my 40th birthday, we decide to explore Anguilla. Just a short 30-minute ferry ride from Marigot, this is an easy day trip to experience some of the most remarkable beaches in the world.

Arriving on the island, we are met by Derek, our driver for the day. When I explain that I’m celebrating my 40th birthday, he laughs and tells us he’s going to give me the best birthday I ever had. It turns out, he did.

Leaving the ferry terminal, Derek takes us on an impromptu full island tour of Anguilla, showing us views and vistas, beaches and bays, all the while telling us about his family and why he loves his home so much. He takes us to the capital, called The Valley, and shows us historical buildings, explains the local economy, and gives us an authentic peek into Anguilla. He drives us to Shoal Bay, to his friend’s restaurant, and asks him to take care of us.

For the rest of the afternoon, we relax on what is, without question, the most impossibly beautiful beach we’d ever seen, eating local seafood, sipping drinks under a palapa, swimming in the crystalclear waters and contemplating just what had brought me to this tropical paradise.

As we say goodbye to Derek and thank him for giving us his time, for sharing his story, his island, and his home with us, I’m feeling a renewed sense of purpose. And I have the people of the Caribbean islands to thank.