Awesome Active Pursuits St.Maarten Nights

Activities

Activities

Awesome Active Pursuits

by Susan Campbell Though you might be tempted to simply relax and chill once you’ve found your idyllic spot on a beautiful beach here, there are a multitude of awesome activities guaranteed to further enrich your holiday pleasure that you shouldn’t miss.

So let’s go! The beach will still be waiting upon your return.

Terrific terrestrial tours

There are few spots on the planet where you can explore two nations in the same day without border checks, and the Dutch side and the French side both have their fair share of unique attractions. Historic sites, old forts, nature preserves, outdoor markets, scenic vistas… there is so much to discover via a wide selection of island tours – private and group – by motor coach, van, ATV, and even by HarleyDavidson motorcycle! Many operators have also added specialty focus tours like eco-oriented, or shopping highlights, or how about beach bum with rum and plane spotting? There’s something for everyone on this 37-square-mile island!

Guided and self-guided hiking is also an option with 25 miles of marked hiking trails spanning both sides. And you can explore a lovely little satellite island with a new marked eco-hike trail on Pinel Island with 44 Ocean. Guided or not, the Pinel Eco-Pleasure tour takes around 40 minutes to complete. If you really want to get close to nature in an extreme way,

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try an awesome zip-lining experience at Loterie Farm – where you fly through ancient mango trees in a small rainforest.

They offer many different skill levels for all ages and they have a glorious pool on-site to cool off afterwards. Mountain biking is another way to explore this gorgeous terrain; there are many marked trails on both sides. TriSport has bike rentals, and also offers excellent guided tours. Or how about a Segway tour along the famous Philipsburg boardwalk?

Make waves on and under the sea

Of course, you’re on an island hugged by clear, aqua waters full of marvelous marine life, so water activities abound as well. Satisfy your need for speed on stateof-the-art powerboats with massive outboard engines, or by driving your own jet skis. And water-skiing trips, banana-boat rides, wakeboarding, and motor-powered inflatables like the Rhino Riders are a fast blast. There are also operators that have the latest in extreme watersports activity like jet packs and hoverboards that propel you over the sea. !

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Activities Or you can take the easy eco-route with sea kayaks; there are even glass-bottom canoes so you can view the colorful fish below while you paddle. And there is also stand up paddleboarding too. Use the constant breezes as the winds beneath your wings with kitesurfing and windsurfing lessons, and get a stunning aerial view of the sea from a parasail adventure. And of course, snorkel tours of every ilk abound on party boats, sailing yachts, and cool catamarans. Some include dinners and sunset sails as well. Now you can also snorkel from shore at the new man-made reef that has the island’s only underwater marked eco-trail at Pinel Island.

If you want to get even closer to those tropical fish, you can also take a walk along the bottom of the ocean floor with the Sea Trek (air-supplied bell helmets make it easy to explore without any diving experience); you need not even know how to swim! And besides fish, you’ll also see shipwrecks and sunken cannons! But if you do dive, this island has 45 interesting dive sites and loads of PADI certified

Activities Enchanting animal encounters

outfits to take you out or to supply you with equipment and/or lessons. And one operator specializes in diving with Caribbean reef sharks!

Don’t want to get wet to see the sea below? Then try a glass-bottom boat trip or hop aboard the Seaworld Explorer, a semi-submarine that doubles as a traveling observatory. Incredible.

Triple your Fun with TriSport St. Maarten’s center for endurance sports, including mountain biking, kayaking, and triathlon events.

TriSport offers sales and repairs of bicycles and kayaks, plus rentals, guided tours, and safety equipment. Inquire about races, schedule of weekly training sessions, and events throughout the year.

Open Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Two convenient locations: Airport Road next to Simpson Bay bridge, Tel: 545-4384 181 rue de Hollande, Marigot, Tel: 0590 87.08.91 Bicycle rentals available at the port; call Juan Pablo at 587-1234.

Email tours@trisportsxm.com for more info or visit www.trisportsxm.com.

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There are many ranches that allow you to explore the island on horseback and cater to all skill levels. For more than riding, there is also Seaside Nature Park; they have a small on-site zoo of animals that are free to wander around. Then there’s the fascinating Butterfly Farm; go early to see the winged wonders at their most active. If you want them to land on you, wear Banana Boat sunscreen (they love that scent for some reason) and colorful tropical print clothes so they will think you are a flower.

If ornithology is more up your alley, there are birding clubs that can help you seek out the many native species. For a good reference of all of the island’s native creatures, look for the book The Incomplete Guide to the Wildlife of Saint Martin by Mark Yokoyama. But the best spot to see lots of critters and creatures is the St. Maarten Zoo and Botanical Gardens, where you can find many animals, native and not, a cool bat cave, and even a monkey island. They also have a wonderful children’s playground. Great family fun for all!

Unique adventures

There are several things you can do here that you won’t find anywhere else like St. Maarten’s 12-Metre Challenge. Hop aboard a multi-million dollar America’s Cup race boat and be part of the crew!

Thrilling! Or you can try a unique Amazing Race type of adventure with TriSport for all ages in downtown Philipsburg. You get clues and tasks just like the television show and learn about the island while you race!

Look for the Yoda Guy Exhibit in Philipsburg, a one-of-a-kind experience by the man who created the famous Star Wars character. And then there’s the Guavaberry Factory – the only place in the world that makes this unique liqueur.

And of course, they offer free samples of all their liqueurs. You can also make your own perfume at Tijon Parfumerie, on the French side! How cool is that? Plus there are tandem skydives over the island that you’ll never forget!

There are also plenty of day trips to neighboring islands like Anguilla and St. Barths, and charters for deep-sea fishing, sailing, luxury yachting, or simply small boat exploring the beautiful waters and uninhabited little islands surrounding St. Maarten/St. Martin.

In fact, there are so many unforgettable adventures to get you out of your beach chair that you might even have to come back for another holiday to enjoy them all. But isn’t that the perfect plan? "

For even more fun things to do during your stay, consult our activities listing on page 50 or visit our website at www.nightspublications.com/st-maarten/activities.

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