Where Is St. Martin Island?

St. Martin is one of the fascinating jewels of the Caribbean, lying to the northeast of the region. This peculiar island, celebrated for its magnificent beaches, its effervescent culture, and the peculiarity of being an island belonging to two nations, is situated about 300 kilometers (186 miles) east of Puerto Rico and south of Anguilla. Its coordinates are roughly 18.07° N latitude and 63.05° W longitude.

An Island Unique Being Divided Between Two Nations

What really sets St. Martin apart, however, is that the island is divided between two countries: the northern piece, called Saint-Martin, is an overseas collectivity of France, while the southern part, Sint Maarten, is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. This makes St. Martin the smallest inhabited island in the world shared by two nations. There are no border controls, and visitors can move freely between both sides to enjoy the blend of French and Dutch cultures.

Geography and Surrounding Islands

St. Martin is approximately 87 square kilometers (34 square miles) in area. It is part of the Leeward Islands in the Lesser Antilles and is surrounded by several other famous Caribbean islands. Anguilla is located to the north, Saint-Barthélemy, commonly known as St. Barts, to the southeast, and Saba, St. Eustatius, and St. Kitts further to the south.

Accessibility and Flight Times

Getting to St. Martin is not a hassle; the island is strategically located with well-connected airports. Among these are:

– Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM): The airport, located on the Dutch side, has a famous runway where planes touch down just over Maho Beach.

– L’Espérance Airport (SFG): This is the smaller airport, located on the French side of the island and mainly serves regional flights.

St. Martin is easily accessible by air from a number of major cities:

– New York City: About 4 hours flying time.
– Paris: About 8 flying hours.
– Montreal: About 5 flying hours.
– Miami: Only 3 hours away.
– Amsterdam: About 9 flying hours.

St. Martin is also a regular port of call for Caribbean cruises; the ships lie anchor off Philipsburg, which is the capital of Sint Maarten.

With a strategic location in the northeastern Caribbean, added to the rich cultural heritage and scenic beauty, St. Martin Island is an enticing destination. Be it the Saint-Martin sophistication imbued by France or the simplicity of Sint Maarten touched by the Dutch, this island definitely forms a spot for an incomparable Caribbean vacation.