Want a quick answer? These are the three jet ski tours we'd book ourselves.
Jet skiing in St Martin is one of those experiences that stays with you long after the tan fades.
The speed, the spray, the views opening up around every headland — it’s the kind of thing that’s hard to describe and impossible to forget. And then Maho Beach happens. A plane comes in so low you instinctively duck. You feel it in your chest before you hear it. Nobody sees that coming the first time, and everybody talks about it for the rest of the trip.
Teenagers go absolutely wild on these tours. The speed, the freedom, the fact that they’re actually in control of something powerful on open water — it becomes the highlight of the holiday, the thing they talk about at school for weeks. If you’re traveling with teens looking for something real to do together, this is it.
And if you’ve never been on a jet ski before and the idea makes you a little nervous — that’s completely normal. Everyone feels it at the start. The guide stays close the whole time, you go at your own pace, and within ten minutes the nerves are gone and the grin has taken over. We’ve seen first-timers step off completely transformed. That’s just what St Martin does to people when you let it.
There isn’t just one way to jet ski in St Martin.
Here are the tours that consistently stand out — picked based on reviews, experience, and what
travelers actually come back raving about.
⭐ 4.9 (364 reviews) • ~3h • Departs Marigot Marina • Max 11 riders
364 reviews at 4.9 stars. On an island with a lot of options — that’s the one that keeps winning.
You leave Marigot Marina, follow a guide along the French coastline, and somewhere in the middle of all that turquoise water and adrenaline — you pull up to La Samanna. One of the most exclusive 5-star resorts on the island. VIP access. A beach that guests pay thousands a night to sleep next to. You arrive on a jet ski.
That contrast — the speed, the wind, and then suddenly this pocket of absolute luxury — is exactly what makes this tour different from anything else on the island.
No experience needed. Brand new jet skis. Small group so it never feels like a conveyor belt. The guides know when to push you and when to just let you float and look.
⭐ 7.8/10 • 90 min • French Side • Max 12 riders
90 minutes is the sweet spot. Long enough to really feel it, short enough to still have the afternoon.
This tour takes you along the western tip of the French side — a stretch of coastline most visitors never see. Dramatic cliffs, hidden coves, deserted beaches that are only accessible by water. The guide stays close, you set your own pace — full throttle or slow cruise, nobody’s rushing you.
Swim stops included. The kind of morning that makes the rest of the day feel easy.
⭐ 5.0 (37 reviews) • ~6h • Departs Marigot Marina • Max 2 travelers
Five stars. 37 reviews. And booked on average 40 days in advance.
Six hours on the water. Both sides of the island. VIP access to La Samanna — that exclusive 5-star resort that keeps showing up on this page for a reason. And this time, lunch is included.
The difference between this and the half-day isn’t just time — it’s pace. You’re not rushing anything. You stop when something looks good. You find the coves that only fit one jet ski. You go places a catamaran can never reach. The guide knows them all.
By the end of the day you’ve seen more of St Martin than most people see in a week.
One thing to know: maximum 2 travelers per booking — this runs essentially as a fully private experience.
⭐ 4.9 • 30 / 60 / 90 min • Departs Great Bay Beach, Philipsburg • Dutch Side
If you’re staying on the Dutch side — or stepping off a cruise ship — this is the one.
Great Bay Beach, right in Philipsburg. You can walk here from the cruise pier in 10 minutes. No taxi, no logistics, no planning. Just show up, get briefed, and go.
The guided 90-minute tour takes you out of Great Bay, along the coast to Little Bay, Cay Bay, Indigo Bay, through the Simpson Bay Lagoon past mega yachts and French mansions — and then to Maho Beach. That’s where a plane comes in so low over your head that your first instinct is to duck. Every single time. Nobody sees it coming, and nobody forgets it.
Guides are commercial captains and emergency first responders. You’re in good hands.
⭐ 4.5 (203 reviews) • 10-12 min in the air • Orient Bay • French Side
300 feet above Orient Bay. The most beautiful beach on the island — and you’re floating over it.
It sounds terrifying. It isn’t. Every reviewer who admits they were nervous says the same thing: the crew makes it easy, and once you’re up there, all you want is for it to last longer. The views stretch from the nature reserve across to Anguilla on a clear day. Two people can go up together under the same parachute — which makes it significantly less intimidating and significantly more fun.
The crew can even dip your feet in the water on the way back if you ask. That detail alone is worth it.
⭐ 4.6 (786 reviews) • 3h • Departs Simpson Bay • Self-drive
4.6 on 786 reviews. On an island full of boat experiences — that’s the one people keep coming back to. Literally. One reviewer has done it four years in a row.
The concept is simple and completely addictive: you drive your own inflatable mini speedboat, in a convoy led by a guide, from Simpson Bay all the way to Creole Rock on the French side. Through the lagoon past mega yachts, along hidden bays, full throttle on the open stretches. Then you anchor, strap on a snorkel mask, and dive into some of the best marine life on the island — sea turtles, tropical fish, coral.
No license needed. No experience needed. Just show up and hit the throttle.
St Martin is one island but two completely different vibes on the water. Where you start your jet ski day changes everything.
Choose the French Side if:
You want scenery. The French coastline — Grand Case, Happy Bay, the cliffs of Terres Basses — is wilder, quieter, and genuinely stunning. The tours here include VIP access to La Samanna, hidden coves that only fit one jet ski, and beaches that don’t appear on any tourist map. Departs from Marigot or Anse Marcel.
Choose the Dutch Side if:
You’re staying in Philipsburg or stepping off a cruise ship. Great Bay is 10 minutes walk from the pier. The guided tour takes you through the Simpson Bay Lagoon past mega yachts, along the coast, and straight to Maho Beach — where a plane comes in so low you feel it in your chest. No taxi, no logistics, just show up.
The honest answer:
If you have the time and you’re staying on the island — go French side. The scenery is unmatched and the tours cover more ground.
If you’re on a cruise ship with limited time — Dutch side, no question. Walk off the ship, 10 minutes, done.
Age & restrictions
You must be 18 or older to drive a jet ski. A passenger can be younger — check with your specific operator. Pregnant women and people with serious back problems are advised to skip this one.
Experience level
None needed. Every tour on this page is suitable for first-timers. The guide gives you a full briefing before departure — throttle, steering, how to stop. Within five minutes on the water, it clicks. Within ten, you don’t want to get off.
What to wear
A swimsuit, water shoes if you have them, and sunscreen — reef-safe if possible, especially on the French side where you’re inside a protected marine reserve. Leave the jewelry at the hotel.
Weather
All tours require good conditions. If the sea is too rough or there’s a storm coming, operators will cancel and offer a reschedule or full refund. St Martin’s weather is generally excellent — but the Caribbean can surprise you. Morning departures tend to have calmer water.
Photos
Most operators offer photos for an additional fee — usually around $20. Worth it. You won’t be able to take your own while riding.
One last thing
Book ahead. These tours run with limited group sizes and fill up fast in high season — especially December through April. If your dates are confirmed, don’t wait.
🌊 Looking for more adventures?
→ See all things to do in St Maarten
→ Day trips to Anguilla from St Maarten
I've lived in St Martin for 25 years — and I'm an epicurean at heart, in love with my island. I've been giving out insider tips for almost 15 years.
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I've lived in St Martin for 25 years — and this island never stops surprising me. As an epicurean at heart, my online journey started with 'SXM Epicure Club', a Facebook culinary blog connecting visitors and locals around the best tables on the island.
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