In one day on the water you can sail to Tintamarre, an uninhabited island just off the coast with a vast white sand beach and almost nobody on it. You can swim with sea turtles, stop at Prickly Pear, explore bays you’d never reach by car, and be back in time for dinner in Grand Case. The island looks completely different from the water — and once you’ve seen it that way, it’s hard to go back.
Shared day sails from $119. I’ve picked the ones actually worth your time.
It’s the first question most people ask — and the answer depends on what kind of day you want.
A catamaran is the classic Caribbean day out. Spacious deck, open bar, lunch cooked on board, music, snorkeling stops, and enough room to find a quiet corner if you want one. The pace is relaxed. You’re not rushing anywhere. That’s the point.
A speedboat covers more ground — faster, louder, more adrenaline. You’ll hit more spots in less time, but you’ll feel every wave. Great if you want to see the whole island in a day. Less great if you want to actually relax on the water.
Most people who ask me this are really asking: do I want a day out or an excursion? Catamaran is the day out. Speedboat is the excursion.
My take: if you have one day on the water, book the catamaran. You can always rent a scooter to see the island. You can’t recreate that feeling of anchoring off Tintamarre with a rum punch in your hand.
A shared catamaran is perfect if you’re a couple or traveling solo — you join a group, the drinks flow, the music plays, and you end up having lunch next to people you didn’t know in the morning. That’s half the fun. And from $119 per person, it’s genuinely good value for a full day on the water.
A private charter is a different experience entirely. Your boat, your group, your schedule. You decide when to stop, where to swim, how long to stay. If you’re traveling as a family or a group of friends and you want the Caribbean to yourselves for a day — this is it. Budget $600 and up depending on the boat.
Everyone I know who’s done both says the same thing: shared for the vibe, private for the freedom.
27 years on the water. 161,000 passengers. There’s a reason Random Wind is the most reviewed catamaran tour in St Maarten — and it’s not the marketing.
The Paradise Day Sail runs from 10am to 3pm. You sail, you snorkel, you swim, you eat a proper lunch cooked fresh on board, and at some point you jump into the Caribbean from the original Tarzan swing. That last part tends to be the moment people talk about for years after.
The crew has been doing this for nearly three decades. It shows — in the way they run the day, the way they look after every passenger, and the way the boat feels less like a tour and more like a day out with people who genuinely love what they do.
TripAdvisor places this in the top 10% of experiences worldwide. I’d place it in the top 1% of things to do in St Maarten.
One thing to know: Maximum 30 passengers — it fills up fast, especially December through April.
✅ Free cancellation · Open bar · Lunch on board · Snorkel gear included
→ Book the Random Wind Paradise Day Sail
A 62-foot luxury catamaran, maximum 36 guests — which means real space on the water. Not the sardine-can experience you get on some tours. That’s the first thing people notice when they step aboard.
Captain Benji and his crew run a tight, fun, genuinely well-organized day. You snorkel at Little Bay, paddleboard, float on the 18-foot lily pad, and at some point you sail past Maho Beach — where the planes come in so low you feel like you could touch them from the water. It’s one of those only-in-St-Maarten moments.
Lunch is cooked fresh on board. The open bar runs all day. And the crew somehow manages to make 36 strangers feel like they’ve known each other for years by the time the boat docks.
One thing to know: Returns at 3:30pm sharp — ideal if you’re on a cruise ship and need to be back on time.
✅ Free cancellation · Open bar · Lunch cooked fresh · Paddle boards & snorkel gear
→ Book the Phoenix Luxury Catamaran
Ask anyone on the island which catamaran company they know — Eagle Tours comes up every time. They’ve been sailing St Maarten since 2000 and they’re part of the island’s DNA.
Five catamarans, a crew that’s been doing this for years, and a day that covers the southern coast with multiple snorkeling stops, open bar, and a proper Caribbean lunch on board. Small group — maximum 28 — so it never feels like a factory tour.
If you want to sail with the company that St Maarten actually knows and trusts, this is it.
One thing to know: Eagle also runs a full-day Eco Tour to Tintamarre and Creole Rock with a beachfront lunch in Grand Case — worth considering if you want to explore the French side properly.
✅ Free cancellation · Open bar · Caribbean lunch · Snorkel gear · Max 28 guests
→ Book the Eagle Tours Tropical Sail
Captain Andre and Diane left their careers in Europe, sailed across the Atlantic through the Bay of Biscay, past the Strait of Gibraltar, and landed in St Maarten. That’s who you’re sailing with.
A day on Renegades starts with champagne and a proper breakfast — fruit, omelets, pastries. Then you go wherever you want. Tintamarre, Creole Rock, Anguilla, Long Bay — the itinerary is yours. Diane runs the bar and the kitchen simultaneously, producing cocktails and a grilled lunch that reviewers consistently call restaurant quality. The day ends with homemade chocolate chip cookies, warm from the boat’s oven.
One group came back with dolphins — fifteen of them, swimming alongside the boat for 20 minutes. That’s not something you can book. That’s just what happens when you spend a full day on the water with the right people.
One thing to know: Booked on average 31 days in advance. If you have a special occasion — birthday, anniversary, proposal — book early and ask the crew directly.
✅ Free cancellation · Breakfast + lunch + cocktails · Snorkel gear & paddle boards · Private group only
→ Book Renegades Private Charter
Fifteen people maximum on a 48-foot catamaran. That’s not a detail — that’s the whole point. When you’re anchored off Tintamarre with 14 other people and a chef plating a 4-course lunch on deck, it feels nothing like a tour. It feels like someone’s very good idea of a perfect day.
Breakfast starts with French pastries, fresh fruit, mimosas. Then a mid-morning snack. Then lunch — Niçoise salad, grilled chicken, dessert — while you’re floating somewhere beautiful with the open bar running at full speed. Ask for the Vanilla Banana Rum in the skull bottle. Exquisite.
Three stops: Long Bay, Happy Bay, Tintamarre. Enough time at each to actually be there, not just tick it off.
One thing to know: Departs 8:30am, returns 5:30pm. Come hungry. Come very hungry.
✅ Free cancellation · Breakfast + 4-course gourmet lunch · Top shelf open bar · Max 15 guests
→ Book Flagship II Private Charter
114 days in advance. That’s how far ahead people book Mojito on average. I’ll let that sink in.
The boat is a Leopard 44 — 2017 build, 4 cabins, 4 bathrooms, the kind of interior that makes you wonder why you ever stayed in a hotel. Captain Charlie and Jernel run the day like they’ve been doing it forever — fruit platters when you board, bar stocked before you ask, lunch at Pinel Island or Tintamarre, and Jernel apparently picking up a camera whenever a moment deserves it.
One bachelorette group said it exceeded every expectation. One mom brought two infants and said the crew went above and beyond. That range — from rowdy celebrations to quiet family days — and making both work equally well, is rare.
One thing to know: If you’re coming between December and April, high season dates are gone by October. Book the moment your flights are confirmed.
✅ Free cancellation · Open bar · BBQ lunch · Snorkel gear & lily pad · Private group only
→ Book Mojito Private Charter
A Leopard 53 Power Catamaran — which means speed, space, and the kind of comfort that makes a day on the water feel effortless. Up to 12 guests, a professional crew, and an itinerary that’s entirely yours to decide.
Arawak specializes in the destinations that make St Maarten’s location so extraordinary — Anguilla, Saint-Barthélemy, Tintamarre. The kind of day trip that’s only possible because you’re here, on this island, at the crossroads of the Caribbean. Half-day, full-day, special occasion — they handle every detail.
Most people have never been on a catamaran before they come to St Martin. Here’s what actually happens on a typical shared day sail — no surprises.
You board in the morning, usually between 9 and 10am, from a marina on the Dutch side — Simpson Bay or Bobby’s Marina in Philipsburg. The crew welcomes you, runs through the safety briefing, and you’re off within minutes.
The first stop is usually Tintamarre — about 45 minutes from the marina. An uninhabited island with one of the best snorkeling spots in the Caribbean. Sea turtles, stingrays, reef fish. The water is clear enough to see the bottom from the boat.
Lunch happens at anchor, somewhere calm and beautiful. It’s cooked fresh on board — not packed sandwiches. The open bar runs all day. Rum punch, beer, soft drinks. Nobody goes thirsty.
The afternoon is slower — a second snorkeling stop, paddleboarding, floating on the lily pad if the boat has one. Some people nap on the netting at the front of the boat. That’s allowed.
You’re back at the marina by 3:30-4pm — enough time to shower, rest, and make your dinner reservation in Grand Case.
One thing I always say: bring reef-safe sunscreen, a dry bag for your phone, and water shoes if you have them. Everything else is provided.
Most catamaran tours leave from the Dutch side — Simpson Bay or Philipsburg. But if you’re staying in Grand Case, Orient Bay, or anywhere on the French side, the transfer adds unnecessary time to your day.
I’ve put together a dedicated guide to boat tours departing from the French side — including local operators you won’t find on the big booking platforms.
With so many options, here’s how to think about it in 30 seconds.
You’re a couple looking for a relaxed day → Random Wind Paradise Day Sail. 27 years of experience, small group, best crew on the island.
You’re on a cruise ship → The Phoenix with Captain Benji. Returns at 3:30pm sharp, never missed a ship in 20,000 passengers.
You’re traveling with kids → Either Random Wind or The Phoenix — both are family-friendly and have snorkel gear in all sizes.
You want the best food on the water → Flagship II private charter. A chef on board, 4-course gourmet lunch, max 15 guests.
You have a special occasion → Renegades with Captain Andre & Diane. Champagne breakfast, dolphins optional but frequent.
You’re staying on the French side → Skip the Dutch side entirely. Our French Side boat tours guide →
Your budget is tight → Eagle Tours from $119. Been sailing St Maarten since 2000, still one of the best on the island.
Catamaran tours in St Maarten typically range from $100 to $150 per person for shared cruises, while private charters can start around $600 and go well above $2000 depending on the size of the boat and duration.
Most catamaran tours include drinks, often an open bar, snorkeling equipment, and several swimming stops. Some full-day cruises also include lunch or snacks on board.
Yes — catamaran tours are one of the most popular experiences on the island. They offer a unique way to explore the coastline, swim in crystal-clear waters, and enjoy a relaxed day at sea.
The most popular catamaran cruises can sell out quickly, especially during peak season. Booking in advance is recommended to secure your preferred date.
Private charters offer more flexibility and privacy, while shared cruises are more affordable and social. The best option depends on your budget and the type of experience you’re looking for.
🌊 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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