Saint Martin

Of all the 36 beaches on the island of St Martin / Sint Maarten, Orient Beach, located on the French side in the north-east part of the island, is a popular choice that gained recognition as the nude beach. The famous ‘clothing optional’ area can be found at the south end of the 2 km long stretch of Orient Beach.

At the other end of the beach, you will find kiosks set up to rent a wide variety of water sports equipment, including jet skis and wind surfing, paragliding and kayaking gear. Beach sports equipment, such as volleyball or beach badminton, is also available for rent. If you are new to a sport, training is given by the friendly staff.

The gently sloping shore line is always a hive of activity with swimmers and sand castle building. The Green Key reef, to the north, keeps most of the Atlantic swell at bay and being a marine reserve makes the snorkeling wonderful.

The 5 main restaurants cater to all tastes and budgets, all serving refreshing cocktails and local beers all day. For lunch, there is a massive choice, ranging from a simple burger and fries for $10, $10-$15 buffets, al-a-carte menus for $30-50 or even a $100 gourmet specialist menu. Regardless of your choose, the food will be delicious and delivered with a Caribbean / French twist. You have a choice of having the food served to you on the beach while lounging on a sun bed or in the covered bars and restaurants. Most bars offer complimentary beach chairs when you buy a bucket of beer. Renting prime waterfront loungers can cost up to $40 at some places.

After watching the sunset on the beach with a relaxing cocktail, a short walk takes you to the Provence style square in ‘Le Village’. This is a wonderful kid friendly place to enjoy your evening meal in one of the quaint restaurants that surround the park. On most nights during the peak season there is live music in the square.