Day Trips to Anguilla

Anguilla is just a hop, skip and a jump from St Maarten, and there are several choices of ferries to make this easy day trip.

From Marigot
The Link Cat, a 48-foot by 17-foot aluminum catamaran with diesel engines, licensed for 90 passengers, that make three round trips daily between Blowing Point, Anguilla and Marigot, St Martin. The catamaran has a roomy lounge, a bar, a bathroom and a large sundeck on top. It departs Blowing Point, Anguilla for Marigot, St. Martin every day at 8:40 am, 12:40 pm, and 5:30 pm. It departs St Martin at 11:20 am, 2:20 pm and 6:00 pm. The cost is US$10 per person one way. Visit their web site at http://www.link.ai/, email them at fbconnor@anguillanet.com or call them at 264-497-2231.

From the Ferry Terminal on the waterfront in Marigot, the ferries to Anguilla run every half hour between 7:30 am and 7:00 pm, with arrival in Anguilla at Blowing Point. The trip takes about 20 minutes, and no reservations are necessary. Ferry crossings are $12 each way, plus a $35 departure tax. The last ferry leaves Anguilla at 6:15 pm and leaves Marigot at 7:00 pm. Ferries are also available for charter.

From Simpson Bay
The “96 Degrees” is a 26-foot Mako that can take up to six passengers and leaves from Simpson Bay Lagoon. You’ll be met at the airport and taken to the boat once you have cleared customs at the airport. The boat arrives in Anguilla either at Sandy Ground or Blowing Point. To make reservations, go to http://jmb.caribbean-activities.com and click on “Ferries” in the left column.

Coming soon: Day trips to Saba and St Barth

Come Aboard “At Random”

At Random, a 26-foot Navy tender with deep seats and lots of shade, can provide you with hours of fun snorkeling and/or fishing. They offer three different packages: the Family Fun Tour, the Bottom Fishing Tour and the Fishing and Snorkeling Tour. The first two are $85/hour for up to six passengers; additional passengers pay $10 each. The Fishing and Snorkeling Tour is also $85/hour but is limited to six people.

Family Fun Tour
You’ll cruise along “Mega Yacht Boulevard” from Simpson Bay to Marigot on the French side. Next, you’ll be able to swim and snorkel at several beautiful beaches. Included in the tour is an open bar, snacks, snorkel masks and snorkels, music, some fishing rods and, of course, a fun-loving skipper.

Bottom Fishing Tour
Kids are welcome on this tour. The skipper will cut the bait and help with rigging the hooks, if necessary. That way, parents can relax, have a beer and go for a swim. If the party consists of all adults, they’ll go out into deeper water where you can try for bigger fish. This tour includes fishing tackle, snorkel masks and snorkels, an open bar and snacks. Good for kids over age 6. There is a two-hour minimum on this tour.

Fishing and Snorkeling Tour
For the first hour, you’ll be trolling in coastal waters and might just catch jacks, mahi-mahi, small tunas, mackerals or wahoo. After an hour of trolling, the skipper will find a beautiful area for bottom fishing for one and a half hours where you can catch snappers, yellowtails, groupers, eels and sergeant majors. If the fishing is good, the skipper will stay longer, if you wish. Otherwise, you can move elsewhere and go swimming and snorkeling. All fishing tackle and bait is included, as well as snorkel masks and snorkels, an open bar and snacks. There is a two-hour minimum on this tour.

To contact them, visit the web site at www.randomwind.com.

Baggage Screening System Down at Airport

As reported in the SXM Daily Herald, the x-ray baggage screening system has been down for three days now. Some passengers had to leave their luggage behind when they departed Princess Juliana International Airport (PJIA) Tuesday. Baggage had to be lugged to the airport employee screening area for security checks and clearance. However, this contingency arrangement could not cope fast enough with the large number of bags that had to be processed and many passengers were left without some, or all, of their luggage. Flights were not delayed because of the scanning problem, but the schedules were maintained at the expense of passenger luggage. No official word was received from the airport Tuesday about when the problem would be fixed. In the meantime, luggage continues to pile up. PJIA director of operations Larry Donker said in a press statement Monday that the technical department in cooperation with the maintenance provider of the hold baggage system was working to resolve the problem.

Get On Board Da Party Bus!

You can’t miss Da Party Bus! This once-upon-a-time school bus has been transformed into a colorful party bus full of Caribbean flavor. Viewed from the back, you’ll see an authentic old Creole-style house with a tin roof whose door opens to a wheelchair lift so everyone can party. Da Party Bus begins its trip in Simpson Bay at 7:00 pm and travels through Philipsburg, Oyster Pond where you’ll enjoy the sea breezes and then returns to Simpson Bay for the nightlife until midnight. The bus stops at Pineapple Pete’s and the Tijuana Yacht Club in Simpson Bay, Kind Beau-Beau’s at the Oyster Bay Beach Resort and the Driftwood Boat Bar. You’ll typically spend from 20 to 45 minutes at each stop, and you get one free drink for every drink you buy. Of course, you can order appetizers at any stop, as well. With 24-hour advance notice, Da Party Bus will shuttle you from your hotel to their starting point – and back home again. For full details, visit their web site at www.thestmaartenpartybus.com.

Hiking in St Maarten

If you want to stretch your legs and see St Maarten up close, consider going for a hike. St Maarten has 25 miles of clearly defined trails through the mountains and along the shoreline. For a spectacular view and a taste of history, you can climb Mount Concordia, which rises along the French-Dutch border in the center of the island. In 1648, the treaty that divided the island was signed here. Or, hike up beautiful Paradise Peak or Pic du Paradise, on the French side. This is the highest point on the island at 1400 feet. At the foot of the mountain is Loterie Farm, St Martin’s only private nature reserve. You can sign up to take the Eco Challenge day hike through this former 150-acre sugar plantation, which contains the island’s last remaining tropical forest. Below are several other contacts for arranging hikes.

Loterie Farms-Colombier

Guided hike through the rainforest

Phone: 05 90 87 86 16

St. Maarten National Heritage Foundation

Phone: (599) 542-4917

St. Maarten Road Runners Club

Phone: (599) 556-7815

Olivier Borensztejn
Phone: 06 90 62 79 07
Email:

oliviersxm@yahoo.fr

Authentic French Tours
Rue de Hollande, Marigot
Phone: 05 90 87 05 11
Email: frog.legs@wanadoo.fr

Dutch Hiking Club
Phone: 599-542-4917