Where to watch the sunset in St Martin: Baie Longue, Grand Case pier, Fort Louis, or off Terres Basses on a jet ski. What to know about each spot.
In St Martin, the sun sets over the Caribbean Sea, on the west side of the island. To watch it go down, you have options: a long white sand beach, the Grand Case pier, the heights of a fort above Marigot, or the sea itself, from a jet ski. Here are the viewpoints the St Martin tourism office recommends, and how to enjoy the show from the water, leaving from Marigot.
Where is the best place to watch the sunset in St Martin?
On the west and southwest coast, facing the Caribbean Sea. The tourism office picks four spots: Baie Longue and Baie aux Prunes beaches, Grand Case beach and its pier, and Fort Louis above Marigot, which it calls its favorite. And from the sea, our Sunset Dream tour takes you off Terres Basses, where we see the most beautiful sunset on the island.
Each spot has its own feel. Here is what to know about each one.
From the beach: Baie Longue and Baie aux Prunes
On the southwest tip of the French side, these two beaches are really one: the sand runs from one to the other, below the hills of Terres Basses. The tourism office ranks them among the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean. They face west, straight out to the Caribbean Sea, which is what makes them ideal for a sunset.
Before you go:
- Baie Longue runs for more than half a mile, with no big resort complex and no party bar; you reach it on foot after a few minutes' walk.
- It stays quiet: families on a picnic, couples waiting for the end of the day, and now and then a cruise ship lit up on the horizon.
- Sea turtles come ashore to nest here at nightfall, the tourism office points out: one more reason to keep it low key.
Grand Case, its pier and its beach restaurants
For a sunset with a drink in hand, the tourism office suggests Grand Case and its restaurants right on the sand. Simpler, and just as lovely: walk to the end of the Grand Case pier and sit at the edge. As the sun fully disappears, you can sometimes catch a thin green flash on the horizon, the office notes.
Fort Louis, above Marigot
This is the tourism office's favorite viewpoint, and also the busiest. A few steps lead up to the fort. From the top, the view reaches Anguilla and the Caribbean Sea, and you watch the sun go down far off, behind Terres Basses, while Marigot is bathed in beautiful light.
Terres Basses, as it happens, is the coastline two of our tours follow.
Watch the sunset from the sea, on a jet ski
From the beach, you watch the sunset. On the water, you are in it. That is the idea behind the Sunset Dream, a 90-minute tour leaving from Marina Royale in Marigot:
- Departure: after the briefing, you leave the marina on your jet ski, following the guide.
- Heading to Terres Basses: you ride along the west coast as the light goes down.
- Sunset from the sea: the most beautiful on the island, in our view, seen from your jet ski.
Like all our tours, Sunset Dream works with or without a boating licence, from age 16, with a certified guide from start to finish. Two people can share one jet ski at the same price, which makes it a ride for two.
Want to see the same coast in full daylight? The Terres Basses tour also lasts 1.5 hours, along the cliffs, villas and white sand beaches of the island's west side.
Rather not ride yourself? Boat Paradise SXM runs a Sunset Tour by boat, a sunset cruise with a glass of champagne on us: see our boat tours page.
Planning a sunset ride
- Timing: the sun does not set at the same time all year. You book your day, then we call you or message you on WhatsApp to set the exact departure time.
- Weather: if a tour is cancelled for weather or technical reasons, we offer you other time slots. To pick your season, read our guide to the best time to visit St Martin.
- As a gift: a Sunset Dream gift voucher arrives by email right away and is valid for one year. The lucky person picks their day.
The short version
For a sunset in St Martin, look west: Baie Longue and Baie aux Prunes for peace and quiet, Grand Case for the atmosphere, Fort Louis for the view. And to live it at water level, off Terres Basses, book your Sunset Dream jet ski tour.
