With an area of only 37 square miles, the island of St. Maarten/St. Martin is the smallest land mass in the world to be divided between two governments. Its dual owners are the Dutch and the French, who have shared the tiny and paradisiacal island more or less peacefully for almost 350 years. This understated absence of conflict testifies to one of the island’s most precious and attractive characteristics-its unusual serenity.
The northern part of this twin-nation island is 53 square miles of French territory with a strikingly French way of life. The two parts of this popular resort island have some things in common – the weather is excellent, as are the beaches, hotels and restaurants.
Away from the busy towns, visitors will find a wide choice of breathtakingly beautiful beaches and bays, some of them popular and lively, others quiet and secluded. Some can only be reached by boat.
