10 Things to Do in Saint Martin in December

St. Martin is an island located in the Caribbean Sea, which shares its territory with two countries. On one side is the Dutch part of the island (southern part), while the other half (northern part) belongs to France. It is a paradisiacal place where you will find beaches, water sports, traditional cuisine and a rich cultural heritage.

During your stay on the island you will have many things to see and do in St. Maarten. For example, visit Orient Beach and Maho Beach to enjoy the natural scenery and take pictures. Also, shop for seasonal produce at the Marigot markets, stroll the island's streets to admire the Christmas lights, celebrate New Year's Eve at local restaurants, bars and casinos, among other activities.

If your visit to the island of Sint Maarten is in December, then you will have the opportunity to celebrate the Christmas season. Join the Christmas Serenades festival, which takes place throughout this month and enjoy a series of cultural and recreational activities aimed at all ages.

This festival is put on by the Tourist Office and the community of Sint Maarten. Access is completely free. You will only have to go to some districts of the island during each weekend of the month of December from 6:00 p.m. onwards, to guarantee fun.

You can go to the community of Sandy Ground, about 20 minutes drive from downtown St. Maarten; the town of Marigot, about 12 minutes from downtown St. Maarten; the village of Grand-Case, about 13 minutes drive from St. Maarten; or the seaside village Quarter of Orleans, about 21 minutes from St. Maarten.

In any of them you will find, Christmas concerts, stalls with traditional sweets, handicrafts, colorful parades, special activities for children, fireworks, etc. Undoubtedly, this is an activity that you can incorporate into your itinerary. It is also a perfect activity to do after you have finished a private tour of Sint Maarten or spent an afternoon shopping.

Maybe you are planning to spend New Year's Eve on the paradisiacal island of St. Maarten. If so, you should know that there are many options to have fun on the night of December 31: from a quiet dinner to lively parties.

You can reserve a table at one of the 300 restaurants on the island. For example, the Patrona St. Maarten, the Isola Restaurant & Lounge Bar, among others.

You will have the opportunity to attend some shows at the island' s casinos such as the Hollywood Casino, the Casino Royale, etc. You can also visit the villages of the region, where dances with orchestras take place, or take a trip to Orient Beach and Maho Beach in St. Maarten, to enjoy the atmosphere of celebration to the rhythm of the DJs.

In the month of December, Christmas lights decorate the facades of buildings, houses, boats on the docks and coconut palms that lead the coastal landscape of the island of St. Maarten. Take a tour of this island and enjoy a different perspective of its streets.

Whether you pass by the Dutch side (Philipsburg) or the French side (Marigot) of the island, after sunset you will be dazzled by the bright and colorful lights that accompany the amazing Christmas decorations. You will also see in the streets some musical groups with drums cheering people with traditional melodies and carols.

This is an activity that you can do on your own after sunset, which is the time when the lights start to turn on. In fact, you can connect with a buggy rental company in St. Maarten and drive around the island in an all-terrain vehicle, obtaining amazing panoramic views.

Christmas is a theme that does not go unnoticed on the island of St. Martin. The parade of lights in the village of Grand-Case is proof of that. Attend this event and enjoy the lively atmosphere of celebration: music, floats, fireworks and much more.

If you are in the center of the island of St. Martin, drive about 15 minutes to the village of Grand-Case and go specifically to the Boulevard de Grand Case. There, on December 24, starting at approximately 6:30 p.m., you will be able to watch the great Christmas light show. Ideal if you are in St. Maarten with children.

Throughout the parade, you will see a series of floats with iconic Christmas characters such as Santa Claus in his sleigh and the Grinch passing in front of you. You will also see living nativity scenes, snowmen, Christmas trees, among others. All this, accompanied by traditional music bands and some dancers.

Also, in this event you will find street food stands, some restaurants and bars that are located on the busy Boulevard de Grand Case, usually incorporated in a guided tour of St. Maarten. At the end of the parade, you will enjoy a fireworks show, which will amaze you.

Information of interest

• Price: free admission.
• Hours: from 6:30 p.m. until approximately midnight.

During your visit to the island of St. Maarten, you will surely want to buy some souvenirs and, why not, take advantage of the month of December to do some Christmas shopping to surprise your family and friends. If so, you should visit the city of Philipsburg, which has a variety of stores, and the best thing is that many of them are tax-free.

The tour starts on Front Street, which is the shopping street of Philipsburg and one of the busiest of the place. Upon arrival, you will see the colorful fashion windows, stores with first class products, perfumeries and jewelry stores where you can buy loose diamonds, custom-made pieces, among others.

Then, you should continue walking along this street parallel to the promenade. You will find a beautiful landscape and many other stores of interest. Some of them are:

• The Guavaberry Emporium, where you can buy traditional drinks made with wild guavas, rum, cane sugar, among other local ingredients.
• The Art craft café, which offers art exhibitions, delicious coffee and a store with handicrafts.
• The Shipwreck store with souvenirs, Christmas ornaments, clothing, accessories and much more.

You can do this tour on your own, but you will also find tours and excursions that incorporate a shopping route with other activities. For example, a guided walking tour through the main streets of the city, a quad bike ride in San Martin, a tourist bus tour, among others. Any of them with stops at some stores and markets of interest.

The Rusty Parrot in St. Ma arten is a rather innovative museum where you will learn about the pirate history of the Caribbean. In addition, it usually offers live music, special events aimed at children and adults, which during the month of December are adapted to the Christmas season.

This pirate museum is located in Philipsburg, better known as the capital of the Dutch side of the island. It is a sunken ship with a large exhibit of antique pirate artifacts and interactive exhibits. You can tour the facilities at your own pace, take pictures, chat with the captain and crew.

You will have the opportunity to access the upper deck of the ship. There, you will be able to drink and eat, while enjoying a 360º view of Philipsburg and the Caribbean Sea, which during sunset is usually more attractive.

In addition, this pirate experience on Rusty Parrot in St. Maarten in December, will provide you with a special celebratory atmosphere. Throughout the ship you will find beautiful decorations in front of which you can have your picture taken, while children will be able to play on the playground.

Information of interest

• Price: the experience has an approximate cost of 24€ per person.
• Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 am to 3:30 pm, Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 am to 3:30 pm. Closed on Mondays.

Although the island of St. Maarten during the month of December is a bit warm and due to its position in the Caribbean Sea there is no chance of snowfall, this is not a reason for you not to have the opportunity to skate on artificial ice during your stay. You will be able to spend a different and fun day.

You should head to Philipsburg on the island and there you will find rinks like ShellJen. This is a very popular restaurant and skating rink, which in December gives you a very particular atmosphere, thanks to the lights and decorations. You will feel that it really is winter.

In addition, in the restaurant area you will have the opportunity to taste delicious sweet and savory dishes in good Caribbean style. Undoubtedly, this is a different activity aimed at adults and children, so you can enjoy with friends, family or with the little ones of the house.

The Marigot market is one of the main tourist attractions on the French side of the island. There, you can find fresh seasonal products (fish, fruits, vegetables, spices). You will also find handicrafts, souvenirs, Christmas decorations and much more.

When you arrive at this market, you will be intoxicated by the smells of the land and the sea. It is a picturesque space made up of a little more than 100 open-air commercial stalls. You will be able to walk around this place at your own pace and, thus, observe the variety of products offered.

For example, some of them are:

• Seafood: fish, lobsters, crabs and snails. All of them brought by local fishermen.
• Tropical fruits harvested in the region such as pineapple, soursop and mango.
• Vegetables such as plantains, cassava and yams.
• Traditional dishes prepared directly in the market such as cod fritters, fried fish, pork ribs San Martin style, the famous guavaberry rum, etc.

In addition, you will have the opportunity to buy a variety of Christmas ornaments, jewelry, hats, clothing and other handicrafts. It is a very busy place with a beautiful view of the Caribbean Sea.

Information of interest

• Price: free admission.
• Hours: The market is open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.

If you are enthusiastic about water sports such as surfing, then during your stay on the island of St. Martin in December you should visit some of its beaches. Take advantage of this month's wave season and the warm waters.

You can head to Friars' Bay; this is a beach with crystal-clear waters and bordered by fine sand, located on the west coast of the island. Here you will find good waves for beginners and professionals. You can also check the surf forecast beforehand.

Another good option is Burgeaux Beach, in the southwest of the island. This is a beach with gentle waves, ideal if you are just starting out in surfing. Also, Mullet Bay Beach, with a calm atmosphere and sandy shores, offers a privileged swell in December thanks to the north winds.

In addition to surfing, you can take advantage of other water activities. Such is the case of joining one of the diving and snorkeling experiences and tours in Philipsburg offered on these beaches.

Due to the dry weather in December on the island of St. Martin, you will be able to enjoy clear skies throughout this month. Take advantage of this weather condition on the paradisiacal local beaches and take some pictures.

While you will find some 37 beaches to visit on the island, two of the most popular are Orient Beach (on the French side) and Maho Beach (on the Dutch side). In fact, some of the best tours and day trips in St. Maarten incorporate both destinations into their itinerary. In this sense, you could join this type of experience or make the visit on your own.

Whichever option you choose, you will be able to use natural light (day or night) to your advantage, to create different contrasts, brightness and visual sensations in your compositions. You will have the opportunity to take amazing pictures of the sea, the sky, the sand, low flying airplanes, etc.

Temperatures on the island of Sint Maarten range from an average low of 23ºC to a high of 29ºC. The daily average is around 26ºC. You will rarely see the thermometer exceed 30ºC.

Due to its privileged position in the Caribbean Sea, the island of Sint Maarten has a tropical climate, whose temperatures vary slightly throughout the year. Rainfall during this month reaches 93.8 millimeters, which corresponds to about 13 days. The sea water temperature is usually around 26ºC.

December on the island of Sint Maarten is a warm month. Therefore, if you plan to visit this paradisiacal place during this season, you will have to pack some shorts, tank tops, beach dresses, short skirts, swimsuits, among other clothes preferably made of cotton.

You should not forget sunscreen, mosquito repellent, sunglasses, a hat or a cap. In this way, you will avoid skin burns and possible sunstroke. Also, wear open shoes for the beach and closed shoes in case you plan to go to a casino or formal restaurant.