Discover the top 10 activities and sites to visit while staying at La Vista! From bird sanctuaries to zip lining, beach hopping to brewery tours, and everything in between. Explore the island's natural beauty, indulge in delicious local brews, and enjoy the laid-back island lifestyle.
There’s never enough time to do all the activities or see all of the sites when you go on a trip, but we have compiled a list of 10 of our guests’ must-do/see activities and sites while visiting!
1. Parrotville
Located in Dutch Quarter, this bird sanctuary offers fun for kids and adults alike. They are open daily from 9:30am until 4:30pm, although the birds are supposedly most active in the morning. Head on over so you can learn about, walk with and feed some beautiful and well cared for birds!
2. Boat trips
With hundreds of different tours to choose from, you will be able to find the boat trip that best suits your needs and wants while on St. Maarten! From ferries to nearby islands, around-the-island coastal tours, day-trips to the hottest snorkeling spots, or just a full-on party boat – St. Maarten offers them all! Ask the ladies at the front desk for their recommendations based on what kind of trip you’re looking for and they will gladly assist you!
3. Zip lining
There are two favorite ziplining locations on the island – one on the Dutch side, at Rainforest Adventures, and one of the French side, at Loterie Farm. Rainforest adventures is home to the worlds-steepest zipline, The Flying Dutchman, and consists of a lift ride up to the mountain top and a zip straight down to the bottom again. At Loterie Farm, you have a bit more choice in what kind of zip lining adventure you’d like to go on as they offer an obstacle-course tree climb adventure with zip lines throughout the course, or an extreme zipline that features a few longer zips with no obstacles in between.
4. Beach hopping
Being a Caribbean Island, St. Maarten has no shortage of beautiful beaches! From popular spots like Orient Beach, Grand Case Beach and Mullet Bay Beach to the lesser-known beaches such as Plum Bay and Baie Rouge, you can enjoy the sunshine and crystal-clear Caribbean waters at any beach, but it’s always recommended to hop around so you experience the differences that each beach has to offer!
5. Bar hopping
St. Maarten has a multitude of bars to choose from – from specialty beers to exquisite cocktails or even just “straight up rum bars” – you’ll be able to quench your thirst no matter what your preference is! Some favorites can be found along the boardwalk in Philipsburg, along “the strip” in Simpson Bay, or in the Maho area on the Dutch Side. On the French side Orient Beach seems to be the “go-to” spot, although we are always happy to recommend other areas if you want something a bit closer!
6. Brewery tour
St. Maarten has a few locally brewed beers on both the Dutch and French sides of the island that offer tours of their facilities! From Pelikaan to SXM Beer to the Dutch Blonde, there are a few different facilities you can tour and beers you can try! Ask the ladies at the front desk about their recommendations for brewery tours!
7. Hiking trails
With so many luscious mountains, St. Maarten and St. Martin have many hiking trails! Some more challenging than others, but all with rewarding views at the end! If you’re not as experienced hiking, we recommend a shorter/less hilly trail, such as the Natural Pool hike from Pointe Blanche. Please note that this hike is along a coast and might be considered slightly difficult to some due to the rocky nature of the trail. If you’re looking for a more challenging hike, we recommend hiking the Fleming trail in Cole Bay directly across from the roundabout near the Sol Gas station by the Causeway. If you’d like to do a guided hike while on the island, please ask the ladies at the front desk as they will be happy to book one for you!
8. Jewelry shopping
With hundreds of different jewelry stores on the island, there’s something to be found for everyone! Philipsburg is home to a majority of the well-known jewelry stores on the island with some others in areas like Simpson Bay and Maho on the Dutch side and some in Grand Case and Orient Bay on the French side! Whether you like to be covered in diamonds or splashed out in gold, you’ll have a great time shopping for unique pieces at any jewelry store on the island!
9. Driving tour
Take your rental car and drive around to get to know St. Maarten a little bit better! St. Maarten has one “main road” that loops all the way around with side-roads leading to various business and neighborhoods, so it’s difficult to get lost, but if that’s a concern of yours, you can always hire a taxi driver to give you a tour! Also, we must note that while this is a favorite activity for many, it is also one that comes with the risk of sitting in that all-too-famous St. Maarten traffic. In order to avoid the long lines of cars, make sure you go on your tour during the day, and try to avoid rush-hour times from 7:00am to 9:00am and 4:00pm to 6:00pm.
10. Lounging at the pools
Sometimes it’s nice to take a break from the sea-breeze and ocean water and just kick-back and relax by the pool! La Vista has a large, spacious infinity pool and a pool deck area with both covered and full-sun lounging options, while La Vista Beach has a smaller pool just steps away from the beach! There are ample sunchairs available for your use as well as umbrellas to keep you protected from the Caribbean sun! Try out one or both pools during your next stay with us and see which one you prefer!
