St Maarten Catamaran Tours 2026: Prices, Anguilla & Booking

Q: What is the best catamaran tour in St Maarten?

For most people, the Random Wind day sail: rated 5.0 from 1,874 reviews, five hours with two snorkel stops, lunch and an open bar. The Phoenix is the easy pick for cruise passengers, as it boards at Bobby's Marina in Philipsburg. For a full day round the island to Tintamarre, take the Eco Tour. Read the catamaran tours compared.

Q: Can I walk from the cruise port to the catamarans?

Yes, if your boat leaves from Bobby's Marina in Philipsburg. It sits on Great Bay between the cruise pier and Front Street: the Phoenix listing calls it a 10-minute walk, Eagle Tours says 20. Boats from Simpson Bay need a taxi; the official fare from the cruise port is $20 for one or two people. See the cruise port guide.

Catamarans

Choose your St Maarten catamaran

The island's best-rated day sail in the centre, the Phoenix for cruise passengers who want to walk to the boat, and the full-day Eco Tour that goes right round to Tintamarre.

From Philipsburg ★ 4.95 hours1,096 reviewsFree cancellation

The Phoenix Catamaran Day Sail to Mullet Bay

Maho BeachLunchPaddleboards

A shared sail from Bobby's Marina, a 10-minute walk from the cruise pier, to Little Bay and Mullet Bay. It passes Maho Beach for the landing planes on the way.

What's included

Five hours: Little Bay, a pass by Maho Beach, then Mullet Bay
Guided snorkel stop with all gear, two paddleboards and an 18 ft water mat
Fruit and cake in the morning, a cooked lunch, cocktails, beer and soft drinks
Up to 38 guests; check in by 9:40 am at Bobby's Marina
Not included: gratuities or towels

From$139per person Reserve

Best rated ★ 5.05 hours1,874 reviewsFree cancellation

Random Wind Catamaran Day Sail & Snorkel

Tarzan swingOpen barLunch

A shared sailing catamaran to two snorkel bays, Little Bay and Mullet Bay, with paddleboards and a rope swing. Lunch is homemade and the open bar runs all day.

What's included

Five hours with stops at Little Bay and Mullet Bay, 10:00 am start
Snorkel gear, life jackets, stand-up paddleboard and the Tarzan swing
Homemade lunch, snacks and a top-shelf open bar
Up to 35 guests; meeting point sent by email the week before
Not included: gratuities or hotel pickup

From$145per person Reserve

Full day ★ 4.98 hours585 reviewsFree cancellation

Eco Tour Catamaran: Tintamarre & Creole Rock

TintamarreCreole RockBuffet lunch

Eagle Tours sails right around the island to Tintamarre and the reef at Creole Rock. Lunch is a barbecue buffet on board, then a floating bar at Long Bay.

What's included

Eight hours around the island, 9:00 am start (check in 8:30 am)
About an hour on Tintamarre, then snorkelling at Creole Rock
Mini baguette sandwiches, a barbecue buffet lunch and an open bar
Snorkel gear, flotation and a dinghy crew on the reef
Not included: gratuities and the $6 French nature fee, paid on the day

From$149per person Reserve

More catamaran days and sunset sails

Turtles, Anguilla, sunsets, private

Sea turtles ★ 4.97 hours633 reviews

Compare

Which catamaran suits you

Most shared day sails cost $139 to $159 and include lunch and an open bar. What separates them is the marina they leave from, how far they go and whether the boat actually sails.

Trip	Leaves from	Best for	Length	Rating	From
Random Wind Catamaran Day Sail & Snorkel	Simpson Bay (exact meeting point emailed)	Two snorkel bays, a rope swing and the top rating	5 hours	★ 5.0 (1,874)	$145	Book
The Phoenix Catamaran Day Sail to Mullet Bay	Bobby's Marina, Philipsburg	Cruise passengers on foot, Maho Beach planes	5 hours	★ 4.9 (1,096)	$139	Book
Eco Tour Catamaran: Tintamarre & Creole Rock	Bobby's Marina, Philipsburg	A full day round the island to the reserve	8 hours	★ 4.9 (585)	$149	Book
Boomerang Power Catamaran: Swim with Turtles	Simpson Bay	A fast two-deck power cat to Pinel and Tintamarre (no sails)	7 hours	★ 4.9 (633)	$159	Book
Anguilla Cays & Coves Catamaran Day	Bobby's Marina, Philipsburg	Prickly Pear and Anguilla; passport and $25 cash fee	8 hours	★ 4.7 (541)	$149	Book
Flagship II Luxury Catamaran Day	Bobby's Marina, Philipsburg	A small group, breakfast and a four-course lunch	9 hours	★ 4.9 (275)	$255	Book
No1SXM Sunset Sail on a Trimaran	Nowhere Special, Simpson Bay lagoon	A quiet sunset sail for couples, hosted by the owners	2 hours	★ 4.9 (304)	$67	Book
Sunset Champagne Catamaran Cruise	Bobby's Marina, Philipsburg	Unlimited champagne along the coast at sunset	1.5 hours	★ 4.7 (83)	$55	Book
Tango Caribbean Dinner Cruise	Simpson Bay Resort marina	Sunset, a Creole buffet and dancing on a 65 ft cat	3 hours	★ 4.7 (530)	$85	Book
Private Full-Day Sailing Catamaran Charter	Bobby's Marina, Philipsburg	The whole boat for your group, lunch cooked on board	6 hours	★ 5.0 (499)	$1,750	Book
Captain Alan's 3-Island Snorkel & Turtle Trip	Oyster Bay Marina, east coast	Turtles in a group of 12 on a small motor boat	4 hours	★ 4.9 (648)	$99	Book

Children pay less on most trips, and every trip here cancels for a full refund up to 24 hours before. Tips are not included on any of them, and trips into the French nature reserve add $5 to $6 per person in cash.

Two flags, many islets

One island, two nations, and the reefs in between.

St Maarten is about 87 square kilometres, split since the Treaty of Concordia in 1648: French Saint-Martin in the north, Dutch Sint Maarten in the south, and no border post between them. A catamaran sees both sides in a day. Philipsburg and the cruise pier are Dutch; Grand Case, Marigot and most of the snorkel islets are French.

Those islets sit inside the Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin, created in 1998 and covering about 3,060 hectares, nearly all of it sea. Tintamarre, Pinel and Creole Rock are all in it. Boats tie up to yellow moorings instead of dropping anchor on the reef, and operators collect a small fee per guest. Tintamarre, the flat island off the east coast, once had an airstrip, and wrecked plane hulls still lie there. Green and hawksbill turtles graze the seagrass nearby.

1648

The year the Treaty of Concordia split the island between France and the Netherlands, with free movement across it ever since.

TintamarreCreole RockPinel IslandPrickly Pear Cays

A small flat island with a white beach and turquoise shallows, a catamaran anchored off it — The reserve islets are easiest to reach by boat.

01

Sail or motor?

Most day sails raise the sails for part of the day. Boomerang is a power catamaran: faster, no sails.

02

What costs extra?

The tip on every trip, $5 to $6 in reserve fees on the French side, and $25 cash for Anguilla.

03

Where do I board?

Bobby's Marina in Philipsburg, or a marina in Simpson Bay, a taxi ride away. Check your voucher.

04

Who should skip Anguilla?

Anyone prone to bad seasickness. The open channel is the roughest water of any trip here.

The day

How a catamaran day unfolds

Most day sails start between 9 and 10 am and are back by mid-afternoon. This is how a typical west-coast sail runs.

01

Check in at the marina

Bobby's Marina in Philipsburg or a marina in Simpson Bay, 20 to 30 minutes before the start. Shoes usually come off at the gangway.

8:15 to 9:40 am

02

Sail along the coast

The rum punch comes out early. On west-coast routes the boat slows off Maho Beach as the jets come in low.

About an hour

03

Snorkel and swim

Usually two stops: a reef with gear and crew in the water, then a beach bay with paddleboards, mats or a rope swing.

1 to 2 hours each

04

Lunch and home

A cooked lunch on board, a slower ride back with music, and the dock by mid-afternoon.

5 to 8 hours in all

A green sea turtle resting on pale sand in clear shallow water

The coast from the sea

A platter of fruit, pastries and snacks on a white catamaran table

Lunch on board

A sailing catamaran under sail at sunset with an orange sky

Sunset sail

The front trampoline of a catamaran anchored off a white beach

Anchored off the beach

Limestone cliffs and a resort above turquoise water in Anguilla

Anguilla's coast

Plan your day

Plan your catamaran trip

Getting to the boat, tickets and ages, the fees and tips nobody mentions, and what to pack.

Cruise ships dock at the Dr. A.C. Wathey pier on Great Bay, a walk-off pier just outside Philipsburg.
Bobby's Marina is between the pier and Front Street: about 10 minutes on foot by the Phoenix's directions, 20 by Eagle Tours'.
Simpson Bay marinas need a taxi: the official fare from the cruise port is $20 for one or two people.
The Simpson Bay drawbridge opens at 8:30, 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 am and 2, 4 and 5 pm, and traffic stops while it is up.
Random Wind emails its meeting point the week before; check your junk folder, the operator asks.

Prices on this site are Viator from-prices in US dollars per adult and move with the season.
Children pay less on most trips; you must be 18 to drink from the open bar.
Group sizes from the listings: 35 on Random Wind, 38 on the Phoenix, 28 on the Eco Tour and Boomerang, 15 on Flagship II.
The private charter is priced for the whole boat, not per person.
Most boats are not wheelchair accessible, according to the listings.

Tips: not included on any trip here; 15 to 20 percent in cash is normal on the island.
Reserve fee: $6 per person on the Eco Tour and Boomerang, $5 on Captain Alan's trip, paid on board.
Anguilla: bring your passport and $25 cash per person for the government fee on Cays & Coves.
Parking: $2 an hour at Bobby's Marina.
Towels: not supplied on the Phoenix, Boomerang or Flagship II, by their listings.

A towel and a dry change of clothes for the ride home.
Reef-safe sunscreen, lotion rather than spray: the Nature Foundation asks visitors to use it.
A hat and sunglasses; shade on deck is limited on some boats.
Small US dollar bills for the tip and the reserve fee.
Your passport for any Anguilla trip, and a seasick remedy taken before you board.

DailyWest-coast day sailsLittle Bay, Maho Beach and Mullet Bay in about five hours.

Full dayTintamarre & Creole RockRound the island into the French nature reserve.

Full dayAnguilla & Prickly PearWhite sand cays across the channel; passport needed.

EveningsSunset sailsNinety minutes to two hours, from $55 with champagne.

EveningsTango dinner cruiseA Creole buffet on a 65 ft catamaran, check in 4:45 pm.

Any dayPrivate chartersThe whole boat and your own route, priced per group.

Where trips start

Bobby's Marina, Philipsburg

The marina on Great Bay

22 Juancho Yrausquin Blvd, Philipsburg, Sint Maarten

The Phoenix, the Eco Tour, Anguilla Cays & Coves, Flagship II, the champagne sunset cruise and the private charter all board at Bobby's Marina, on Great Bay between the cruise pier and Front Street. Most offices are next to the wooden gazebo. Boomerang leaves from a marina in Simpson Bay, the Tango from the Simpson Bay Resort marina, No1SXM from Nowhere Special on the lagoon by dinghy, and Captain Alan from Oyster Bay on the east coast.

Check in 20 to 30 minutes before the start
Parking at Bobby's Marina: $2 an hour
Simpson Bay trips: allow for the bridge openings

Get directions

Around your trip

Everything else worth knowing

Timing, the small things guests wish they had known, what is nearby and the weather fine print.

December to April: the main season, with steady trade winds for sailing and the fullest boats.
Winter swells: north swells can make the north coast and the Anguilla channel rolly; boats then favour the west coast.
Hurricane season: 1 June to 30 November, busiest from mid-August to mid-October. Book with free cancellation.
Sunset: around 5:50 pm in January and 6:45 pm in June and July; sunset cruises move with it.

Sit on the front trampoline for the spray, or under the cover if you burn easily.
Snorkel at Little Bay and Creole Rock. Mullet Bay is better for swimming: one guest found "nothing to see and poor visibility" there.
Off Little Bay, a sunk submarine replica, a helicopter and a plane lie in shallow water near Divi Little Bay.
See Maho from the boat. The jet blast at the beach fence killed a visitor in 2017.
On a ship day, choose a Bobby's Marina boat and a trip back by mid-afternoon.

Front Street: Philipsburg's shopping street, a few minutes from Bobby's Marina.
Maho Beach: the planes over the sand, about 30 minutes by taxi from the pier.
Grand Case: the lolos, open-air barbecue grills on the French side's waterfront.
Pinel Island: a small ferry crosses from Cul-de-Sac in 5 to 10 minutes, cash only.

Every trip here cancels for a full refund up to 24 hours before on Viator.
If a trip is cancelled for poor weather, Viator offers a different date or a full refund.
Rough seas can change the route on the day, most often on Anguilla trips.
Showers pass fast in the Caribbean; crews usually wait them out rather than cancel.

Guest reviews

What guests say

5.0 ★★★★★
1,874 reviews · Random Wind catamaran day sail
live Viator & Tripadvisor figure

★★★★★
The crew is top-notch and the experience overall is fabulous. If you are looking for an affordable day excursion, this is it!
Lisa C. · Random Wind day sail, Oct 2026

★★★★★
We took our kids (5 and 9) and our whole family loved it! Perfect way to see St. Maarten and have a blast along the way. [...] Open bar and great snorkel and swim sites.
Ashley P. · The Phoenix day sail, Sep 2026

★★★★★
Absolutely amazing day trip. The crew was phenomenal. [...] The crew is thoughtful in giving help and advice during snorkeling and swimming.
Valeria B. · Eco Tour around the island, Sep 2026

★★★★★
Snorkeling to Divi off the shores of Little Bay Beach Resort to see underwater sub & helicopter in crystal blue water, as well as tons of fish, then on to Mullet Bay [...] where we swung on the Tarzan swing
Bonny K. · Random Wind day sail, Oct 2026

★★★★★
The crew on this boat were professional as well as fun! They shared all sorts of interesting information about the islands around Saint Martin. It was a fun day of drinking, swimming and snorkeling!
Nicole A. · Boomerang turtle trip, Aug 2026

★★★★★
Pieter and Mirian were a delight. Both of them were very attentive and friendly. They wanted to make sure everyone was having a good time.
Dan V. · No1SXM sunset sail, Sep 2026

★★★★★
Great catamaran experience. We snorkeled, paddle boarded and enjoyed the scenery. Staff was great and very attentive.
Carlixto S. · The Phoenix day sail, Sep 2026

★★★★★
We had a great time! very cool experience! The crew was fantastic and the lunch was delicious. Would recommend for anyone wanting a nice day trip with some snorkeling
Cate D. · Anguilla Cays & Coves, Oct 2026

★★★★★
The crew takes care of you all day long!! Just bring a towel and sunscreen [...] and you will have the best day ever exploring the beaches and waters of St. Martin
Cassi W. · Eco Tour around the island, Apr 2026

Prefer a small boat?

Twelve guests, more turtles

Not a catamaran, and that is the point: a short run from the east coast to the reserve islets, a long time in the water and a group small enough that the crew knows your name.

Captain Alan's 3-Island Snorkel & Turtle Trip

★ 4.9 · 648 reviews · 4 hours

Not every great boat day needs a catamaran. Captain Alan's small motor boats leave from Oyster Bay on the quiet east coast, a short hop from Tintamarre and Pinel, and carry twelve guests at most. You snorkel where the sea turtles feed, stop on a beach, and are back by mid-afternoon. Cruise passengers get a shared round-trip transfer for $14 cash per person, and the $5 nature reserve fee is paid on the day.

TintamarrePinel Island12 guests at most

From$99per personReserve

The guide

St Maarten by catamaran, explained

St Maarten is small enough to sail round in a day and busy enough that its best water is away from the roads. A catamaran gets you there with lunch and a bar on board. Here is how to pick the right one.

West coast, east coast or Anguilla

The trips fall into three groups. West-coast day sails are the classic five hours: Little Bay for the snorkelling, a slow pass off Maho Beach for the planes, then Mullet Bay for swimming. They are calm, short and easy to fit around a ship. East-coast and round-the-island days head into the French nature reserve, to Tintamarre, Pinel and Creole Rock, where the reefs are better and the turtles feed. Expect seven or eight hours. Anguilla days cross the channel to the Prickly Pear Cays and Anguilla's long white beaches: the best sand of the lot, the roughest crossing, and a passport check.

If you only have one day and no strong preference, take the west coast. If you have snorkelled before and want more than fish over sand, go east.

A snorkeller floating over a rocky reef full of striped fish, a white catamaran anchored beyond — The reefs around the reserve islets are the best snorkelling on the island.

Does the boat actually sail?

Not always, and not all day. A sailing catamaran usually raises the sails for part of the trip and motors the rest, especially on a schedule. One Anguilla guest summed it up: two hours under sail out, "the return is by motor". Boomerang does not pretend: it is a two-deck power catamaran, quicker between stops and steadier for lunch, with no sails at all. For the real thing, the No1SXM owners sail their trimaran wherever the wind allows.

A green sea turtle swimming over seagrass in clear shallow water — Green turtles graze the seagrass beds around the reserve islets.

Before you go: bring cash. Every listing on this site leaves the tip out of the price, the French nature reserve fee is collected on board, and Anguilla trips ask for $25 per person in cash for the government fee. Small US dollar bills are easiest.

Making the most of the day

Book the morning departure, eat a proper breakfast, and put the sunscreen on before you board. Pick a spot in the shade first; you can always move to the trampoline. In the water, let the turtles come to you and keep your hands to yourself: touching them is forbidden. Leave the camera in a dry bag until the anchor is down, and keep your shoes in the basket at the gangway. If you are on a ship, check the all-aboard time against the trip's return before you book, not after.

Rum punch cups, a fruit tray and a cooler of drinks on a catamaran deck, an island beyond — Rum punch, fruit and an open bar are standard on the day sails.

Compare the catamarans

FAQ

Questions before you book

Straight answers to what visitors ask most about St Maarten catamaran trips.

What is the best catamaran tour in St Maarten?

For most people, the Random Wind day sail: rated 5.0 from 1,874 reviews, five hours with two snorkel stops, lunch and an open bar. The Phoenix is the easy pick for cruise passengers, as it boards at Bobby's Marina in Philipsburg. For a full day round the island to Tintamarre, take the Eco Tour. Read the catamaran tours compared.

How much does a catamaran trip cost in St Maarten?

On Viator, a sunset cruise starts from $55 and a shared five-hour day sail from $139 to $145 per adult. Full days to Tintamarre or Anguilla run $149 to $159, the 15-guest Flagship II $255, and a private charter from $1,750 for the whole boat. Tips and any nature reserve or Anguilla fees come on top.

Can I walk from the cruise port to the catamarans?

Yes, if your boat leaves from Bobby's Marina in Philipsburg. It sits on Great Bay between the cruise pier and Front Street: the Phoenix listing calls it a 10-minute walk, Eagle Tours says 20. Boats from Simpson Bay need a taxi; the official fare from the cruise port is $20 for one or two people. See the cruise port guide.

Do I need a passport for a catamaran trip to Anguilla?

Yes. Anguilla is a separate country, and every Anguilla day trip clears immigration. The Cays & Coves catamaran also asks for $25 in cash per person for the Anguilla government fee. Read the Anguilla day trip guide.

Can you swim with sea turtles in St Maarten?

Often, yes. Green and hawksbill turtles feed in the seagrass around Tintamarre and Pinel, and the Boomerang and Captain Alan trips are built around them. Sightings are never guaranteed, and touching a turtle is forbidden. See the Tintamarre guide.

Are tips included on St Maarten catamaran trips?

Not on any trip listed here: every Viator listing on this site puts gratuities under "not included". Crews are usually tipped in cash at the end, and 15 to 20 percent is the normal range on the island.

Are lunch and drinks included?

On the day sails, yes: a cooked lunch or buffet and an open bar with rum punch, beer and soft drinks. The sunset cruises serve snacks with champagne or an open bar, and the Tango adds a Creole buffet dinner. The drinking age on board is 18.

What is the nature reserve fee on catamaran trips?

Trips that stop at Tintamarre, Pinel or Creole Rock enter the Réserve Naturelle de Saint-Martin, set up in 1998. Operators collect a fee of $5 to $6 per person in cash on board: $6 on the Eco Tour and Boomerang, $5 on Captain Alan's trip.

Will I get seasick on a catamaran in St Maarten?

Less than on most boats. Two hulls make a wide, stable platform that hardly rolls. The roughest water is the open channel to Anguilla and the north coast in a winter swell, so take a remedy before you board if you are prone to it.

When is the best time for a catamaran trip in St Maarten?

December to April brings the most settled sailing weather and the busiest boats. Hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November, peaking from mid-August to mid-October. The sea stays warm all year, from about 26 °C in February to 29 °C in September.

Can you see the planes at Maho Beach from a catamaran?

Yes. The Phoenix and several west-coast day sails pass Maho Beach as jets come in low over the bay to Princess Juliana Airport. From the water you get the view without the jet blast, which killed a visitor at the beach fence in 2017.

What should I bring on a St Maarten catamaran trip?

A towel (several boats do not supply one), reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, small US dollar bills for the tip and any reserve fee, and your passport for Anguilla. Snorkel gear and life jackets are provided.

St Maarten Catamaran Trips

Choose your St Maarten catamaran

The Phoenix Catamaran Day Sail to Mullet Bay

Random Wind Catamaran Day Sail & Snorkel

Eco Tour Catamaran: Tintamarre & Creole Rock

More catamaran days and sunset sails

Boomerang Power Catamaran: Swim with Turtles

Anguilla Cays & Coves Catamaran Day

Flagship II Luxury Catamaran Day

No1SXM Sunset Sail on a Trimaran

Sunset Champagne Catamaran Cruise

Tango Caribbean Dinner Cruise

Private Full-Day Sailing Catamaran Charter

Which catamaran suits you

One island, two nations, and the reefs in between.

Sail or motor?

What costs extra?

Where do I board?

Who should skip Anguilla?

How a catamaran day unfolds

Check in at the marina

Sail along the coast

Snorkel and swim

Lunch and home

Plan your catamaran trip

Bobby's Marina, Philipsburg

The marina on Great Bay

Everything else worth knowing

Turquoise bays, a rum punch and lunch on deck.

What guests say

Twelve guests, more turtles

Captain Alan's 3-Island Snorkel & Turtle Trip

St Maarten by catamaran, explained

West coast, east coast or Anguilla

Does the boat actually sail?

Making the most of the day

Plan it properly

Questions before you book

Pick your boat, find your bay.