Maho Beach

easily spent the most time here than any other place/beach on the island. it is so fun to try to grab the perfect photo with the planes landing. i would suggest getting there earlier than when the planes start to takeoff/land because it can get extremely packed not to mention to find parking which can be atrocious if it’s already filled with people.

Beautiful place, but busy and very small. It's a nice place for watching the airplanes passing but I would not stay for swimming. You can easily walk to Simpson Bay where you can also watch the airplanes and swim.

A visit to St. Martin wouldn’t be complete without spending an afternoon at Maho Beach! While the beach itself is nice, the real attraction is the experience of watching planes land and take off at Princess Juliana International Airport. This runway is one of the closest to the ocean in the world, separated from the beach by just a narrow road. Every day, crowds gather to watch low-flying aircraft make their approach, capturing unforgettable photos and even braving the powerful jet blasts from departing planes. For a more relaxed experience, you can rent chairs and umbrellas at Sunset Bar and Grill, a laid-back spot where you can enjoy a drink and a bite to eat while watching the action from a comfortable distance. The best time to visit is early afternoon when the largest planes arrive. To make the most of your visit, download a flight radar app to track arrivals and departures. Whether you’re an aviation enthusiast or just looking for a unique thrill, Maho Beach is a must-do in St. Martin and never disappoints!

I miss visiting this beach during my work trip. It spans through several restaurants as well as it’s situated in between some fancy resort hotels. It’s very much walkable to and from the beach area. There are plenty of people who enjoy the sand, the ocean waves as well as seeing the planes take off and land into the airport. Highly recommend visiting Maho Beach if you’re on the Dutch side.

Fun beach for plane watching on cruise ship stop the other day. Shared taxi $9pp each way from cruise pier to Maho/Airport Beach, 30 mins drive. 2 chairs+umbrella $30 but not needed. Sand is soft, water is refreshing. Larger planes land mostly in afternoon between 1-3pm. Check online for the days airport arrivals. Otherwise lots of small propellor planes landing every 10mins but not as exciting as a large jet.

A must visit when visiting Sint Maartan. If arriving by cruise ship there numerous options to get there both cheap and expensive. Wednesday is busiest day and with 4 or more ships in the crowds are enormous. The queue for Maho was hundreds. We opted for the shuttle into town for $3 and took the public bus for $4 to the beach which dropped us at Drift Wood Boat beach bar. The bus will give you a tour of town on the way. Plan 45 minutes to 1 hour depending on traffic. Recommend you have lunch at Drift Wood Boat. You'll love it. Big planes start coming in at 1:30pm. For your return trip look for Manuel and his black van. He was parked beach side of the bar. He likes at least 4 to 5 riders and for $10 each will take you directly to your ship. Go have fun and remember to duck.

This beach on the Dutch and French island of Sint Maarten, a.k.a. St. Martin, has all the attributes you'd expect from a gorgeous slash of sandy coastline. The water is a hypnotic blue, warm and gentle as it slowly pushes onto white sand that is soft and deep. It's a good size, long enough that travelers can stroll along it, compact enough that it's not overwhelming. It also faces west, so the sunsets are uplifting, especially over a drink at the relaxed Driftwood Boat Bar. Maho Village features restaurants, bars, and shopping, a short walk from the beach. For a personal, welcoming small hotel, check out Le Petit Hotel, located on the French side of the island. The real draw to Maho Beach is that it's right by the island's airport, under the flight path for landing aircraft — the planes are sometimes so close that tourists might feel they can touch them. Some of the aircraft are huge, giant jetliners that come from France or the Netherlands and roar overhead as they make their descent. The sight is terrifying at first but soon becomes thrilling and is something you will never forget; the selfies will defy belief.

Great place to go if you love aviation! Beautiful beach too!