10 Things to Do in Saint Martin in October

St Martin is an island divided between two countries. On the one hand, there is the French side to the north, whose capital is Marigot, and in the south, the Dutch side, whose capital is Philipsburg. It is an island in the Caribbean Sea, with a great demand for tourist activities.

During your stay in October, you won't have time to waste. Right from the start, you will find plenty of things to see and do in Sint Maarten. For example, stroll along Orient Beach and Maho Beach to enjoy the warm waters, picturesque scenery and some water sports. Also, sample seasonal fruits at the Marigot Market, celebrate Halloween in the island' s bars, etc.

St Martin in October is a place with moderate temperature and cloud cover. These are a couple of conditions that you can use to your advantage, to take amazing pictures during your stay. Create a route with the main destinations of your interest on the island and go on a free photo tour.

You can stroll around the town of St. Martin and visit places such as St. Martin of Tours Church and the Philipsburg Courthouse. Also, the picturesque Front Street or shopping street of Philipsburg, the waterfront promenade with a privileged view of the sea and the boats, among other places.

Also, if you wish, you can take a stroll along Maho Beach, where you will find fabulous contrasts for your photographs. Not only will you enjoy the blue sky, the sea and the white sand, but you will also see planes take off and land just a few metres from the beach. Undoubtedly, an ideal setting for your photographs.

This activity can be done on your own or connected with a private tour of St. Maarten. In the latter case, you will have the opportunity to define the itinerary yourself according to your tastes and needs, but you will be accompanied by a local guide, who will take you directly to each attraction and tell its respective story.

Another thing to do during your stay in Sint Maarten in October is to visit the Guavaberry Emporium. There, you'll find the island's national liquor, Guavaberries, as well as a wide range of exotic fruit liqueurs to cool you down on the hottest days of the month.

When you arrive at this National Historic Landmark, built on the site of a former synagogue (1781) and located in Philipsburg (Dutch side), you'll see a picturesque cedar house with palm trees and barrels surrounding it. You can go inside to learn about the history of the place, take photos and do some free tastings.

Among the products you can sample and buy are Guavaberry rum. Also, the iconic Guavaberry Colada, pineapple, mango, lime, passion fruit and orange wines harvested on the island. Without a doubt, this is an unmissable destination that you can visit on your own or incorporate it into the route of any guided tour of St. Maarten that you take part in.

The island of Sint Maarten tends to be a low tourist destination in October, which is a good thing if you happen to be in town during the month. You'll be able to stroll along the busiest beaches without fear of crowds that will prevent you from finding a place to lie down, relax and enjoy the sea.

You'll certainly have plenty of options to choose from, as the island is home to some 37 beaches. However, two of them stand out as the most popular:

• Orient Beach (French side), with its white sand, crystal-clear waters, umbrella chairs for lounging and quaint restaurants. You'll also find plenty of water activities: windsurfing, snorkelling, kayaking, kitesurfing, surfing, etc.
• Maho Beach (Dutch side). On this beach you will not only enjoy the sand and the sea, as the main attraction of this place is watching the planes take off and land at the Princess Juliana International Airport, located nearby.

While you can do this activity on your own, you also have the option of joining an excursion to Orient Beach and Maho Beach in Sint Maarten with a local guide. This way, you'll save time getting from one beach to the other and learn a little about the history of each place you visit.

Conditions are good for off-road buggy adventures in Sint Maarten for much of the year, but October is definitely the best time to explore the island. You can enjoy both warm and cool weather due to the low cloud cover and moderate winds of this month.

To do this experience, you just need to connect with a buggy rental place. They will provide you with an off-road car with space for up to six people. In addition, you will receive some tips and basic rules for driving the buggy.

After the buggy rental in St. Maarten, you will start driving along the rugged roads of the island, creating your own itinerary. You will be able to visit places such as the Grand Case, Maho Beach, Mullet Bay Beach, Orient Bay Beach, among other destinations. All this, while enjoying the adrenaline and speed of the buggy.

There are many things to see and do in Sint Maarten in October, and one of them is definitely Cole Bay. This is a suburb of the island, located on the Dutch side. There you'll find the famous Carrousel Gelateria Bar, where you can soothe the seasonal heat by sampling a variety of refreshing Italian ice creams.

This quirky, round-shaped building belongs to the Toppers Distillery. In fact, among the dozens of flavours of ice cream available, you'll find Toppers Rum. You can also eat waffles and even buy some of the artisanal rums on display.

And if you're travelling with children, they can have fun in the play area, which incorporates a carousel. Afterwards, you can continue with the activities on your itinerary, for example, visit the pirate experience at Rusty Parrot in St. Maarten, which is about a 15-minute drive away.

Marigot Market is a popular spot on the island of Sint Maarten. There, you'll find fresh seasonal produce to satisfy your taste buds. Juicy oranges harvested in October and sweet pineapples are a must with their intoxicating aroma.

As you browse the more than 100 stalls at this traditional open-air market, you'll find artisanal products (preserves) made from tropical fruits. You will also find traditional dishes prepared directly at the market (cod fritters, barbecue, fried fish and more).

You will also find vegetables (plantain, cassava, yams, etc.) and a variety of fish, lobsters and crabs. All brought in by local fishermen and farmers every morning. Meanwhile, other market stalls offer a wide range of handicrafts, souvenirs, fashion and much more.

All in all, this is a very picturesque and traditional place on the island. For this reason, it is usually included among the must-see destinations of the best tours and day trips in Sint Maarten.

Useful information

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

October sunsets on the island of St Martin are particularly beautiful and can be enjoyed from the comfort of a boat. Despite the 39% cloud cover during this month , the sun's rays are perfectly filtered through the clouds, creating a series of stunning contrasts in the sky and the waters of the Caribbean.

The adventure usually starts at the port of Anse Marcel. There, you will set sail in a boat with a captain and his crew. Once on board, you can relax as you sail along the coast of the island of St. Martin. You will feel the sea breeze and the last rays of sunshine of the day caressing your skin.

Moreover, on this tour along the coast of St. Martin, you will have a privileged view of the so-called Caribbean sunset, which tints the sky with dozens of warm colours. A natural spectacle that will leave you speechless and that will serve as a backdrop for many photographs.

After sunset, you will get a panoramic view of the island and the surrounding area, which you can enjoy as you sail back to the starting point. In addition, in the bar area you will have the opportunity to enjoy an aperitif and a drink, either incorporated into the tour or purchased on your own.

Useful information

• Price: the average price of this panoramic coastal tour is about 79€ per person.
• Duration: The duration of the tour is around three hours.

October on Sint Maarten offers steady winds, prevailing from the east at an average speed of at least 20 kilometres per hour. Take advantage of this weather and go windsurfing and kitesurfing on the island's paradisiacal beaches.

To start this adventure, you can head to Orient Beach. This is one of the most emblematic and largest beaches on the French side of the island. There, you will enjoy an incredible natural contrast formed by beautiful blue waters and approximately five kilometres of white coral sand.

When you arrive at the beach, you can hire the service of a professional instructor. This way, you will have a person at your side who will teach you the safety rules for windsurfing and give you some tips for kitesurfing. This is in case you are a beginner.

You will also find several places where you can rent the necessary equipment for each water sport. In the case of windsurfing, there is the surfboard, the harness, the mast sail and the boom. Meanwhile, for kitesurfing you'll need a kite, control bar, harness, leash and board.

Temperatures during the month of October tend to range between 31ºC and 26ºC, which could be a little hot, especially if you're travelling with children. If this is the case, you might want to incorporate some indoor activities into your itinerary. Such is the case of a visit to the Inspired Selfie, to take amazing pictures.

This is a place located in the Cole Bay area, which promotes street art by local artists: Jimmy Sabas aka MASH-1, Annemiek Van Kerkhof-Posthuma, Charisse Lovine Evana Piper, among others. You will have access to a total of 20 different rooms with different murals and immersive installations.

During this experience, you will not only have the opportunity to appreciate the art on each mural, but you will also test your senses. Wander freely through each of the rooms and be amazed by the upside-down room, have fun in the colourful carnival room, pose in front of the candy wall and much more.

Useful information

• Price: Admission for adults costs approximately 25 euros, children from 4 to 11 years old pay approximately 18 euros and children under 3 years old are free.
• Opening hours: 11:00 to 19:00 (Tuesday to Saturday). Closed Mondays and Sundays.

If you're a Halloween enthusiast and you're on the island of Sint Maarten in October, then Halloween should not be missed. You'll be surrounded by a real atmosphere of celebration in the streets, restaurants, shopping centres, shops, bars and clubs of this island.

There's no doubt that on the island of Sint Maarten you'll have no excuse for having fun on the scariest night of the year. You'll find plenty of places to wear your best costume or make-up and, in turn, have an unforgettable evening.

For example, some of the bars and clubs you can visit include the following:

• The Yacht Club Bar & Restaurant, with live music and a privileged view of the sea in Simpson Bay.
• Soggy Dollar Bar in Simpson Bay, with delicious cocktails and live DJs.
• Lagoonies Bar & Café, located in Cole Bay. Here you can eat, drink, listen to good music and watch the sea.
• Roxxy Beach, where you can eat, dance and enjoy yourself by the sea.

Temperatures in Sint Maarten during October tend to range between 31ºC (maximum) and 26ºC (minimum). During this month on the island, thermometers will rarely measure above 32ºC or fall below 24ºC.

Throughout the month of October, you will witness about 14 days of rain on the island and moderate winds coming from the east. Sea water temperature remains stable at 29°C, which is quite convenient if you plan to do any of the diving and snorkelling experiences and tours in Philipsburg St Martin.

October on the island of Sint Maarten is a low tourist season due to the hurricane season in Caribbean waters. Therefore, when planning your trip, you'll find low prices for accommodation and air travel.

Thanks to the low tourist traffic, you won't have to experience the so-called traffic jams that are often one of the main drawbacks of getting from one end of the island to the other. You'll also enjoy quieter beaches due to the smaller crowds.