10 Things to Do in Saint Martin in December

St. Martin is an island in the Caribbean Sea that 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 Sint 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 range 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. Just head to a few districts on the island during each weekend in December from 18:00 hours to guarantee a good time.

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

In any of them, you will find Christmas concerts, stalls with traditional sweets, arts and crafts, colourful parades, special activities for children, fireworks, and more. Without a doubt, this is an activity that you can include in 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.

You may be planning to spend New Year's Eve on the island paradise of Sint Maarten. If so, you should know that there are plenty of options for fun on the night of 31 December: from a quiet dinner to lively parties.

You can book 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 in the region, where there are dancing orchestras 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 dominate the coastal landscape of Sint Maarten. Take a tour of this island and enjoy a different perspective of its streets.

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

This is an activity you can do on your own after sunset, which is the time when the lights start to be switched on. In fact, you can hook up with a buggy rental company on St Martin and drive around the island in an off-road vehicle, giving you breathtaking panoramic views.

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

If you are in the centre of the island of Sint Maarten, drive about 15 minutes to the village of Grand-Case and head specifically to the Boulevard de Grand Case. There, on 24 December, from about 6.30pm, you can watch the big Christmas light show. Ideal if you are in St Martin with children.

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

Also, in this event you will find street food stalls, some restaurants and bars that are located in 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 display, which will amaze you.

Useful information

• Price: free admission.
• Opening hours: from 6.30 p.m. until approximately midnight.

During your stay on the island of Sint Maarten, you'll probably want to pick up 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 shops, 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 in the place. Upon arrival, you will see the colourful fashion windows, shops with first class products, perfume and jewellery stores where you can buy loose diamonds, custom-made pieces, among others.

Afterwards, you should continue walking along this street parallel to the promenade. You will find beautiful scenery and many other shops of interest. Some of them are:

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

You can do this tour on your own, but you'll 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 interesting shops and markets.

The Rusty Parrot in St. Maarten is a rather innovative museum where you will learn about the pirate history of the Caribbean. In addition, it often offers live music, special events for 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's a sunken ship with a large exhibition of antique pirate artefacts 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 360° 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 photo taken, while the children will be able to play on the children's playground.

Useful information

• Price: the experience costs approximately €24 per person.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 15:30, Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 to 15:30. Closed on Mondays.

Although the island of St. Maarten during the month of December is a little warm and due to its position in the Caribbean Sea there is no chance of snowfall, this is no reason why you shouldn't have the opportunity to skate on artificial ice during your stay. You can spend a day with a difference and a lot of fun.

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

Also, in the restaurant area you'll have the opportunity to taste delicious sweet and savoury dishes in good Caribbean style. Without a doubt, this is a different activity aimed at adults and children, so you can enjoy it with friends, family or the little ones at home.

The Marigot market is one of the main tourist attractions on the French side of the island. There, you can find fresh seasonal produce (fish, fruit, vegetables, spices). You will also find crafts, 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 just over 100 open-air stalls. You can stroll around this place at your own pace and observe the variety of products on offer.

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 at the market such as cod fritters, fried fish, Sanmartinense style pork ribs, the famous guavaberry rum, etc.

You will also have the opportunity to buy a variety of Christmas ornaments, jewellery, 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.
• Opening hours: the market is open from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm.

If you are keen on water sports such as surfing, then you should visit some of the beaches on the island of Sint Maarten in December. Make the most of this month's surf season and the warm waters.

Head to Friars' Bay, a beach with crystal-clear waters and fine sand, located on the west coast of the island. Here you'll find good waves for beginners and pros. 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're just starting out in surfing. Likewise, Mullet Bay Beach, with its 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 snorkelling experiences and tours in Philipsburg offered on these beaches.

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

While there are 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 day tours and excursions in Sint Maarten incorporate both destinations into their itinerary. In this sense, you could join this type of experience or 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 planes, etc.

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

Due to its privileged position in the Caribbean Sea, the island of Sint Maarten has a tropical climate, with temperatures varying slightly throughout the year. Rainfall this month is 93.8 millimetres, which corresponds to about 13 days. The seawater temperature is usually around 26°C.

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, swimming costumes, among other garments preferably made of cotton.

You should not forget sunscreen, mosquito repellent, sunglasses, a hat or a cap. 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.