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PADDLE BOARDING AT
ST. MAARTEN

Find the best spots of the island.

1

The sand bar

Paddle 10 minutes from the pier and reach the sand bar which is only accessible with our kayaks.

There, a mooring is set to hook up your craft. The surrounding shallow waters allow you to walk around and look for stingrays, conch, or pelicans.

You will enjoy the scenery around, the grand bay protected from the outside swell and rough waters, the two islands facing you and the numerous moored boats.

2

Little Key island

The second stop would be Little Key, a separate island from Pinel. At the right side of this rocky island lies a tiny beach.

Tied up your kayak to the buoy and set up your snorkel equipment for a swim along the reef. Protected from the open ocean, you can admire the gorgones, schools of fish, and eventually sea turtles and other stingrays.

This is an idyllic spot, totally protected from development and only reachable by kayak. Absolutely no motor activities are allowed there, the Nature Reserve is very strict about it.

3

The sea turtles

From Little Key to Pinel Island, kayaking is very unchallenging. Between Little Key and Pinel island you'll notice the big orange buoy of the Marine Park. Many sea turtles love this spot and comes frequently to the surface to breathe.

Have a stop there, watch for them and enjoy nature.

4

The main beach of Pinel island

Once you arrive at Pinel, leave your kayak at the right of the main beach, grab your dry bag with you and start to explore the area!

You can choose between adventure and chilling time. The two sides of the beach let you enjoy the warm Caribbean water, the sunny weather (don’t forget to put on sunscreen every 2 hours!) and to relax on the restaurant’s beach chairs & umbrellas. For those who prefer the natural shade, the palm trees are here for you!

Visit the gift shop, order a rum punch at the Yellow Beach or a Pina Colada at the Karibuni.

5

The hidden beach

Feeling adventurous? Embark in your kayak and paddle to the channel between St. Maarten and Pinel island to reach the North beach. There, you escape from the rest of the world for a little while. That beach is unspoiled and you will automatically feel away from the civilisation, which is good at some point!

Snorkeling there can be amazing, if the sea condition allows it. When it does not, the ocean can be quite rough in the channel, so we recommend walking to the beach instead of kayaking.

6

The breathtaking view

From behind the restaurants, you can also hike through the easy trail to the top of the island and admire the view to the islands around: Tintamarre, Green Cay, Saint-Barth and of course, our St. Maarten.

Hike requires light shoes and is truly rewarding.

Your kayak rental includes safety jackets, lightweight paddles and dry bags to protect your belongings from the water.

LIFEVESTS

DRY BAGS

Kayak rental fun facts:

Kayaking to Pinel Island lasts between 15 to 20 minutes
No queue (when booked in advance through the website)
Life vests available for adults and kids
Dry bags at your disposal to keep your belongings dry the whole day
Comfortable backrests to fully enjoy the ride
Friendly service at check in and check out ☺
Affordable prices for an unforgettable full day on Pinel Island’s water

Level required

Beginners are welcome and no experience is needed.

Weight Limit

Tandem kayak: 485lbs

Solo kayak: 308lbs

Paddle time

20-25mn to reach Pinel island

10-15mn to come back to St. Maarten

History of paddle boarding in St. Maarten

Caribbean Paddling first introduced paddle boarding to St. Maarten in 2009 . Early on, we felt this easy-to-learn new board sport would be a crowd pleaser. One of the real advantages to paddle boarding over kayaking is the angle of visibility . Unlike sitting in a kayak or canoe, SUP (another name for Stand Up Paddle) allows a paddler to see everything beneath him/her, from dolphins, to fish, to sea turtles, to stingrays and even beautiful starfish. There is a whole world of life below you that you just can’t see from a seated position. Success was immediate, and we quickly ran out of boards.

In a constant way to offer the best experience to our customers, we always look for the best way to enjoy paddle boarding at St. Maarten. That's why we offer classic boards, GIANT boards and now an exclusive tandem paddle board to our customers.

Where to go paddle boarding?

St. Maarten has plenty of places to enjoy paddle boarding. Whether you are staying on the French side or on the Dutch side, you can easily rent a paddle board for a week (or even more!).

Pinel island and Grand Case are the best places to enjoy standup paddle boarding thanks to its calm sea condition. They are not to be missed! But if you don’t have time to visit those special spots, we can also deliver stand up paddle boards to your doorstep, for a minimum of two days rental.

Paddle boarding to Pinel Island

Our top choice

Clear and flat waters, amazing underwater life, 2 islands and 2 incredible beach bars, you name it: Pinel island is the best spot to enjoy standup paddle boarding at St. Maarten. Period.

The bay, protected from the tumultuous open ocean, is simply breathtaking.

Discover

Paddle boarding at Grand Case

Paddle to the Creole Rock

The Creole Rock is an iconic spot located at the end of the famous fisherman small town of Grand Case. This is also a great area for snorkeling or scuba diving.

If you plan to visit Grand Case, don't miss an opportunity to paddle over to the Rock to discover the abundant marine life.

Paddle surfing at Baie aux Prunes

Or Plum Bay

Baie aux Prunes has been for a long time the favorite spot for longboard surf. Unfortunately, the sand bar which create the wave has moved over the years, so it's very rare to enjoy the wave.

Thanks to the modern standup paddle boards, you can now enjoy a small North swell and enjoy the spot almost for yourself.

Paddle boarding in front of Tintamarre

Feeling adventurous?

Tintamarre island another island located off the coast of St. Maarten. Being a part of the Marine Park, it's protected from investors. Going there on a paddle board could be very tough, but once you get there, a lagoon awaits you as well as a main beach full of stingrays and sea turtles.

Ask us and we will prepare the ultimate standup paddle board trip to Tintamarre.

Paddle boarding at St. Barth

is a must-do!

Why not going to St. Barth for a daily beak from St. Maarten? St. Barth has interesting spots to have fun, nice places to sleep (for an affordable rate) and has crystal clear waters too!