Simpson Bay is two things with the same name. On the Caribbean side it is a pale, two-kilometre beach that is somehow never crowded, despite running along the edge of the airport. On the other side of a thin strip of land it is the Simpson Bay Lagoon, one of the largest lagoons in the Caribbean, shared by both countries and packed in winter with yachts of every size.
Between the two runs a single busy road lined with restaurants, bars, casinos, dive shops and marinas. This is where most of the Dutch side’s catamarans and sunset cruises leave from, where sailors drink, and where a large share of the island’s mid-range hotels and apartments are found. It is the most practical base on the island if you want to be near the airport, the boats and plenty of places to eat.
Top things to do: Simpson Bay
Walk the beach
Simpson Bay Beach curves from the lagoon channel almost to the end of the runway. There are few facilities in the middle, which is why it stays so quiet — bring water and shade. Kim Sha Beach, at the eastern end by the bridge, is the sociable part, with beach bars, chair rental and good sunsets.
Watch the bridge open
Several times a day the drawbridge on the main road lifts to let yachts through the channel between the sea and the lagoon. In high season the procession of superyachts is a show in itself, traditionally watched with a drink from the yacht-club terrace beside the bridge. It is also the reason for the area’s traffic jams: plan around the opening times, which are posted locally.
Take a boat
Day sails to Anguilla’s Prickly Pear Cays, half-day snorkel cruises up the French coast, sunset catamarans, introductory dives and self-drive boat safaris all depart from the marinas here. If you are choosing only one paid activity on the island, a sail from Simpson Bay is a strong candidate — see our tour list.
Visit a rum distillery
Topper’s Rhum, which began as a restaurant owner’s home-made after-dinner drink, runs entertaining tours of its distillery with open-handed tastings of its flavoured rums. A good plan for a cloudy afternoon.
Eat and go out
The strip has everything from Dutch-Caribbean snack bars and rib shacks to sushi and steak. After dark it is the Dutch side’s main nightlife area, with live music in the bars most nights in season.
How to get to Simpson Bay
- From the airport: 5–10 minutes by taxi; some hotels at the western end are close enough to see the terminal.
- From the cruise port / Philipsburg: 20–35 minutes by taxi depending on traffic over the hill at Cole Bay and at the bridge.
- By minibus: buses between Philipsburg and Maho run along the main road all day and into the evening.
- From Marigot: about 15 minutes by car via the causeway across the lagoon or the road through Cole Bay.
Insider tips
- Rooms on the beach side of the western end are under the flight path. Enthusiasts love it; light sleepers should choose a hotel further east or on the lagoon.
- Boat-trip check-in points are scattered between several marinas. Read the meeting-point instructions on your booking the day before and allow extra time for traffic.
- The causeway bridge across the lagoon bypasses the worst of the Simpson Bay traffic when you are heading for the French side or the airport.
- Sunset happens over the sea here year-round — book sunset cruises for your first or second evening so you can reschedule if the weather turns.
Best tours for Simpson Bay
These well-reviewed experiences are the easiest way to see Simpson Bay:
Sunset cruise from US$45 Lambada Sunset Cruise from Simpson Bay
Ninety minutes along the coast from Simpson Bay as the sun goes down. Short enough to fit before dinner, cheap enough to do on a whim, and the most-reviewed sunset sail on our list.
- The coast at golden hour
- A short, easy evening on a catamaran
- One of the lowest-priced sails on the island
Catamaran day sail from US$135 Full-Day Catamaran Sail to Prickly Pear Cays
A whole day under sail from Simpson Bay to the Prickly Pear Cays off Anguilla — an all-inclusive day on board with a long stop at one of the most photogenic cays in the region.
- A 65-foot sailing catamaran
- Beach and snorkel time at Prickly Pear
- A swim stop off an Anguillan beach on the way back
Sunset cruise from US$65 Bubbly Sunset Cruise with Prosecco & Snacks
A slightly longer and more generous sunset sail than the basic cruise: two hours on a big catamaran with an open bar and warm snacks.
- A 65-foot catamaran
- Open bar and warm snacks
- Two hours along the coast
Distillery tour from US$35 Topper’s Rhum Distillery Tour with Tastings
A cheerful, hands-on look at how one of Sint Maarten’s best-known rums is made, with generous tasting of the signature and speciality rums.
- See how the rum is made
- Hands-on tour
- Unlimited samples of the house rums
