CYCLING ON SINT MAARTEN: OUR EXPERIENCE.
Cycling around Sint Maarten felt like a brilliant idea when we first planned it. An island, sunshine, sea views, and the freedom to explore at our own pace. What could possibly go wrong?
In reality, cycling Sint Maarten was a mix of adventure, challenge, and a fair bit of sweat. While we’re glad we did it, it’s not something we’d rush to repeat in quite the same way. Here’s our honest experience, including what worked well, what didn’t, and what we’d do differently next time.
Hiring bicycles in Sint Maarten
We hired our bikes from Trisport.
The bikes were delivered directly to the port on time, which was incredibly convenient. We were given a thorough briefing, a map, helmets, and even a bottle of water. All small touches that made a big difference.
Dropping the bikes back at the port was equally easy, with no strict return time, which took some pressure off.
E-bike or Hybrid
We made a slight mistake when hiring the bikes – we didn’t select an e-bike!
When we contacted Trisport, they recommended hiring e-bikes as the best way to explore the island. I have to say, I really wish we’d listened to them.
Sint Maarten is far hillier than we expected, and those climbs are no joke, especially in Caribbean heat. Having an electric motor to help power us uphill would have made the day significantly easier and far more enjoyable.
If you’re planning to cycle in Sint Maarten, I’d strongly recommend paying a little extra for an e-bike. Unless you’re a serious cyclist/ border-line professional, your legs will be thankful for the e-bike.
Where to visit in Sint Maarten by bike
If you’re collecting your bikes at the cruise port in Philipsburg, you essentially have two main options: heading west or east around Sint Maarten.
To the west lies the famous Maho Beach, known for planes flying dramatically low over the sand. While I’m sure it’s iconic, we anticipated that most cruise passengers and traffic would be heading in that direction. Wanting a slightly quieter ride, we decided to cycle east instead.
Following the east coast, we passed through Oyster Pond, before continuing into Quartier-d’Orléans, where we stopped for a much-needed cold drink. From there, we climbed up to Rotary Lookout Point, took in views near a small bird refuge, and finally reached Orient Bay.
We left the port at around 09:30 and arrived at Orient Bay by approximately 12:30. After a swim and some lunch, reality set in, we needed to cycle all the way back. With a return deadline at the port, and a little buffer just in case of a puncture or delay, we headed off an hour later.
Tip: – if we had booked a tour – I think we would have found this experience much more relaxing as the tour guide could have planned all of this for us!
Our experience: the good
There was a real sense of excitement and adventure setting off, and we loved the feeling of slow travel and exploration. Cycling allowed us to see parts of the island we’d never notice from a taxi or tour bus.
The bikes were in good condition, the briefing was excellent, and the logistics were seamless. Getting back to Philipsburg at the end of the day, collapsing onto the beach with a cold beer and a dip in the sea, felt incredibly well-earned.
We also enjoyed the challenge. Even if we questioned our life choices halfway up some of the hills.
Our experience: less good
The traffic was, frankly, intense. There were four cruise ships in that day, around 20,000 extra people, and the roads were extremely busy. At times, we didn’t feel completely safe cycling on the main roads. It was a little hair raising!
The heat is also not to be underestimated. Even with water and breaks, the combination of sun, humidity, and hills was a lot.
We don’t want to put anyone off, but in our opinion experienced cyclists would fare better than those unfamiliar with cycling on roads.
Our personal recommendation
If we were visiting again, we wouldn’t hire bikes independently and head off on the Sint Maarten roads (I think John would be furious if I suggested it). However, I would seriously consider an e-bike tour with Trisport in and around the Philipsburg area.
They’re a great company, and the combination of electric assistance and a knowledgeable guide would make the experience far more relaxed and enjoyable.
Finally, we saw plenty of people exploring the island on quad bikes. There were more than a few moments where it felt like they were mocking us as we pushed our bikes up yet another hill.
If you want to explore Sint Maarten, feel the wind in your hair, and avoid working up too much of a sweat, quad biking might just be the best shout.
You can book a quad biking tour of the island here. Or an bicycle tour in Philipsburg here – much more relaxing. Alternatively, you can also find many tours of the island in comfortable air-conditioned vehicles!
Written by Emma
Wine Lover. Yogi. Hiker. Writer.
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