Baie Rouge Beach

The main activity at Baie RougeBeach is lazing on the pink sands and perhaps snorkeling out into the calm waters. There’s a beach bar, restaurant, and chair and umbrella rentals on one side of the beach, while the other is more secluded and popular with topless sunbathers.

Travelers can self-drive or explore Baie Rouge as part of half-day or full-day boat tour. Such boat or catamaran tours generally leaving from Philipsburg or Simpson Bay on the Dutch side and pass through multiple bays, with island and snorkeling stops. Depending on the tour, lunch may be included.

• Baie Rouge Beach is suitable for all types of travelers, including families with small children who will appreciate the calm, shallow waters.

• Some tours may include roundtrip hotel transfers, fees, food and drinks, use of snorkeling equipment, towels, and guides. Check tours for specific details.

• Remember to bring sun protection, towels, and swimwear.

• At the beach, lounge chairs and umbrellas are available to rent.

• The farther west you walk along Baie Rouge, the less clothing sunbathers wear.

Baie Rouge Beach is accessible by car by way of Rue de Terres Basses from nearby Marigot. If you are driving, park off street near the security shack that leads to the gated community on the northern side of the bay.

The best time to visit St. Maarten is during the shoulder seasons of spring and fall when cheaper rates are offered and rains are less likely. The weather is pleasant year-round, with temperatures peaking in summer. Humpback whales can be seen from February to June.

The east side of the beach, which is closer to the entrance, is more populated. Walk to the end to find a cave perfect for snorkeling, and farther along, a steep hole in the middle of the cliffs that floods with water, called Devil's Hole. Protected by the Falaise des Oiseaux (Bird Cliffs), the beach on the west side is more private and serene, inspiring sunbathers to adopt a clothing-optional attitude.