Tintamarre Island

To reach the 246-acre (100-hectare) island of Tintamarre, you need to take a boat tour. Some tours emphasize eco-adventure, with a boat tour to Tintamarre and other islets such as Pinel Island and Creole Rock for a day of relaxing, snorkeling, and swimming with sea turtles. Other typical St. Martin tours might include sightseeing and shopping in Marigot or a gourmet lunch in the French side’s culinary capital, Grand Case.

• Travelers looking to experience unspoiled nature appreciate deserted Tintamarre.

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

• Remember sun protection, swimwear, and a towel.

• There are no food concessions on the island, so come prepared.

Tintamarre Island is within the boundaries of the St. Martin Nature Reserve, off the northeast coast of St. Maarten/St. Martin and is accessible by boat.

The best time to visit Tintamarre Island aligns with the most favorable time to visit St. Martin/St. Maarten: the shoulder seasons of spring and fall when cheaper rates are offered and rain is less likely. The weather is pleasant year-round, with temperatures peaking in summer. For humpback whale sightings, travel between February and June.

Tintamarre has a history that mirrors that of the mainland. In the 18th century, French settlers captured it from the English who had held the low-lying island for 40 years. Not long after, the Dutch arrived, and the island become the personal playground of the van Romondt family, as overseen by the dashing Diederik Christian who earned the reputation of being “King of Tintamarre.” In the 1940s, the French snatched it back again.