I don’t think you can say you have been to St. Maarten (St. Martin) unless you have been to the beach at Maho Bay. While Maho Beach may not be the most scenic beach on the island, it is the most famous because planes fly low right over it to land at Princess Juliana International Airport. When planes take off, it’s another story, you can watch fellow beach goers battle the jet blast. Maho Beach came in at #3 in the world on Tripadvisor’s 10 unique beaches you need to see to believe.
Let me tell you what you can expect when you visit Maho Beach (also known as St. Maarten’s airplane beach) along with some helpful tips.
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As you can imagine, this is not your typical beach. It’s one of the best places in the world to watch planes land and take off. KLM used to fly a Boeing 747 into Princess Juliana Airport, but since October 2016 they started using a smaller plane (A330). The beach can get very crowded especially on days when there is a cruise ship in port. I don’t recommend setting up camp on the sand. It has a steep slope and if you sit above the slope you will be pounded with sand when jets take off.
If you are looking for a less crowded beach, consider taking a day trip from St. Martin to an island more off the beaten path.
Anisa enjoying a tropical drink at Guy’s Driftwood Boat Bar.
Maho Beach Bars
Luckily, there are two tropical beach bars on either end where you can hang out when you are not in the water. The Sunset Bar and Grill, located on the south end is larger and more popular.
At the other end of Maho Bay, you will find Guy’s Driftwood Boat Bar. Both have plenty of drink options and food.
Watching Planes at Maho Beach
The Sunset Bar has a chalkboard with the Maho Beach flight schedule for the day. Since most of the planes take off and land in the early afternoon, you don’t need to spend the whole day at Maho Beach. You must make sure you see at least one plane land and one take off though. Also, you should go for a dip since the water is nice and calm, especially if it’s a warm day. Please make sure someone from your party stays watching your stuff at all times or bring along a beach safe. (Click here to see the beach safes available on Amazon.)
Planes Landing in St. Martin
For arriving flights, it is fun to watch the planes landing in St. Maarten fly right over you. You will be amazed by how close they come. If you want to get Maho Beach photos or video, I would recommend taking them from the side (one of the bars). If you are directly below the plane, you won’t be able to capture the perspective. Once you have your photo, go in the water and watch the planes land from there.
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Planes Taking Off from St. Martin
Departing flights are a different story. The planes usually take off going away from Maho beach so they don’t fly over you. But that does not mean there isn’t anything to see. When a flight departs the plane waits by the fence right across the road from the beach and then revs up its engines. The engines generate a very powerful wind (jet blast) that pushes anything its path towards the water.
The warning sign that so many beach goers disregard!
Safety Warning!
In spite of the warning signs, people line the fence behind the planes that are taking off and try to hold on once the plane starts its engine. This does not go well! Pretty much everyone is pushed backward and falls onto the sand. I don’t recommend that you try this. The warning signs are there for a reason and I don’t want you getting hurt during your vacation. It is just not worth it.
I hate to admit it though, I do enjoy watching the people hold on to the fence when the planes are ready to take off. It is always good for a few laughs. For the best view, I would recommend watching from one of the bars. Even standing a bit back from the fence, you will have sand blown on you. Please be careful and mind your belongings, hats and other loose items can easily blow away.
After all the planes have come and gone or if you just need to go to a place less crowded, head to Mullet Bay only a short drive away. There is plenty of parking and the beach is prettier and calmer. Mullet Bay is also a pretty long beach, perfect for an afternoon walk. Rocks line both sides of Mullet Bay and the water is clear, so you can try to do some snorkeling. If you are hungry, they have a few snack bars.
How to Get to Maho Bay
Maho Beach is located in St. Maarten (the Dutch side of the island), literally at the end of the runway. Only a narrow road and those fences separate the beach from the airport.
The beach can be easily reached by car if you just circle around the airport, but there is limited parking. Guy’s Driftwood Boat Bar has a small area where cars can park, but it’s not a formal parking lot. Someone parked behind us and we had to ask them to move so we could get out. There is also a parking lot a short walk from the south end of the beach.
Maho Bay is a great option for cruise passengers too. Just take a taxi from the cruise port to Maho Beach. It takes about 20 minutes and costs $9 per person. Please make sure you allow plenty of time to return to your ship.
You will see plane after plane and it doesn’t get old.
Where to Stay in Maho Bay
Sonesta Maho Beach Resort and Casino is a popular hotel option that is walking distance from Maho beach. It is an all-inclusive resort with a swim-up bar, two pools, five restaurants and five bars, spa, fitness center, tennis courts, and casino. If you are staying in St. Martin without a car, the Sonesta Resort is a great option because it is only a five-minute drive from the airport, plus there are other restaurants, casinos, and bars that you can walk to. Check availability and current rates here.
Update: Sadly the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort suffered significant damage during Hurricane Irma and as of June 1, 2018, but has now re-opened after the extensive repairs. Our thoughts are with all those that have suffered from all the terrible hurricanes during the 2017 season.
Have you been to Maho Bay or another place with great plane spotting? If you have, I would love to hear about your Maho beach experience in the comments.
-Anisa
Update: Sadly I have learned that this week a beach goer was severely injured by a jet engine blast and later died of her injuries. My condolences go out to her loved ones.
Expert Tips for Plane Spotting in St. Maarten
- Time your visit to Maho Beach for when planes will be taking off and landing – usually early afternoon. If you can avoid, going to Maho Beach on days when cruise ships are in port.
- Don’t try to hold on to the fence or stand behind the planes when they are ready to take off.
- To get to Maho Beach from the cruise port, it’s best to take a taxi.
- Use a Maho beach bar as your home base. If the Sunset Bar is crowded try Guy’s Driftwood Boat Bar.
- You can check the Maho Beach plane schedule on the chalkboard at the Sunset Bar.
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I’ve heard of it! looks great!:)
Tanja – Thank you! It’s a fun experience, I hope you make it that one day.
This is on our bucket list. It looks so awesome. I feel like I could watch the planes land all day.
Lizzie – Thanks for your comment. I hope you get the chance to visit.
This looks like a very beautiful beach, Anisa, but I wouldn’t be comfortable to stay so close to these planes. There is an almost identical spot in California, where the planes come extremely close to the beach. The noise is unbelievably loud.
Yes agree. At the beach there are warning signs to stay away from the fence. I love watching the planes from the water or the bars.
Taking a week off from The Weekly Postcard, but had to check this out. Living in San Diego, I am used to very low planes taking off and landing (I live under the take-off flightpath!) but this is even closer than what we regularly experience with landings coming in over the 5 freeway during rush hour! I’d like to watch them land but wouldn’t be interested in the sandblast from a takeoff.
Staci – Agree. I love watching the planes but make sure I stay away from the sand blast area! At the bars or in the water you will be fine.
I was there 25 years ago and we returned last year. It was a trip down memory lane. My husband could stay on maho beach for the entire holiday.
Wendy – haha yep if there weren’t so many other amazing beaches on St Martin I would probably stay there the whole time too!
Would love to experience this from the safety of one of the bars as you recommend, despite the safety notices people still take the risks. Recently in the news it appears that a women was thrown back from the fence and hit her head on a rock and unfortunately died, so sad. Great post, enjoyed reading it! #TheWeeklyPostcard
Yeah it is really unfortunate that someone died. I hope people start taking the warnings more seriously.
I was in St Maarten recently and thought Maho beach was cool. My boyfriend loves planes- I actually think my boyfriend suggested the trip to have a drink here! I was sad to hear that someone actually died by getting blown over by the jetblast- you are def right better to enjoy from safe distance!
#theweeklypostcard
Glad to hear you enjoyed it too. Yeah, it is really sad to hear about the death. I hope more people start to head the warnings.
I love watching planes land and take off, so I’d love to see this, but not the fence surfing! Someone just died this week there as she was blown back into a wall, I think. I’d rather stand a bit farther back and get pictures!
#TheWeeklyPostcard
Leigh – Yeah I was sad to hear about that too. You do need to be careful and stay away from the fence.
Wow that must be about as close to a plane as you can get! I’d love to visit St Maarten it looks beautiful. I’ll be sure to keep away from the fence- forewarned is forearmed! #TheWeeklyPostcard
Jo – You will love it. Glad you are going to be safe about it!
Maho Bay sounds like so much fun even if it’s not the best beach. I can imagine hanging out at one of the beach bars with an umbrella drink in tow and watching all the planes. Sounds great to me! #theweeklypostcard
Corey – Yes it really makes for a fun day
Corey – I agree, I have really enjoyed Maho beach and would love to go back!
Great tips! I’d love to visit this beach <3
Thanks Sandy. I hope you get to.
This airport has always been a fascination of mine, honestly I’m surprised they let anyone on that beach! The island itself looks so pretty though! Hope people learn to be safe…
Kristina – St. Maarten is an amazing place. I hope people start taking the warnings more seriously too.
I’ve heard of this beach and would be sure to visit if I was ever on St. Maarten. I can totally see my sons disregarding the warning and holding on to the fence when planes are departing. Thanks for the tips. Knowing me, I probably would have done it all wrong and arrived in the morning on a cruise ship day.
Michele – I hope you get the chance to go. Please make sure your boys stay away from the fence though. I don’t want them getting hurt!
We loved visiting Maho Beach and seeing the planes. It is quite the experience being so close, but definitely can be dangerous. We stayed right in the water, but definitely felt the jet stream from there! Would love to go back and experience more of St Maarten.
Tarah – Glad to hear you enjoyed it too. I have been several times and always find in fascinating!
Thanks for the good tips! I’ve always wanted to do this.
Karlie – Thank you. So glad you found it helpful. I hope you get the chance to go soon.
This is so cool that you got to see this! Although I thought I heard something that someone died from the jet blasts! How weird that people try to hold on to the fence! Clearly, safety is not a top priority! #TheWeeklyPostcard – Stumbled
Lolo – Yes, it is sad there was a death and sad people don’t take the warning signs seriously.
I’ve seen many videos of this and have always said I’ll go one day. It seems like so much fun to be there for a little while to see planes that landing that close. Also, the video was so cool to watch. You got a lot of footage.
I hope you guys get to visit, it really is a unique experience. Glad you enjoyed the video. That one is not mine, I haven’t been to Maho beach since before I started blogging.
I’ve seen videos and heard of this beach and unfortunately, due to that tourist dying from the jet blast. It’s such an interesting place for plane spotting. We were in St. Maarten/St Martin on a shore excursion during a cruise stop a few years ago. This would have been a fun experience to do.
Mary – Yes, it was really sad to hear about the death. Maho Beach is a really fun experience.
I’d love to sit on this beach and watch the planes go by, it must have been such a cool experience. The most interesting plane-experience was when I visited Gibraltar and you actually need to walk on the runway to get into the city.
Vlad – That sounds really interesting! I would love to visit Gibraltar.
Fantastic read! H have seen some amazing photos about Maho Bay and the planes landing. It sure is a sight to see! I must admit, I would probably be that stupid one hanging onto the fence when planes take off haha! You dont get to experience that every day!
So glad you enjoyed the post. Please don’t hang on to the fence though, the warning signs are there for a reason, it really is dangerous.