St Maarten and St Martin

Fronted by a sweeping curve of beach, the little fishing village of Grand Case, at the northern tip of St Martin, is famed for its fine foods and distinctive style of architecture. The small wooden houses are decorated in gingerbread style and painted pastel colours. Numerous good restaurateurs have chosen to congregate in the town's main street, which has become one of the finest dining centres in the region, earning Grand Case the epithet 'Gourmet Capital of the Caribbean'. Tuesdays are dubbed Harmony Nights, with live music and entertainment spilling out into the streets. The beaches are also lovely, with calm, protected waters that make for safe swimming for the whole family.

Website : www.grandcase.com

The town of Philipsburg boasts the remains of two historic forts that bear witness to its one-time strategic importance for the Dutch. Fort Amsterdam, the first Dutch military establishment in the Caribbean, was built in 1631 on a peninsula between Great Bay and Little Bay, but it was captured almost immediately by the Spanish. The Spanish later abandoned it and the little fort returned to Dutch hands, being kept in use right up to the 1950s as a signalling and communications station. Interestingly, Fort Amsterdam has become an important breeding site for brown pelicans.The other Dutch fortification, Fort Willem, lies to the west of downtown Philipsburg, topped with a television transmission tower. Both forts are worth the walk to visit, particularly for the panoramic views afforded from their elevated positions.Not to be outdone, the French have their own historic fort. Fort St Louis was built according to plans sent from France by Louis XVI in 1767 to guard the settlement from invaders. It is St Martin's largest historical monument and looks out over Marigot. The ruins sit atop a hill, which is worth the steep 15 minute climb for the panoramic view of the island afforded from the summit. Open 24 hours a day, the area has many signs detailing important historical events.

Next to the Marina Port la Royale, on the southern end of Marigot, is a worthwhile archaeological museum, dedicated to preserving St Martin's history and culture. It houses numerous exhibits, including a variety of pre-Colombian treasures excavated by the Hope Estate Archaeological Society and several interesting exhibitions on Arawak culture. There is also a reproduction of a 1,500-year-old burial mound and ceramics dating from 550 BC. The island's more recent history, before tourism took hold, is encapsulated in evocative black and white photographs of quiet streets populated by a handful of children and donkeys, and of labourers toiling in the salt industry. The museum has a small gift shop for souvenirs and is rewarding for those seeking insight into the island's history as well as a really good tan.

Address : Rue de la Liberté, Marigot

Paradise Peak, St Martin's highest point, rises from the centre of the island to a height of 1,390 feet (424m), and is crowned with a communications tower. Visitors can climb through thick woods twisted with vines and full of colourful birds to reach the summit, where there are two observation decks providing spectacular views of the island and surrounding region (on a clear day you can see all the way to Anguilla). Paradise Peak is a great place to stop for a photo opportunity in St Martin, even if just for a few minutes.The Loterie Farm Nature Reserve is nestled on the slope of Paradise Peak, and is set on the site of a 135-acre former sugar plantation, established in 1721. The reserve has many miles of groomed hiking trails through the beautiful forest, where visitors can spot local flora and fauna. 90-minute guided tours are offered, and are worth it for the fascinating historical, cultural and scientific facts given about the area. The most popular attraction at Loterie Farm is the zipline, which is divided into three zones for children, adults, and thrill-seekers. Visitors glide along the canopy between centuries-old mango and mahogany trees, via a series of cables, ropes and suspended bridges.

Website : loteriefarm.com

The Voorstraat (Front Street) faces south onto the ocean, running about half a mile (1km) east to west, and is the main drawcard in Philipsburg for tourists. At its eastern end is Wathey Square, housing the tourist information kiosk, just a minute's walk from the semi-circular Great Bay Beach, and two casinos, the Rouge et Noir and the Coliseum Casino. On the north side of the square is one of the town's most impressive buildings, the white wooden courthouse topped with a cupola, built in 1793 and now serving as a post office. Just off the west of the square is the quaint Methodist church built in 1851. Farther along Voorstraat is a group of elegant colonial houses, and at the far end is a small museum and two large marinas.Voorstraat is also known as the best shopping area in Philipsburg. A number of jewellery stores, perfume boutiques and electronics shops take advantage of the island's duty-free status to draw tourists in their droves.

Dutch St Maarten's prime popular beach resorts extend as a series of sandy bays from Philipsburg along the southwest coast of the island, reaching a grand finale at the great spread of Simpson Bay, site of the international airport. From the headland at the western end of Great Bay stretches the secluded beach of Cay Bay, famed for being the spot where Dutchman Peter Stuyvesant was injured in battle against the Spanish. This quiet beach can only be reached by dirt road or horse trail. Further west, towards the airport, is Simpson Bay Lagoon, surrounded by resort developments. There is also a series of good beaches with fine white sand. Maho Bay is St Maarten's largest beach resort, well developed with facilities, a casino and its popular Sunset Bar. Mullet Bay, with its gentle surf and shady stretch of palm trees, is usually the most crowded beach. Cupecoy is favoured by nudists, and has dramatic sandstone cliffs and caves.

There are a number of good beaches on the French side of the island that are very popular with tourists. Orient Beach, the largest and most popular beach in St Martin, is known for watersports, and borders a number of shops, restaurants and beach bars. The southern end of the beach has been reserved as a nudist resort. Prune Beach (or Plum Bay) is frequented by surfers while Rouge Beach offers great snorkelling and is regarded as the island's most beautiful beach. Long Beach is on the border with Dutch St Maarten and has little shade and generally no breeze, so it is known as a hot spot. Le Galion Beach is the island's best windsurfing beach and has shallow, calm waters. Anse Marcel in the north is usually quiet and favoured by French tourists. Friars Bay, just north of Marigot, is backed by a lagoon containing various waterfowl, and just north of Friars is Happy Bay, beautiful and peaceful because of its inaccessibility. Reaching Happy Bay requires a 10-minute uphill walk from Friars.

A popular family attraction in St Maarten, The Butterfly Farm is a large greenhouse housing more than 40 different varieties of butterflies and moths. Guests can take a 20-minute guided tour that explains the lifecycle of the butterfly and its place in the ecosystem (guides are also helpful in advising which plants will attract butterflies to your garden). Guests are free to handle and interact with the butterflies, and morning is the best time to visit the Butterfly Farm to see brand-new butterflies emerging from their cocoons. The farm is wheelchair accessible, and there are snacks and drinks available for sale.

Address : Le Galion Beach Road, Quartier dOrleans

Website : www.thebutterflyfarm.com