Last Updated on June 17, 2022
Saint Martin is one of the most popular islands in the Caribbean for those looking to experience stunning turquoise waters, incredible beaches, and to find some of the most instagrammable photo spots in the Caribbean! This unique island is comprised of the Dutch side of Sint Maarten and French side of Saint-Martin, matched with the friendly Caribbean hospitality, you’re sure to have an unforgettable trip to Saint Martin.
We spent 4 nights and 5 days exploring all of the best Instagram photo spots in Saint Martin in order put this top 10 list together for you. If you’re looking to get started on booking your perfect Saint Martin vacation, CheapCaribbean.com offers vacation package deals to Saint Martin and many other popular warm weather destinations – perfect for saving you time and money!
Disclaimer: Our trip to Saint Martin was provided by CheapCaribbean.com. Please note that some of the links in the below article are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, we earn a commission if you make a purchase. All opinions on the most Instagrammable spots in Saint Martin are our own. Click here for the full disclosure statement.
Table of Contents
Map of the Best Saint Martin / Sint Maarten Instagram Spots
Saint Martin is a relatively small Caribbean Island, that packs a lot into its small size. With the top 10 most instagrammable spots in Saint Martin you will be transported from stunning white-sand beaches with turquoise waters, to mountain-top views, bustling streets in colorful towns, and to one of the most popular Instagram photo locations in the Caribbean, the world famous Maho Beach.
This map includes all the most instagrammable places in Saint Martin and Sint Maarten. Make sure to use it to plan your trip to visit all the best Saint Martin Instagram and photo spots.
10 Most Instagrammable Spots in Saint Martin
We’ve compiled the top 10 Instagrammable spots in Saint Martin for every instagrammer and photography lover out there. These Saint Martin photo spots will help you capture the beauty of this wonderful Caribbean Island and make all of your friends at home jealous of your amazing vacation to paradise!
Maho Beach
When thinking of the most Instagrammable spots in Saint Martin, Maho Beach is without a doubt the most famous of all. The world-renowned beach is known for its location right next to Princess Juliana International Airport. Maho Beach is immediately next to the runway of the airport, which means that the airplanes landing here have a very low-altitude when approaching the runway.
The rush of having huge airplanes fly just overhead is exhilarating and can help you create some amazing Instagram photos here. There are so many different angles that you can try, however there is a limited number of large airplanes that arrive each day, so be sure to plan ahead to know what photograph you would like to take beforehand.
Additionally, as the planes are arriving at extremely high speeds, you only have a few seconds to take that perfect Sint Maarten Instagram photo. It helps to practice taking photos and videos of the smaller planes which land more frequently at the airport, so that when the large ones arrive you will be ready!
Location: Maho Beach
Hours: The best time to visit Maho Beach is when the larger airplanes from the United States, Canada, and Europe are arriving. This is generally between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM.
Best Time for Photos: This is an extremely popular location for vacationers to take photos in Saint Martin. On weekends and when cruise ships are in port, the beach can be almost completely full in the afternoon. To get the most instagrammable photo in Saint Martin, you need to be there in the afternoon when the large airplanes are arriving, however the best light for photos is in the morning or evening.
Tips: Check the schedule of arriving flights at SXM on Flightradar24 beforehand to know which planes are arriving each day and when. If you have flexibility in your travel schedule, aim to visit Maho Beach on a day when no cruise ships are in port, or when fewer cruise ships are in port, as there will be noticeably fewer people. You can check the cruise ship schedule on the Port St. Maarten website.
Mullet Bay Beach
Mullet Bay Beach is frequently listed as one of the best beaches on the island of Saint Martin. This makes it perfect for another epic Saint Martin Instagram spot! Mullet Bay Beach is conveniently located very close to Maho Beach and Princess Juliana International Airport.
During the day, Mullet Bay is a popular place for catamaran snorkel tours to visit due to the beautiful clear water. You can get some great Caribbean vibes Instagram photos here with the turquoise water and catamarans in the background. If you choose to stay later in the afternoon, the sunsets at Mullet Bay Beach are definitely worth staying for!
Salty Crush Beach Dress / Similar Beach Dress
Location: Mullet Bay Beach
Hours: The beach is open all-day.
Best Time for Photos: Mullet Bay Beach is best in the late afternoon and for sunset. Here you can watch the sun set directly in front of you, over the water; perfect for an amazing Saint Martin Instagram photo.
Tips: Mullet Bay Beach is so beautiful you will want to spend some time here, and not just stop by for a photo. There is a large parking lot, huge beach area, nice swimming area, and a few beach bars. This area is sure to be one of the most unforgettable areas on your trip to Saint Martin.
Cupecoy Beach
Cupecoy Beach is one of the most stunning beaches and instagrammable spots in Saint Martin. It’s unique rock formations along the shore provide dramatic locations to take some amazing Saint Martin Instagram photos. While stunning to view from the cliff, and to walk along the beach, areas of Cupecoy Beach are not best for swimming due to the force of the waves and large rock formations in the water.
When you arrive at the cliff edge at Cupecoy Beach, you will immediately see why Cupecoy Beach is one of the most instagrammable spots in Saint Martin. You can take some beautiful photos from the top of the cliff, but if you choose to venture further along the pathway, you can find steps down to the beach. There are multiple sandy areas along the beach, separated by rock formations and cliffs that push out into the ocean. You will also find that Cupecoy Beach is relatively lesser known than nearby Maho and Mullet Bay Beaches, and so there should be significantly less people than those other Saint Martin photo locations.
You can also find the odd sea cave when the tide is low. Due to the rock formations, there are so many great angles to take Instagram photos here. Be sure to bring your best swimsuit and a photographer who doesn’t mind getting their feet wet!
Justin Gown / Justin Gown in Black
Location: Cupecoy Beach
Hours: The beach is open all-day.
Best Time for Photos: The best time for photos at Cupecoy Beach is in the late afternoon and for sunset. The beach faces a southwest direction, perfect for viewing the setting sun and creating some dramatic light against the cliff.
Tips: If you plan to take in the sunset here, be sure to stop by the popular Dany’s Beach Bar for a drink and delicious local food, all with a great atmosphere.
Trou de David (David’s Hole)
If you’re looking for one of the most unknown and unique Instagrammable photo spots in Saint Martin, this is it. David’s Hole is a large open crater-like hole in the cliffs on the western side of the island. Finding David’s Hole can be a bit difficult, but if you know where to go, it is quite easy. See the detailed explanation below on how to get here and where to park.
Justin Gown / Justin Gown in Black
Location: David’s Hole When you use Google Maps to drive here, the route says to take ‘Rue David Holef’, however this is a private road is not appropriate. From the intersection of ‘Rue David Holef’ and ‘Rue des Terres Basses’ drive east towards Sandy Ground. After about 2,000 feet (600 m) there is an unmarked turnoff on the left, driving north. Take this road, which is quite narrow and overgrown, to the end where you will find a small parking area. Once parked, you can walk along the beach on public land to reach David’s Hole.
Hours: There are no specific hours for this Saint Martin photo location.
Best Time for Photos: Taking photos of David’s Hole is quite easy anytime of day as there is usually no one else here.
Tips: If you visit this Saint Martin Instagram location at high tide, you might have to walk through shallow water to access David’s Hole. The rocks are quite sharp, so be sure to bring good footwear for the short walk, which will take about 5 minutes.
Philipsburg
Philipsburg is the colorful capital of Sint Maarten, and is also the largest and busiest town on the island. The town was founded in 1763 by a Dutch sailor, and it maintains many of its historical buildings among its very walkable downtown area.
The best way to explore Philipsburg is to explore the small streets by foot. Here you will find many colorful buildings, some beautiful historical buildings, and also a number of wall murals where you can take some of the most instagrammable photos in Sint Maarten.
One of our favorite instagrammable locations in Sint Maarten in Philipsburg is in front of the Sint Maarten Courthouse on Front Street. The best street to explore for Instagram photo locations is along Front Street, but don’t forget to walk the Boardwalk as well, to take in all that the town has to offer.
Location: Philipsburg
Hours: Philipsburg is open all day.
Best Time for Photos: Taking an Instagram photo in Philipsburg is not hard, and nearly anytime of day should work well.
Tips: As the Port of Sint Maarten is within walking distance of Philipsburg, the town is very popular with cruise ship passengers. The number of people in town varies greatly depending on the number of ships that are in port. You can check the cruise ship schedule on the Port St. Maarten website and determine if you’d like to take your photos during a quieter time, or when multiple cruise ships are in port for a more lively atmosphere.
Fort St. Louis
Fort St. Louis is an old French fort perched on top of a hill that overlooks Marigot, the French capital city, and Marigot Bay. The fort was built in 1789 during the reign of King Louis XVI of France. Nowadays, the remains of the fort are a few walls and canons. This location is one of the best Instagrammable spots in Saint Martin due to the view, and not the fort itself.
Tiare Hawaii Dress / Same Dress in Pink
The view from the fort out over Marigot Bay is beautiful, especially when the sun is shining. Feel free to get creative as you can find unique angles and photo spots all over the fort, which is free to walk all around.
Location: Fort St. Louis
Hours: The fort is open all day.
Best Time for Photos: The best time to take photos at this Saint Martin Instagram photo spot is anytime of the day. This is a beautiful area for photos throughout the day as the shining sun will turn the color of the surrounding water bright blue.
Tips: When driving here, finding the parking lot is not clearly labeled. Follow the directions from Google Maps, and keep driving past the Red Cross Hospital up Rue du Fort St Louis. The road takes a sharp turn uphill to the right, and you will find the parking lot just after the turn.
Pic Paradis
Pic Paradis, or Paradise Peak, is the highest point on the island of Saint Martin. As a result, it has some stunning views of the whole island! The peak of the hill is 1,391 feet (424 m) above sea level. Luckily, you can drive almost all of the way to the top, so you only have to complete a short hike of about 20 minutes to reach the viewpoint. The drive up is on a paved road, although it is quite steep and bumpy in places. The last portion is a gravel road, with a small area to park your car.
The viewpoint has a small clearing where you can have a beautiful eastward view of the island. There is also a sign that provides helpful information of everything you can see on the island of Saint Martin, as well as the other Caribbean islands in the distance.
Location: Pic Paradis
Hours: There are no specific hours to visit this Saint Martin photo location.
Best Time for Photos: There’s no bad time to take photos at Pic Paradis. Given it’s unobstructed view of the island, nearly anytime of day is great to create some of the most instagrammable photos of Saint Martin.
Tips: As you follow the Google Maps route to Pic Paradis, you will reach a sign that says there is no more public parking past this point. Park your car just before this sign and then walk up the quickly deteriorating road to the top. At the first fork, take the left route to continue on the path. When you get near the top, there is a sign directing you to the left for the view. Take this route, as even though it is not the official ‘top’ of Pic Paradis, this area has the best views.
Friar’s Bay Beach
Friar’s Bay Beach is one of the more popular beaches on the French side of Saint Martin. The beach has a few small restaurants and bars, and is a popular place with locals and tourists alike. What makes Friar’s Bay Beach unique, is that there is a nice small walking path to reach the next Saint Martin Instagrammable Photo spot on this list.
Tiare Hawaii Dress / Same Dress in Different Colors
If you take the small walking path from the northern end of Friar’s Bay Beach, in 15 minutes you will reach Happy Bay Beach. Along this path, you will have some beautiful views back towards Friar’s Bay Beach. You can create some beautiful photos here, using the growing cacti to frame your photos.
Location: Friar’s Bay Beach
Hours: There are no specific hours to visit this Saint Martin Instagram spot.
Best Time for Photos: The best time to take photos here is during the day or later afternoon. The sun may not be shining strongly on the water early in the morning, which would mean that you don’t get to see some of the beautiful water colors.
Tips: There is plenty of parking at Friar’s Bay Beach, although the road to get there ‘Rue de Friar’s Bay Voie 2’ is a bit rough, it’s not very long.
Happy Bay Beach
As noted in the description of Friar’s Bay Beach, above, to reach Happy Bay Beach, you must first park your car at Friar’s Bay Beach. You can then take a walking path from the northern end of Friar’s Bay Beach along the coast to reach Happy Bay Beach. The walk is on a clearly defined path, and should only take about 10 to 15 minutes.
Swimsuit / Cover-Up Shirt (It’s Kyle’s shirt but it’s the perfect cover up)
Once at Happy Bay Beach, the best photos are taken along the beach, showcasing the curved beach area which is surrounded by beautiful rock formations. If you’re a fan of electronic music, you may already know that the boutique SXM Festival takes place here at Happy Bay Beach every year.
Location: Happy Bay Beach
Hours: This photoshoot location is open all day.
Best Time for Photos: The best time to take photos here is in the afternoon.
Tips: If you’re looking for a quiet beach to spend the day, this is a great location. You’ll find a few others enjoying this serene beach, perfect for relaxing.
Anse Marcel Viewpoint
And finally, the last location in the list of the top 10 Instagrammable spots in Saint Martin! This location provides a stunning view of the protected Anse Marcel cove on the northern tip of the island. From the viewpoint you can see the full cove, as well as the resorts and marina below. The island in the distance is the nearby country of Anguilla.
Location: Anse Marcel Viewpoint
Hours: There are no specific hours for this photo location.
Best Time for Photos: The best time for photos at this relatively unknown Saint Martin Instagram spot is during the afternoon. Photos early or late in the day will have shadows from the surrounding hills.
Tips: The Google Maps location is not exactly where the parking area or photo spot are. When driving on ‘Rue de l’anse Marcel’ towards the north, you will reach a guardpost and gate (which is open) along the road, and immediately before this is a parking lot to the right. Park your car here and you can choose to take photos here or continue to walk along the road to the highest point for an additional photo angle.
Where to Stay in Saint Martin
When visiting Saint Martin, there are a number of available choices on where to stay, however the easiest and quickest way to get your vacation started is to book a vacation package with CheapCaribbean. By using Cheap Caribbean, you can purchase your airfare, hotel, transfer, and excursions as one package – saving you money.
We used CheapCaribbean to book our trip, including transfer to and from the airport, and stayed at the beautiful Secrets St. Martin Resort and Spa. The Secrets St. Martin Resort is located in the beautiful secluded Anse Marcel cove on the French side of the island. The resort features a large pool area with more than enough lounge chairs, a huge beach area, all-inclusive dining at multiple on-site restaurants, and even offers some beautiful swim out suites with direct pool access from your private terrace.
Read our full review of the Secrets St. Martin Resort and Spa!
Top 10 Instagrammable Spots in Saint Martin and Sint Maarten
Hopefully you found this list of the top 10 Instagrammable spots in Saint Martin perfect for planning your next trip! Did we miss any of your favorite Instagram photo locations on the Caribbean Island of Saint Martin? Let us know in the comments!
