Hiking and diving
The natural wealth of St. Maarten has a fascinating contrast. The Dutch south is typified by a rugged, drier landscape where giant cacti and stiff scrub lining the hills. This part is inseparable from the historic salt lakes and the legendary Fort Amsterdam. The rugged cliffs of this fort are the main nesting site for the brown pelican - the national bird - which soars stately over the ocean from its ancient walls. At Rainforest Adventures on Sentry Hill, discover this southern landscape from above, ziplining above the treetops with sweeping views of the coastline where sea turtles find their nesting sites.
Toward the French north, a different backdrop unfolds. Here, moist trade winds hit the mountains, blessing the eastern side with lush vegetation. The slopes of Pic Paradis and the fairytale Loterie Farm form a tropical paradise full of ferns and orchids, where iguanas and more than 160 species of birds are hidden in dense vegetation. This green world extends to the coast, where the vegetation turns into dense mangroves.
Mangroves
The mangroves provide a vital buffer zone between the sea and the marsh. It is an important foraging area for the aforementioned brown pelican, but above all it serves as the ideal breeding ground for hummingbirds, frigate birds, herons and ducks, which are frequently observed here among the sheltered roots.
Coral Reefs
A little further offshore, reefs of coral flourish. Here swim protected sea turtles and countless fish such as emperor fish, parrot fish, wrasse and seahorses. A little deeper into the ocean, dolphins, whales and predatory fish such as nurse sharks and barracudas adorn the underwater landscape.
