Elsewhere in St. Martin

Not many people know about this romantic, hidden gem. Happy Bay has powdery sand, gorgeous luxury villas, and stunning views of Anguilla. The snorkeling is also good. To get here, turn left on the rather rutted dead-end road to Baie des Péres (Friar's Bay). The beach itself is a 10- to 15-minute walk from the last beach bar. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; solitude; swimming; walking.

This quiet, somewhat rocky cove close to Marigot has beach grills and bars, with chaises and umbrellas, calm waters, and a lovely view of Anguilla. Kali's Beach Bar, open daily for lunch and (weather permitting) dinner, has a Rasta vibe and color scheme. It's the best place to be on the full moon, with music, dancing, and a huge bonfire, but you can get lunch, beach chairs, and umbrellas anytime. Friar's Bay Beach Café is a French bistro on the sand, open from breakfast to sunset. To get to the beach, take National Road 7 from Marigot, go toward Grand Case to the Morne Valois hill, and turn left on the dead-end road at the sign. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: partiers; swimming; walking.

Here you can bask with the millionaires renting the big-ticket villas in the "neighborhood." The gorgeous beach and its salt ponds make up a nature preserve, site of the oldest habitation in the Caribbean. This area is widely thought to have the best snorkeling on the island. You can swim the crystal waters along the point and explore a swim-through cave. The beach is fairly popular with gay men in the mornings and early afternoons. The little restaurant Chez Raymond is open every day, and cocktail hour starts when the conch shell blows, so keep your ears open. There is a sign and a right turn after you leave Baie Nettlé. Amenities: food and drink; toilets. Best for: snorkeling; swimming; walking.

A protected nature reserve, this kid-friendly island is a five-minute ferry ride from French Cul de Sac ($7 per person round-trip). The ferry runs every half hour from mid-morning until 4 pm. The water is clear and shallow, and the shore is sheltered. Snorkelers can swim a trail between both coasts of this pencil-shaped speck in the ocean. You can rent equipment on the island or in the parking lot before you board the ferry for about $12. Two beach clubs offer lunch: Karibuni (closed September) has the freshest fish, great salads, tapas, and drinks—try the frozen mojito and homemade ice cream. Yellow Beach has more of a party vibe with cocktail tables in the water. Chairs and umbrellas can be rented for $25 for two. Amenities: food and drink; parking. Best for: snorkeling; swimming.

Between Marigot and Grand Case, this gallery is managed by the daughter of the late artist Alexandre Minguet. It carries original paintings, lithographs, posters, and postcards depicting island flora and landscapes by Minguet, as well as original works by Robert Dago and Loic BarBotin.