St Maarten/St Martin Beaches: Maho Bay - the airplane watcher beach

Vacation rentals in St Martin and St Maarten, located at many areas of the island: Orient Bay, Dawn Beach, Pelican Key, Cupecoy and others

Maho Beach and Sunset Bar are favorite hangout spots

Maho Beach - an unique fun place

Maho Beach
a beach with a thrill - airplanes to touch - a must see on St Maarten!

Maho Beach is facing the west of the Caribbean sea, so sunset views are great, but sometimes obstructed by approaching airplanes landing at Princess Juliana airport (SXM). Touch down is about 40 -100 yds behind the beach. As bigger as closer!

Don´t forget to bring your camera, because nowhere else a Boeing 747 will be passing as close over your head as on Maho Beach.

Accommodation tips and rentals click!

Maho Beach, bordering the Maho Resort and Royal Islander Club, is a small stretch of white beach. It is the location that attracts all of its visitors: The beach is located at the Western end of the runway of Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), thus providing you with a very special experience! For those who love the thrill, or just like airplanes, watch and see incoming jets gliding in and landing just a few yards above your head!

The best time of the day to see the most is between 1:30pm - 5:00pm. The 747's and Airbus 340 usually glide in around 2:00 and leave around 4:00pm, which is sandblasting time!

Entertainment climax for aircraft watchers is around 2:00pm, when the Air France Airbus 340 arrives!

Watch an aircraft landing at Maho Beach!

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Beach Life in
St Maarten/
St Martin

Small aircraft on approach on Maho

Getting closer!

Mobile snack bar on Maho

Mobile Snack Bar
on Maho Beach

Restaurant Terrace on Maho Beach

Restaurant Terrace at Maho Beach

Nowhere else a Boeing 747 will be passing as close over your head as on Maho Beach

Get your camera ready for your scary movie or shots!

One of the large passenger jet approaching Juliana Intl' Airport on St Maarten

The beach is lined with a few rocks to both ends, and a picturesque cave, however a bit too far to swim out to there. Snorkeling is supposed to be good around the rocks, depending on weather. Watch the waives in the evening. The backlight let you see amazing fish in the surf.

American Airlines landing on St. Maarten

Maho Beach and AA landing at SXM on a Sunday afternoon

The probably best place on Maho to watch incoming and departing airlines - Sunset Beach Bar is back in business under a slightly changed name (Sunset Bar & Grill) after being destroyed by Hurricane Omar mid October 2008.

American Airlines landing on SXM airport St Maarten
Remain seated - on the beach, too!

In general , the leeward beaches to the west and southwest are calmer, facing the Caribbean Sea. Therefore, Maho is a beach with relatively low surf, although it can change quickly. The beach is not suitable for small children due to a rather steep drip off into the sea.

Maho Beach is a almost white powdery sand beach with no natural shades, like trees. Loungers and umbrellas are available for rent. The beach has several resorts, hotels and beach bars/restaurants in walking distance. Facilities closeby include the Caravanserai Resort (presently closed), Sonesta Maho, and Maho Beach Resort.

One of the large passenger jets in some distance to Juliana Intl' Airport on St Maarten alt=

Sit right in the middle of the beach, and you will get the full thrill! And when jets are taking off, the blast is so strong that it´s blowing sand and belongings all over the place!

Move mouse over photo!

Warning against low flying aircrafts on Maho Beach

It happened a few times that cars got blown off
by departing aircrafts - no kidding!

View from the West of Maho towards runway

Sunset Bar at Maho Beach

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Beaches on the
Dutch Side:

Dawn Beach
Guana Bay
Pointe Blanche
Great Bay
Little Bay
Pelican Key
Kim Sha Beach
Simpson Bay
Burgeaux Bay
Maho Beach
Mullet Bay
Cupecoy Beach

Beaches on the
French Side:

Long Bay
Plum Bay
Baie Rouge
Nettle Bay
Friar´s Bay
Happy Bay
Grand Case
Anse Marcel
Petites Cayes
Pinel Island
Orient Beach
Le Galion
Coralita Beach
Oyster Pond

Click to see beach map

A passenger jet on approach

Small airplane almost touching the beach at Maho

If you miss the right time, enjoy the small airplanes in arms length!

Thank you to "The Izzys" (guests at Villa Canoua 06/2008) for some of the great photos on this page. Greatly appreciated!

NEW Lodging close to Maho Beach:

The Bay View Condo

Seaside condo The Bay View on Simpson Bay near Maho Beach

Seaside on South Simpson Bay near Maho Beach!

The BoCo Studios

Waterfront Studios on Burgeaux Bay near Maho Beach!

Maho Beach on St. Maarten

	Simpson/Maho Beach Video Clip
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