Baie Rouge, the Best Beach in the Lowlands, St Martin
Baie Rouge is a strong contender for the title of 'our very favourite beach' on St Martin.
As you exit the Lowlands (coming from the Dutch Side) on the main road, just as the road bends round to the right and before the long straight stretch towards Marigot, you will see the entrance to the parking lot on your left.
There's a barrier there that can sometimes be down, but drive up and someone will open it.
At the entrance to the beach you will first find two beach shacks with tables and chairs.
We recommend Chez Raymond where you can enjoy delicious frozen fruit smoothies and some basic, but tasty, creole specialties (the conch stew is fabulous) and barbequed chicken and ribs.
They also rent beach chairs and umbrellas directly in front of the shacks.
This is the most visited beach in the Lowlands, probably because of the facilities there, its easy access and proximity to Marigot.
But the beach is also beautiful; a long stretch of pinky gold sand, bordered to the left with the 'falaise des oiseaux' and to the right le trou de David 'devil's hole', literally a circular hole in the rocky cliff which reaches down to sea level - you can get nearer to it via the dirt road to the right of the entrance to the beach.
Back on the beach, head towards the left if you are looking for a quiet spot away from the crowds, there are a few recently built villas that line the waterfront but still masses of space to find your own secluded spot.
People tend to hang around the beach bars, so the rest of the beach is pretty much deserted.
But if you want something even more private, and you are a strong swimmer, swim round the cliff to the right of the beach (near the shacks) and you will find La Plage des Amoureux, 'lovers' bay', a small creek where you are likely to be completely alone.
If you're really unlucky and there are already people there, swim a bit further, past the cliff with a hole through it, where you'll find another beautiful hidden creek.
As you exit the Lowlands (coming from the Dutch Side) on the main road, just as the road bends round to the right and before the long straight stretch towards Marigot, you will see the entrance to the parking lot on your left.
There's a barrier there that can sometimes be down, but drive up and someone will open it.
At the entrance to the beach you will first find two beach shacks with tables and chairs.
We recommend Chez Raymond where you can enjoy delicious frozen fruit smoothies and some basic, but tasty, creole specialties (the conch stew is fabulous) and barbequed chicken and ribs.
They also rent beach chairs and umbrellas directly in front of the shacks.
This is the most visited beach in the Lowlands, probably because of the facilities there, its easy access and proximity to Marigot.
But the beach is also beautiful; a long stretch of pinky gold sand, bordered to the left with the 'falaise des oiseaux' and to the right le trou de David 'devil's hole', literally a circular hole in the rocky cliff which reaches down to sea level - you can get nearer to it via the dirt road to the right of the entrance to the beach.
Back on the beach, head towards the left if you are looking for a quiet spot away from the crowds, there are a few recently built villas that line the waterfront but still masses of space to find your own secluded spot.
People tend to hang around the beach bars, so the rest of the beach is pretty much deserted.
But if you want something even more private, and you are a strong swimmer, swim round the cliff to the right of the beach (near the shacks) and you will find La Plage des Amoureux, 'lovers' bay', a small creek where you are likely to be completely alone.
If you're really unlucky and there are already people there, swim a bit further, past the cliff with a hole through it, where you'll find another beautiful hidden creek.
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