Grand Case Travelers Recommend

For travelers averse to the hustle on Philipsburg, Grand Case may be the cure. The sleepy French village sits near the northern end of St. Martin, offering a boulevard packed with bakeries, cafes and open-air BBQ shacks, incredible views of nearby Anguilla, and not much else aside from blissful relaxation. 

Day 1: Eat like a Parisian

Grand Case doesn’t have a cruise ship dock, duty-free shopping malls or clanking casinos, but it does have some of the best French cuisine in the Caribbean. Spend your first day exploring the town, starting with a morning stroll to the boulangerie for croissants. Then make your way to the beach, where some restaurants offer free beach chairs and umbrellas as you snack on fish tartare and cold beer. 

Day 2: Go island hopping

Grand Case overlooks the British island of Anguilla, and it’s a perfect jumping off point for a day trip to this nearby island. Join a local sailing or snorkeling charters to spend a day cruising around Anguilla, stopping at Shoal Bay, considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean, or cruising the Prickly Pear Cays where you can swim and sunbathe on a remote desert island.

Day 3: A road with a view

Take a day to explore around the island by car, starting with a drive to the top of Pic Du Paradis, the island’s highest point at 1,492 feet, offering unbeatable views of Marigot, Philpsburg and the surrounding islands. On the way down stop at Loterie Farm, a 150-acre private nature preserve where you can hike old plantation trails through the island’s last remaining tropical forest to find St. Martin’s iconic Guavaberry trees.

Stretching along the north coast of St. Martin, Grand Case Bay is a top destination for snorkeling and scuba diving, with easy access to some of the Caribbean’s most impressive reefs. From wreck dives to diving with sea turtles, here are some of the best scuba dive sites around Grand Case Bay.

Creole Rock

Just a 5-minute cruise north, Creole Rock is a paradise for snorkelers and scuba divers known for its calm waters and high visibility. Dive in to explore the vibrant corals and look for pufferfish, barracuda, sea turtles, and eagle rays. 

Tintamarre

A little farther out, the island of Tintamarre is best known for the Tugboat, an intentionally sunken boat accessible to certified divers only. Common sightings include eels and stingrays, and if you’re lucky you might spot a dolphin or two. 

Turtle Reef

With a maximum depth of 30 feet (10 meters), Turtle Reef is suitable for all levels including first-time scuba divers. It’s a prime spot to see hawksbill sea turtles, green turtles, and moray eels, as well as a huge variety of reef fish. 

Basse Espagnole

Between St. Martin and tiny Tintamarre Island, Basse Espagnole is another great choice for certified divers, with dramatic coral formations and elkhorn coral. Sightings include reef sharks, juvenile nurse sharks, lobsters, and barracuda.