Grand Îlet (Explorer’s Island)

Grand Îlet – also called Explorer’s Island – is the larger of the two islets sitting inside Simpson Bay Lagoon, the big lagoon shared between Saint Martin (French side, north) and Sint Maarten (Dutch side, south). It belongs to the French side and stays low-key: no signage, no jetty, no tourist setup. The islet is private and mostly known to boaters and locals.

Don’t expect a postcard beach: Grand Îlet is more of an at-anchor picnic stop, with a few sandy entries at the foot of the vegetation, the shallow flats typical of the lagoon, and an unusually quiet feel just minutes from busy Marigot and Sandy Ground. The water is milkier than offshore – this is an enclosed inland body of water, not open sea.

Access is by water only, from inside the lagoon: sailboat or motorboat from Marigot marina or the Sandy Ground docks on the French side, or kayak / paddleboard rented from the lagoon-side outfitters. Plan 15 to 30 minutes depending on starting point and wind. The lagoon hosts one of the largest yacht fleets in the Caribbean, so respect the channels, keep clear of moored hulls, and use a signaling buoy if you paddle or kayak.

Important: water quality in the lagoon varies with rainfall, boat traffic and tide. Avoid swimming after heavy rain (runoff) or when algae / cyanobacteria are reported. The bottom is soft, sometimes muddy – this isn’t a snorkeling spot, it’s a quiet break between two stops.

On the islet, no facilities. Bring water, lunch, a trash bag, parasol and reef-safe mineral sunscreen. Do not walk on the vegetation, do not disturb the lagoon birds (egrets, herons, terns), and pack out everything: this area is fragile, and a piece of litter dropped here ends up in the mangrove.