It is quite evident that Guadeloupe has set many a person dreaming, with its white, sandy beaches fringed by palm trees and its very atmosphere which is enough, by itself, to bring a feeling of peace and calm and complete relaxation.

To the north of this island, originally considered an archipelago and which acquired the status of a French Territorial Collectivity since 2007, lies the island of Saint-Martin, which is the ideal destination for you, whether you are a shopping addict, you enjoy life’s luxuries, or, quite simply, you are a nature lover.

We are talking of an island that has an over-abundance of rich resources, as much cultural by virtue of its national bipolarity (with the North of the island being the French part and the south, the Dutch), as by the beauty of its landscape, the richness of its marine life and the diversity of leisure activities that you will find on offer. And so, you will find that Saint-Martin will satisfy you in every way, whatever your mood or your personal notion of what constitutes a holiday in paradise.

However, you will be delighted to discover that, in Saint-Martin, an exotic setting and gastronomy are not incompatible, after all. As a matter of fact, in addition to being rich and varied (drawing inspiration from Creole, Chinese and Indian culinary specialities), this Caribbean island’s cuisine is largely influenced by French gastronomy.

What is more, Grand Case is unanimously acknowledged as being the gastronomic capital of the Caribbean. The top chefs are marvellous at knowing exactly how to combine local products with their national savoir-faire, thereby creating new flavours which will titillate your taste buds. You will be even more taken by the Saint-Martin cuisine if you like fish-based dishes. You will also be pleasantly surprised by the quality and freshness of the products.

If you would like to try the local food, here is a brief, by no means exhaustive, list of culinary specialities that are well worth hunting around for:

Acras (fish [cod] fritters), boudin créole (créole-style black pudding), stuffed crab, various local-style curries, blaff (a fish dish, steeped in lime juice, cooked in a spicy broth), fish court-bouillon, le poulet boucané (a smoked chicken dish), la daube ou le touffé de requin (two varieties of shark stew, prepared differently), red kidney beans, coconut tart, bananas flambé and sorbets (sherberts), etc.

And so, in Saint-Martin, you will find something to cater for every palate and every budget, from top gastronomic restaurants to a simple « lolo » on the beach…. so, don’t hesitate to cross the threshold and enter the world of flavours.

The strikingly beautiful island of Saint Martin, with its 70 kilometres of coastline bordering the Caribbean Sea, gives you a choice of 30 breathtaking beaches, with a variety of scenery and surroundings. Whatever the atmosphere that you are looking for, you will find it here: whether you are a sunlounger fan, or someone who wants to commune privately with nature, or madly keen on surfing.

Whether you are staying with your family, a loving couple, or with a group of friends, you will be won over by the beauty of the different spots and the gentle way of life of these kilometres of white or red sand.

‘Bleu Émeraude’ would now like to recommend to you what we consider to be the 5 most beautiful beaches on the island:

Long Bay. Situated in Low Lands, on the west of the island, Baie Longue (Long Bay) is bordered, in part, by the Samanna Hotel and stretches to the Pointe des Canonniers (Cannon Point). Located not very far from the Dutch part of the island, this beach, with its jade-turquoise waters, its white sands from where one can watch pelicans taking flight, is, without doubt, the quietest of Saint-Martin’s long beaches.

Anse Marcel (Marcel Cove): a hidden haven at the end of little Anse Marcel Bay, on the North of the island. Anse Marcel is a magnificent beach that has been landscaped and protected. Its main advantage: the continuous calm of waters, protected from sea swells, which will make it possible for you to swim there in any conditions and without any danger. This is where you will also find the diving Clubs and other water sports activities.

Ilet Pinel (Pinel Island): situated in the very heart of the Natural Reserve, close to the East coast of Saint-Martin, this tiny paradise island can only be reached by boat. Once you are on the island, you will have the choice of two magnificent beaches: the first, facing Saint-Martin, is a long strip of shallow sand, with crystal-clear waters – ideal for children. The second beach, wild and pebbly, is situated on the other side of the island which one can reach after a 10 minute walk. There are regular shuttles, every day. You will also find two restaurants with a terrific atmosphere, very laid back, right on the water’s edge, where you can enjoy grilled fish and tropical salads.

Happy Bay: especially pretty at sunset, the beach really takes on a paradise setting. It can only be reached after roughly ten minutes’ walk over the mountain. It is one of most beautiful beaches on the Island of Saint-Martin, one that has been able to preserve both its authenticity and its untamed aspect. It is special in that it is lined along its length by palm trees and has a bay in which it is great to have a drink on board a boat anchored in the bay.

Guana Bay: Windsurf and surfing fans will be delighted with this magnificent beach that has remained untamed and where not many people go. Guana Bay, situated in the Dutch part of the island, lies opposite the Island of Saint-Barths. It is ideal for those who like to go off the beaten track. Warning: the current is strong and runs deep.

This makes up our non-exhaustive list; please let us have your own suggestions and your opinions and feedback on your experiences.

At ‘Bleu Émeraude’ (=Blue Emerald), we appreciate art and we like to share that love of art with our guests. And so we regularly change the works of art exhibited in our establishment.

The beginning of Automne will be printed by naïve art

In an effort to keep our regular customers happy, we think that it is useful to change the collections so that they can benefit from a greater variety of styles.  Currently, we have already welcomed three artists with different outlooks, who will be presenting their works in Caribbean colours. Their various canvasses are available to purchase.

The main ones represented are Antoine CHAPON and Shari ERICKSON.

As regards Antoine Chapon, his luminous and intense painting is a discerning expression of the colourful Caribbean atmosphere.
Born in Bordeaux, France, in 1952, he crossed the Atlantic in 1981 and settled in St Martin, in the tiny village of Colombier. Since 1995, he has lived and worked in his picturesque home/gallery, overlooking the magnificent Cul de Sac Bay.
In October 2006, Antoine was awarded the Prix d’Excellence at the 27^th edition of the “International Marine Art Exhibition” at the Mystic Museum, CT, USA.

In conclusion, we are going to turn our eyes to the American continent. Shari Erickson is an artist that received recognition very early on in her native city of Atlanta for her mural paintings. From a very early age, the main centre of interest for this artist lay in contemplating and analysing the human body. To this day, this interest remains at the heart of her talent, as does, at the same time, her experimentation with light and colour, which also pervades her work.
The Minister for Development for the American territories chose

Shari Erickson’s work to illustrate the “Virgin Islands National Park” publication. Shari Erickson exhibits her work in the South-eastern United States and in certain galleries in the Antilles Archipelago.