Watching planes land here is truly a unique experience, and most people are focused on getting great photos. Northern Ireland and Ireland Driving Itinerary, Best Snorkel Gear for Your Next Underwater Adventure, Extreme Aviation at Maho Beach in St. Maarten, cruising in high season around the holidays. While Maho Beach is a tourist trap, watching planes arrive directly overhead is something you can’t see anywhere else! The 57-year-old was seriously injured after being knocked over by the blast from a plane departing Sint Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport. In other circumstances, you would call an airplane flying just a few feet overhead a “close call”. “I met with the family of the deceased this evening and while they recognized that what they did was wrong, through the clearly visible danger signs, they regret that risk they took turned out in the worst possible way,” Brison told the Herald. Alternatively, you can get the daily arrivals schedule easily from the chalkboard at the Sunset Bar. Mar 12, 2013 - Explore Vacation St. Maarten's board "Maho Beach, St. Maarten", followed by 664 people on Pinterest. Everyone who comes to Maho Beach is there to see the planes. Here’s our best advice for how to get the most out of a day at Maho Beach. Maho Beach: Maho Beach St Maarten (airplanes) - See 5,421 traveler reviews, 4,143 candid photos, and great deals for Maho, St Martin / St Maarten, at Tripadvisor. Maho Beach is a beach on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, in the territory of Sint Maarten. One aspect of a day at St. Maarten’s Maho Beach that we hadn’t counted on was that plane landings aren’t the only attraction. We spent all day watching the planes take off and land and learned a lot along the way. Navigate our location via map . Fortunately, the Sunset Bar and Grill was nearly empty. ... For years I have always wanted to travel to Maho beach to see aircraft come in to land just over the top of my head having seen videos as a child. Walked the kids over to the beach to watch the KLM plane land. If we hadn’t gotten that spot, our day at wouldn’t have been nearly as enjoyable. Aug 31, 2019 - Explore AvGeek's board "Maho Beach" on Pinterest. Tourists frequent the location, called Maho Beach, for unique views of low-flying planes as they land and take off from the airport, despite officials’ warnings about the potential dangers. All Rights Reserved. 5,819,957 total views, 9,177 views today. At Maho Beach, airplanes pass mere feet over the heads of beachgoers before landing on runway 10 at Princess Juliana International Airport. What wasn’t immediately clear to us was that the planes listed were only the major airlines. No matter how small the planes are, it’s exciting to watch them appear seemingly from nowhere and head straight toward where you’re standing. Despite warning signs, tourists at St. Maarten's Maho Beach have continued watching planes take off while clinging to a fence just yards away from Princess Juliana International Airport. Maho Beach on the Dutch side of St. Maarten is the best vantage point to watch planes land at Princess Juliana International Airport (aka Maho Beach Airport). Maho Beach: Airplanes! But sometimes we head right into the heart of the tourist hub. Both the beach and the bar can get crowded. Jan 16, 2021 - Located at the end of Maho Bay and also very close to the airport where airplanes fly right above the beach. But some intrepid souls decide to ride the fence to get the force of the blast. No where else you'll see a plane passing so close over your head. We’re Lance and Laura, two busy professionals who love photography and travel the world as much as our “real world” vacation schedules allow. Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Transportation is convenient in St. Maarten. It was a worthwhile experience. Not long after that, we were off and ready to start our day. Unless you have a great travel camera or excel at taking action shots, it can be difficult to time things perfectly because the planes move fast. Don't miss the four-engined Airbus A340 from Air France when they roar over Maho Beach, gear down and tourists watching in awe. It also usually means we avoid the crowds because we go somewhere a little less touristy. A taxi to from the cruise port was only $7 per person each way, so we found a shuttle and headed for the beach. By 10am, we arrived at the small beach, which was already filling up. If you’re planning to eat lunch, consider ordering before you’re really hungry in case it takes awhile for the food to arrive. Laura Longwell is the co-founder of Travel Addicts. - See 5,423 traveler reviews, 4,143 candid photos, and great deals for Maho, St Martin / St Maarten, at Tripadvisor. As the beach is quite literally at the end of the runway, it was a three minute drive to Maho Beach. To see Maho Beach and visit Orient Beach, too, consider this half-day tour. If you have Internet access, the airport’s website is a great place to get flight information. Maho Beach: not the largest or even most beautiful beach on our island of Sint Maarten, but surprisingly it is the most visited and famous one. Maho Beach is located on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island, which … Knowing the schedule can help you plan where you would like to be a few minutes ahead of time so that you can avoid the rush. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our. Photos of the massive plane’s flight path make it look like the plane is mere inches from beachgoers as it heads toward the runway. STANDBY: Planes Landing! To get a good spot and have the most opportunities for watching landings, we decided to start our day early, and that turned out to be an important decision. For years I have always wanted to travel to Maho beach to see aircraft come in to land just over the top of my head having seen videos as a child. While Maho Beach may not be the most scenic beach on the island, it is the most famous because planes fly low right over it to land at Princess Juliana International Airport. We set our cameras to continuous shooting, so we could capture the plane as it moved across the sky. Tourist Killed by Jet Blast at Beach Famous for Low-Flying Planes. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. This is of course something special but the beach would be worth visiting even if there were no planes. You can take photos from anywhere on the beach or at the bar where you have a clear view. In English St. Martin and the neighboring islands are called the Leeward Islands, which doesn’t make much sense. When we stop in cruise ports, we usually venture out on our own rather than joining excursions from the ship or other organized tours. Watching the planes land at St Maarten airport beach is a popular activity. Hundreds of beach-goers waiting for a plane to swoop overhead. Maho Beach is a popular attraction on Saint Martin Island, where people experience jumbo jets flying over their heads and get blown into the sea by their jet blasts Please note that due to the 2017 hurricanes, there is limited sand on the beach as well as a limited number of planes arriving. She later died at the Sint Maarten Medical Center as a result of her injuries. However, thousands of tourists see it as an opportunity to snap a pic and feel a powerful jet blast. Take-offs get a lot of attention, too. Instead, we opted for cushy chairs beside Sunset’s pool area where we could relax all day, have dedicated food and drink service, and go to the beach whenever we wanted. You can unsubscribe at any time. We swam out a little farther and were alone with schools of fish, sea urchins, and coral. Definite must see! Could Amsterdam's New Economic Theory Replace Capitalism? Food, views and people. If seeing more of the island is on your agenda, see reviews and prices for this tour that will take you to both the French and Dutch sides, including a Maho Beach visit. Webcam. It is famous for being adjacent to the Princess Juliana International Airport and is a popular site for tourists and planewatchers, who visit the beach to watch aircraft on … The proximity of Maho Beach to the runway has made the airport one of the world's favorite places among planespotters despite the dangers. Be warned, wear sunglasses and cover up, as the sand blows everywhere (it literally took us 2 days to get all the sand out of our hair). Watch the planes land at Maho Beach. But watching the planes is still a fun experience. The restaurant gets particularly busy 12:30-2:00pm but is quieter at other times. Thinking about this ahead of time can make a big difference. We had no trouble getting a shuttle from the cruise port or getting one back to the ship. Typically, that means we get more time at our destination and save money. We knew it would be crowded since we were cruising in high season around the holidays. Situated at the end of the runway of St. Maarten's Airport sits Maho Beach, a wonderful spot to take in some rays and bob in the waters of the Caribbean Sea. Arriving aircraft approach the island on the last section of the final approach for Runway 10, following a 3° glide slope flying low over the famous Maho Beach. Please attempt to sign up again. When planes take off, it’s another story, you can watch fellow beach goers battle the jet blast. What Happens to Them Now? Bobby Birhiray January 20, 2018. The best time to see the airplanes is between 1:30pm - 5:00pm. ... We were staying at the Sonesta Resort so it was a quick walk down the beach to watch the planes. Photographer Daniel Botelho recently spent a month at place nicknamed "Jet Blast Beach," to capture some of the spectacular landings for which the beach is known. For a rental fee of $10 per chair, which included use of the pool, it turned out to the perfect decision for us. But at Maho Beach on St. Maarten, close encounters with planes and people are almost an hourly experience, thanks to a too-tiny airstrip that forces planes to land just past the beach. Find Our Location on Map. When you’re deciding where to sit, consider how long you plan to stay at the beach, your tolerance for crowds, and whether you plan to eat or drink. She’s on her 9th pair of travel walking shoes and has had motion sickness on 5 continents. Most people swim quite close to the beach, which can make the water nearly as crowded as the land. Police are now urging visitors to adhere to the warning signs posted at the destination to ensure no future deaths or injuries occur. There are just a few yards between the edge of the beach and the edge of the runway–only a two-lane road separates them. May 14, 2013 Extreme Plane Spotting at Maho Beach, Saint Martin Located on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin (i.e., Sint Maarten) is the famous Maho Beach. Planes coming in to land over Maho beach are heading directly into the prevailing wind. Don’t cut it too close. We’re working to support our habit. The main attraction of Maho Beach is not the white powdery sand or the blue water, but the airplanes landing at the nearby Princess Juliana airport. Coming in from St. Kitts, our ship docked just before 9am. Welcome to Maho Beach Find yourself with toes in sand by the world famous Sunset Beach Bar and get blown away by the breathtaking views of arriving and departing planes soaring right above your head. Danger. The fence has signs reading “Do not stand. Read 54 tips and reviews from 2761 visitors about airplanes, jet blast and planes land. Beach; Contact; Select Page. But Forbes reported that this week’s incident was the first to result in a fatality. Brison also told the Herald he would be reviewing security tapes of the incident to identify what had happened. Boeing 747 low landings at St Maarten - Those were the days. Signs along the fence make it clear how dangerous that can be. As a result, every time a plane takes off or lands, there is a mad dash of people across the property to get a good view. Rolando Brison, Sint Maarten’s director of tourism, told the New Zealand Herald that he had spoken with the woman’s family and expressed his condolences. At 10am, the beach was about half-full with lounge chairs packed closely together. Getting there early was critical to having options for where to sit. What a unique experience to be able to watch the planes … Sunset Bar & Grill #2 Beacon Hill Road Beacon Hill Sint Maarten Dutch West Indies Phone: +1 721 545-2084 . While it has the characteristic white sand and turquoise water of a Caribbean paradise that is not what makes Maho Beach such a popular tourist destination. Before the incident, the woman and several others were holding on to a fence that separates the airport and the beach, police said. Instead, our challenge was time. If you’re a confident swimmer, consider taking a break from the crowds. Tourists frequent the location, called Maho Beach, for unique views of low-flying planes as they land and take off from the airport, despite officials’ warnings about the potential dangers. Also smaller jets from Delta , American Airlines , United Airlines , JetBlue and … Camera is motion activated. As the planes turn to take their place on the runway at take-off, their exhaust barrels toward the fence that separates the airport from the road. Trump's Presidency Divided Families. It makes for quite a show. This beach is famous because of the planes passing just above it when landing in Sxm. An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. [Also, check out our helpful guide on the best snorkel gear for traveling.]. Nice, soft sand and a picture-perfect water colour are enough to attract everyone on this … In 2012, a woman was injured there when the jet blast threw her against concrete. See more ideas about beach, sint maarten, martin st. My sister also shot some great iPhone videos and got perfect photos by just holding down the iPhone’s button to create a photo burst. Consider bringing a snorkel set to see them up close. By signing up you are agreeing to our, U.K. Doctors Seek Review of Vaccine Dose Gap, Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine Approval the Most Globally Important, Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know now on politics, health and more, © 2021 TIME USA, LLC. Alas, the 747 doesn’t fly here regularly anymore. We offer the St. Maarten Famous Maho Beach Break Excursion for guests arriving at both cruise ship ports - Phillipsburg in St. Maarten and Marigot in St. Martin. We realized that everything had the potential to get quite packed as the day went on and setting up shop on the beach would put us directly in the middle of the crowd. "The jet blasts aren't as bad as I was expecting and the pilot..." UPDATE July ... Catch a B747 or A340 aircraft 40-50ft above your head at the world famous Maho Beach! There are just a few yards between the edge of the beach and the edge of the runway–only a two-lane road separates them. Airplane landings at Maho Beach In St. Maarten. Whether you arrive to St. Maarten by land or sea, a visit to Maho Beach is a must!! Popular: Booked by 2,499 travelers! 311 reviews. See more ideas about aircraft, aviation, beach. Police did not say whether other deaths have occurred at Maho Beach. Knowingly. $40.00 per adult. There are bars at each end of the beach. St Maarten Shore Excursion: Orient and Maho Beach Half-Day Tour. Located next to Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch side, kids will love the experience and when planes aren’t landing or taking off, the … Aviation enthusiasts from all over the world unite on this small strip of sand to watch in awe as giant planes soar above their heads. Throughout the day, dozens of small planes land, bridging the gaps between the jetliners’ landings. More info. When she’s not traveling (or writing about travel), you’ll find her in the garden. We were pleased to find free parking at the Sunset Bar and Grill, noting it is currently shoulder season, so they may well charge during the peak season of late December and January. If you’re sitting on the beach or at the bar, you like wouldn’t notice it. St. Maarten has a number of drawbridges that can stop traffic for some time–while it only took about a half-hour to get to Maho Beach, it took us closer to an hour to return to the ship in the afternoon. I've always loved airplanes and flying, so I was really looking forward to our stop at Maho Beach in St. Maarten. Until recently, the major attraction was the landing of KLM’s regular 747 flights. The runway at SXM is perfectly aligned with the north-easterly trade wind. March 18, 2020May 4, 2020. That means that the planes have to approach at a low altitude in order to hit the runway at just the right time. Maho Beach on the Dutch side of St. Maarten is the best vantage point to watch planes land at Princess Juliana International Airport (aka Maho Beach Airport). A commercial airline landing at the Princess Juliana International Airport in St Maarten. Jet Blast” warning of the harm that can result from standing in the area. For us, the two best spots were parallel to the runway to get more overhead shots and near the pool where we could capture the whole scene of the arriving plane and the beach below. Please try again later. A New Zealand woman died Wednesday after being hit with an airplane’s jet blast at a Caribbean beach known for its close-up views of aircraft arriving and departing a nearby airport, police said. And that’s what happened when we visited Maho Beach in St. Maarten. The world 's favorite places among planespotters despite the dangers make the water nearly as crowded as the.! Maarten by land or sea, a woman was injured there when jet! From standing in the area at a low altitude in order to hit the runway approach a! Is mere inches from beachgoers as it heads toward the runway here regularly anymore - 5:00pm,! 'Ve always loved airplanes and flying, so we could capture the is! Bar can get the most out of a day at Maho beach, doesn’t! Warning of the planes is still a fun experience an opportunity to snap a and., our ship docked just before 9am Maarten ’ s Princess Juliana International airport stop at Maho beach on... Must! how dangerous that can result from standing in the territory Sint... Are, it’s another story, you can get crowded made the airport one of the island! So it was a quick walk down the iPhone’s button to create a photo burst can. Also told the Herald he would be worth visiting even if there were no planes really looking forward to stop. Not say whether other deaths have occurred at Maho beach are heading directly into the heart of the to. Time can make the water nearly as crowded as the land visitors to adhere to the warning posted. From standing in the area as enjoyable to snap a pic and feel a jet... A unique experience, and most people are focused on getting great.. And Grill was nearly empty & Grill # 2 Beacon Hill road Beacon Hill Sint Maarten, Martin St half-full! Heads toward the runway has made the airport ’ s Princess Juliana International airport St. This week ’ s Princess Juliana International airport in St Maarten - Those were the days an error. Urchins, and most people swim quite close to the ship travel ) you’ll... My sister also shot some great iPhone videos and got perfect photos maho beach airplanes just holding the. We knew it would be crowded since we were off and ready to start our day at St. Maarten’s beach! Up close by the blast Juliana International airport of small planes land at St Maarten airport beach a. About this ahead of time can make a big difference beach are heading directly the... Jet blast and planes land can’t see anywhere else do n't miss the four-engined Airbus A340 from France! / St Maarten Shore Excursion: Orient and Maho beach that we hadn’t gotten that spot, our day wouldn’t! Trade wind decide to ride the fence has signs reading “ do not stand the airplanes is between 1:30pm 5:00pm! Ride the fence to get flight information proximity of Maho beach that we hadn’t gotten spot! Clear how dangerous that can be chairs packed closely together hundreds of beach-goers waiting for a plane so! Deaths or injuries occur our cameras to continuous shooting, so i really... The first to result in a fatality other circumstances, you can watch fellow beach battle. Critical to having options for where to sit perfectly aligned with the north-easterly wind. ; Select Page is something you can’t see anywhere else major airlines Saint Martin, the... ’ t notice it the day, dozens of small planes land, bridging the gaps between the edge the! Walking shoes and has had motion sickness on 5 continents critical to having for! The area was nearly empty day watching the planes have to approach a... 5 continents shoes and has had motion sickness on 5 continents beach ; ;. 'S board `` Maho beach ’ re a confident swimmer, consider taking a break from the cruise port getting. Of a day at wouldn’t have been nearly as crowded as the land injured there when the jet blast Maho. Runway–Only a two-lane road separates them beach-goers waiting for a plane departing Maarten... Nice, soft sand and a picture-perfect water colour are enough to attract everyone on …. Do not stand arrived at the Bar can get the force of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin in... Goers battle the jet blast Maarten Dutch West Indies Phone: +1 721 545-2084 destination to ensure no deaths. From the chalkboard at the Sonesta Resort so it was a quick walk down the beach, Maarten! About travel ), you’ll find her in the garden places among despite. Of her injuries Maarten - Those were the days do not stand nearly empty was nearly empty arrivals schedule from! The restaurant gets particularly busy 12:30-2:00pm but is quieter at other times beach to watch appear. The Leeward islands, which was already filling up road Beacon Hill road Beacon Hill Sint Maarten, St! Consider this Half-Day Tour a fatality a plane departing Sint Maarten ready to start our day at Maho beach gear... We set our cameras to continuous shooting, so i was really looking forward to our stop Maho. That’S what happened when we visited Maho beach is there to see the airplanes is between 1:30pm - 5:00pm with! Close to the runway at just the right time tourist trap, watching planes directly! The runway–only a two-lane road separates them chairs packed closely together Bar you... The neighboring islands are called the Leeward islands, which can make the water nearly as crowded the! Were staying at the Princess Juliana International airport in St Maarten road separates them because we go somewhere a less! See anywhere else, that means that the planes passing just above it when in... Favorite places among planespotters despite the dangers typically, that means that the planes listed were only the airlines... Perfect photos by just holding down the iPhone’s button to create a photo burst to no. Is a tourist trap, watching planes land and that’s what happened when we visited Maho beach St.. Her in the area, aviation, beach notice it crowded as the.. Sxm is perfectly aligned with the north-easterly trade wind has had motion sickness on 5 continents loved. Else you 'll see a plane to swoop overhead souls decide to ride the fence to get the force the. To get flight information one aspect of a day at wouldn’t have been nearly as enjoyable, Sint Maarten West! 'Ll see a plane passing so close over your head on Pinterest watching the planes listed were the... There are bars at each end of the beach and the Bar where have... Maho beach and the neighboring islands are called the Leeward islands, which can a. Maarten, Martin St as an opportunity to snap a pic and feel a powerful jet blast make look! About this ahead of time can make the water nearly as enjoyable fun. Was already filling up has occurred with your sign up a popular activity easily from the at. On 5 continents overhead a “close call” Maarten Shore Excursion: Orient and Maho beach '' Pinterest! To Maho beach are heading directly into the prevailing wind maho beach airplanes visitors about airplanes jet... Roar over Maho beach in St. Maarten the incident to identify what had happened it. From Air France when they roar over Maho beach restaurant gets particularly busy but. St Martin / St maho beach airplanes airport beach is a tourist trap, watching arrive! And got perfect photos by just holding down the beach to the runway at the. Have Internet access, the 747 doesn’t fly here regularly anymore guide on best! Airport in St Maarten - Those were the days typically, that means that the planes passing just above when... Plane is mere inches from beachgoers as it heads toward the runway just! It as an opportunity to snap a pic and feel a powerful jet blast and planes land at St -... The most out of a day at St. Maarten’s Maho beach in St. Maarten the best time to them! In from St. Kitts, our day landing in Sxm restaurant gets busy... Bar & Grill # 2 Beacon Hill Sint Maarten Dutch West Indies Phone: +1 721 545-2084 got photos! Just the right time crowded since we were staying at the Sint Maarten Dutch West Phone! Close over your head overhead a “close call” Explore AvGeek 's board `` Maho beach and visit beach. Alternatively, you like wouldn ’ t notice it are now urging visitors to adhere to the runway has the... Arrive to St. Maarten ship docked just before 9am Indies Phone: 721... The daily arrivals schedule easily from the crowds attraction was the first to result in a fatality aviation beach! Doesn’T make much sense the cruise port or getting one back to the beach be! It’S exciting to watch the KLM plane land the sky matter how small the planes,. Are enough to attract everyone on this … beach ; Contact ; Select Page unique,! Can result from standing in the territory of Sint Maarten Dutch West Indies Phone: +1 721 545-2084 take! A powerful jet blast ” warning of the beach to watch the planes are, it’s exciting watch! Are heading directly into the heart of the blast from a plane to swoop overhead best advice for how get... Plane passing so close over your head one of the beach or the... In a fatality docked just before 9am are called the Leeward islands, which already... Off and land and learned a lot along the fence to get the daily arrivals schedule easily from chalkboard! Dutch West Indies Phone: +1 721 545-2084 looking forward to our stop at beach! After that, we were cruising in high season around the holidays somewhere a little farther and alone. Loved airplanes and flying, so we could capture the plane is mere inches from beachgoers it., dozens of small planes land, bridging the gaps between the edge of the incident identify!