|
By: Dave Helgeson
Places to Ride:
Island of St. Martin
Riding on French
Soil.
Beautiful Scenery
Taking a Break in
the Shade
 |
Where else in the world can you legally ride
an ATV on a paved road, tour two countries
within a couple of hours, cross an international
boundary without stopping or showing a passport,
and then stop for a swim to rinse off the dust
from riding where the water is over 80 degrees
on a beautiful tropical beach? Forgot your
swimsuit, not a problem either, as many of the
beaches are clothing optional! You can even ride
double if you like. It’s all possible on the
island of St. Martin / Sint Maarten in the West
Indies. Regardless if you arrive on the island
by ship or airplane, obtaining an ATV to ride
around the island is easy.
The Caribbean Island of St. Martin (Sint Maarten
in Dutch) is 37 square miles in area making it
the smallest island in the world divided between
two countries. The northern portion of the
island is French territory while the southern
section is administered by the Dutch
Netherlands. Most of the ATVs on the island come
equipped with turn signals and some with side
mirrors. They are allowed most anywhere on the
island and are a pleasant change from renting a
car or taking a taxi. The island is tropical;,
so plan on riding in shorts and tee shirts
during your visit and bring sunscreen. Stay
alert for critters too as goats, chickens and
other farm animals freely range in the rural
areas. Most of the roads are paved, but there
are opportunities to play in the dirt as well.
My wife and I arrived on St. Martin by cruise
ship having pre-arranged a guided tour through
an online listing. We were picked up in a van
and driven a mile or two to the rental agency
where we were given a helmet along with
operating instructions on the machines. An
advantage of riding with a guide is they know
were they are going, and the scenic way to get
there. All you have to do is follow and enjoy
the scenery and tropical breeze. If you are
staying on the island for several days, I would
rent an ATV in place of a rental car and get a
map. The ATVs on our tour were Chinese imports
and featured ample storage for a daypack under
the seat.
Lodging:
If you didn’t arrive on a cruise ship, there are
plenty of resorts on the Island.
Visit
www.st-maarten.com for lodging
options.
Getting There:
St. Martin is in the Caribbean Sea, 18.02
latitude and 63.07 longitude, 150 miles
southeast of Puerto Rico. Sea or air
transportation are your only options there.
Services:
As mentioned, we arranged a guided tour through
a local agency
www.stmaartencruiseexcursions.com.
Reserved guided tours were also available
through the cruise line, although you will
typically pay more. To rent your own ATV without
a guide, Google “St. Marten ATV Rentals”; your
search will supply you with a list of vendors
that will deliver an ATV to the airport, cruise
dock, or your hotel. If you arrive on a cruise
ship and didn’t book ahead, just start asking
around the pier as you exit the ship, you will
quickly have two or three ATV vendors fighting
for your business.
Rules and Regulations:
- The minimum age to operate an ATV is 18 years
of age.
- Riders are required to wear a helmet while the
ATV is being operated.
- Closed- toe shoes are highly recommended.
Be safe, enjoy, and I hope to see you out
riding.
|
