Travel to the most luxurious and unknown Caribbean, Saint Martin & Anguilla

The mere mention of the word "Caribbean" conjures up images of dazzling white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and tall, green palm trees. A sea of explorers, discoverers, pirates, and romantics, the Caribbean has been one of the world's major commercial and multicultural hubs for more than 500 years. It is estimated that there are more than 700 islands and islets in this sea, each with a unique culture and biodiversity.

On one of these islands, in St. Martin, the Arawak Indians arrived in 800 AD and named the island "Sualouiga" or "Land of Salt", because of the numerous salt pans that were scattered throughout its territory. The Dutch established a settlement on the island in 1631 and were the ones who initiated the exploitation of salt on a large scale, as they used it to preserve meat and tons of fish caught in the Baltic Sea. At that time, there was already a colony of 14 French families on the island.

In 1633, the Spanish invaded St. Martin, and attempts by the French and Dutch to protect their settlements were futile, so they withdrew until the Spanish troops left the island in 1648. France and Holland then signed the "Treaty of Concord", by which they divided the island. Thus, today, an imaginary line divides the island into two. On one side, Sint Maarten, the Dutch side, and on the other, St. Martin, the French side. With luxury as a banner, both areas of the island are full of wonderful beaches, boutiques, casinos, and hotels such as La Samanna.

French luxury overlooking Baie Longue

When businessman James Frankel first visited Baie Longue, it was love at first sight. Within an hour, he had bought the land on the bluff overlooking the beach and dreamed of building a vacation home for his family. After discovering that the area was zoned for a hotel instead of a house, he decided to build a resort where he could entertain friends. The name came from the first letters of his three daughters' names - Samantha, Anouk, and Nathalie. And that is how La Samanna opened its doors in 1972.

Although at the time getting to St. Martin was already an adventure, with no direct flights and only one road around the island, La Samanna's classic luxury and the magic of the bay attracted celebrities such as Richard Nixon, singer Diana Ross, and the grand dame of L'Oreal, Liliane Bettencourt. It still attracts such celebrities as Oprah Winfrey to this day.

 

Since its inception, this resort offers luxury experiences through its rooms, suites, or villas for those who want more privacy. From there, St. Martin offers a myriad of experiences for all tastes and ages. Apart from more traditional sea-related activities such as snorkeling, paddle surfing, kayaking, a sunset cruise around the island, a romantic dinner on the sand, or booking an exclusive cabin to spend the day on the beach in style, in addition to more exclusive experiences on the island.

Adventure on an uninhabited island

One of the most unique experiences is visiting the neighboring uninhabited island of Tintamarre, a name that comes from French and curiously means "uproar", a word that characterized in the past this strategic island disputed by the French and the Dutch. Ironic, considering that today the island is completely uninhabited, with a rocky coastline, white sandy beaches, and a flat orography, so the locals call it "Flat Island".

This small strategic point of the Caribbean is also known because the local airline Antillean Airline Company or CAA, which managed a small fleet of reused aircraft from Tintamarre and flew to Dominica, St. Lucia, Martinique, and Anguilla, operated there between 1946 and 1950. The single airstrip provided new routes and, with them, opportunities for alcohol smuggling. In 1950, the runway was closed and never used again. Today, among the low bushes and grass, the runway has all but disappeared along with most of the island's storied past.

The boho-chic charm of Anguilla

A 20-minute ferry ride from St. Martin, we disembark on Anguilla, the northernmost of the Leeward Islands, covering just 90 square kilometers of land area. Located in the Eastern Caribbean, the island is part of the British West Indies, a region famous for its slow and gentle pace of life.Leeward Islands
Anguilla was once a sacred site for the Arawak, who called it "Malliouhana," meaning sea serpent. Echoes of this tribe's mysticism can still be found in places like Big Spring, with its ancient petroglyphs and cave paintings.

On the southern tip of Anguilla, Maundays Bay is a secluded Eden characterized by pearly sand and cobalt-blue waters. There, as if swaying in the breeze of lazy palms, stretching along the shore of the bay, lies the luxury resort Belmond Cap Juluca.

Cap Juluca is named after the rainbow spirit of the Arawak. According to local tradition, "Juluca" was a mystical being covered in fine-colored feathers that brought luck to fishermen. This island was never a strategic commercial enclave, so those who settled here were mainly looking for peace and freedom. This is what shaped the spirit of authentic, relaxed luxury that is still evident today. Thus, Belmond Cap Juluca is the perfect starting point for us to discover the wonders of Anguilla.

This small island boasts some of the best beaches in the Caribbean, such as Shoal Bay. To discover the local lifestyle, the best thing to do is stroll around Sandy Ground, a small town that combines colorful bars and cozy restaurants with golden sands and gently bobbing sailboats. 

Anguilla seems to have its own pace of life, a tempo that allows us to leisurely explore several captivating places. We can realize our dreams of spending a day on a deserted island at Sandy Island, a small sandbar surrounded by palm trees off the northwest coast.
 

Or discover the Prickly Pear Cays, a chain of uninhabited rocky islets rich in coral reefs and lush vegetation. Anguilla is a dream destination for snorkeling or scuba diving since you can enjoy the colors of its seabed or swim with the turtles.

If we prefer to stay on land, we can play golf, go on a bird safari to observe some of the 130 species that inhabit the island, or, if we want something with more adrenaline, we can take an off-road tour in the interior of the island.