By Felicia Persaud
News Americas, MARIGOT, St. Martin, Fri. Sept. 23, 2011: If you have fantasies of being the King or Queen of your very own island but lack the financial resources to actually buy one, then consider a small island off St. Martin – at least for a day.
Tinatmarre Island is for the nature lover seeking serenity coupled with lush blue waters and power white sand beaches. It is a place that allows you to soak in the sun with no crowds to bother you and lets you wander off in thought.The 80 acre island is now home to lots of trees and lizards but once had its own king, navy, and airline. It is situated about an hour and a half from Marigot by boat, to the East of the Orleans quarter of St. Martin.
The island can be reached by a catamaran ride over sometimes choppy waters from Marigot’s marina. Ensure you take a tablet for motion sickness if you are prone to seasickness as it can turn your stomach queasy.
Ile Tintamarre or the “Flat Island,” has a history that dates back to the 18th century. The French first retrieved it from the English, who had held it for some 40 years before it came into the possession of the van Romondt family. The first was Diederik Johannes van Romondt who arrived from Holland in 1801 and served as governor of Sint Maarten from 1820 to 1840.
When you visit the island today, you will find traces of its history. But remember to take a picnic lunch as it’s a largely deserted island and ensure you take a dip in the mud bath that is presumed to be healthy for rejuvenation. Or you can choose to you go on snorkeling tours with guides and appropriate snorkel equipments.
The coastline is inhabited with fish in large numbers which will captivate you with their little antics.
Excursions to Tintamarre
Tintamarre Half Day trip
Half Day charter to Tintamarre (2 trips daily)
Leave the Marina to take a short cruise direct to Tintamarre island.
Enjoy the natural spa mud bath, swim in the warm seas, and then return 3 hours later.
Refreshments on board.
Trip time 8.45 am – 12.45 pm
or 1.00 pm – 5.00 pm
Full Day Charter – Scenic Boat trips along the coastline
Leave the Marina at 8 am to take a cruise along the coastline stopping at beautiful tropical beaches, including Tintamarre island, for the natural spa mud bath.
Return at 4.00 pm
Refreshments on board.
Price for full day charter – $1,600 – maximum 10 people
Private Boat Charters
You can also arrange various private boat tours for half day or full day with boats like the NAEJ. Each excursion can be personalized to meet your requirements.
Half day charter – $1,000
For more on St. Martin visit: w w w . s t m a r t i n i s l a n d . o r g.
