Saint Martin, which is a part of the French West Indies, is truly unique. It shares a 37 square mile island with Sint Maarten, which is part of the Netherlands Antilles. Although there are markers at the border, travel between the two parts of the island is unrestricted. The capital city on the French side is Marigot, a very cosmopolitan city with some of the finest restaurants and shopping in the Caribbean. On the Dutch side, you will find more shopping in Phillipsburg, casino gambling, and Juliana International Airport with direct connections to the United States, Europe and other Caribbean islands. Although French and Dutch are the official languages on the island, almost everyone speaks English, and American money is accepted in all business establishments.
Politically, St. Martin is a French overseas department . This means that the people of St. Martin are French citizens, and are governed under French law.

TERRES BASSES (LOW LAND):

Covering about 1400 acres, Terres Basses is truly a tropical island paradise. Set apart from the main part of Saint Martin, it has been divided into about about 300 residential lots over the past 10-15 years. Strict zoning and deed restrictions have made Terres Basses the premier location in the Caribbean for luxury villa development. For example, the minimum lot size is 2.5 acres with many lots exceeding 5 acres. Under the deed restrictions, lots cannot be subdivided; however, some lots have two villas with a single owner. Bounded by the blue Caribbean on the north and west, and Simpson Bay Lagoon on the southeast, Terres Basses is connected to the French and Dutch parts of the island by two narrow strips of land, making it very private. CARIMO's villas in Terres Basses are located a few minutes by car from three public beaches, these include: Long Bay Beach, Plum Bay Beach and Red Pond Bay Beach. The beautiful la Samanna Resort Hotel is also conveniently located at the south end of Long Bay Beach.

ANSE MARCEL:

Anse Marcel is located along the northern coast of St. Martin. The picturesque bay, white sand beach and marina at Anse Marcel provide a perfect setting for luxury villas. Among them is Caye Blanche. This secluded and elegant villa includes seven bedrooms. Located nearby is the Privilege Sport Club and helicopter pad. To the southwest of Anse Marcel is the town of Grand Case and the island's second airport. It provides convenient inter-island service and facilities for private aircraft. To the southeast is Orient Beach, one of St. Martin's most popular beaches.

ORIENT BEACH / BAY (La baie Orientale):

Orient Beach, which is located on the northeast shore, is the largest beach in St. Martin. It is also regarded as the most desirable with its extraordinary view of the ocean and nearby islands of St. Barth, Green Key, Pinel and Tintamre. Noted as a popular beach for naturalists, Orient Beach has everything ... beach front hotels ... small restaurants featuring a variety of refined, exotic and traditional cuisine ... and water sports like windsurfing, sailing, water skiing, jet skis, and diving.

Entertainments:
Caribbean rythms set the tone for Mardi Gras in St. Martin, but at other times of the year you can enjoy the islands thriving nightlife. Casino gambling and Las Vegas-style shows can be found on the Dutch side. Night clubs on the French side, particularly in Marigot, Grand Case and Orient Beach provide an endless array of entertainment options. During the day, kids of all ages will enjoy a tour of the Butterfly Farm where hundreds of butterflies flit around freely in a controlled environment.

History:
St. Martin's first inhabitants were the Arawaks and Caribs. During his second voyage to the New World in 1493, Columbus discovered the island, but made no attempt to establish a settlement there. In 1648, the French and Dutch signed an agreement to share the island. This agreement is still in place, and today it is the smallest island to be shared by two countries. During World War II, the US Marines built an airport on the Dutch side to couter German U-Boat attacks on Allied tankers. The first tourists arrived in 1947 and St Martin was never the same. Today more than 1.5 million visitors per year come to enjoy the island's charms.

Transportation:
Direct flights are available between Juliana International Airport and the following major cities:

New York ...... 3 1/2 hours
Miami ........... 2 1/2 hours
Paris .............. 8 1/2 hours
Charter and scheduled flights to Guadeloupe, St. Barth and other nearby islands are also available from the airport at Grand Case