Marigot, St. Martin Island

Capital of the French side of St. Maarten/St. Martin, this was a sleepy little town compared to Philipsburg until the opening of the Port Royale Marina and Shopping Center that brought malls to Marigot at the end of the 1980s.

A lot of the city quickly spruced up itself and the town became brighter, prettier and far more attractive.

Shopping and eating are the main pastimes. Since everything is imported and based on the French franc, full meals can be expensive. However, you can always retreat to a cafe or pastry shop.

A small but lively fruit and vegetable market is held at Marigot's waterfront on Saturday. The people generally do not like their picture taken without permission.

Overlooking the city is Fort Marigot, which you can reach by hiking uphill. Plan on 1-2 hours to explore Marigot thoroughly.

The ferry here makes regular trips to neighboring Anguilla, which has even better beaches than this island. However, you'll need a passport to island hop without difficulty. Anguilla takes you to a third political territory, this one British based. Check out the Anguilla Arrival Briefing for particulars.

Caribbean trivia: How many islands in the French West Indies have a town called Marigot, like St. Martin? Answer: All of them. The name Marigot is based on a Creole word for “marsh.”

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