However, thousands of tourists see it as an opportunity to snap a pic and feel a powerful jet blast. St. Maarten has a number of drawbridges that can stop traffic for some time–while it only took about a half-hour to get to Maho Beach, it took us closer to an hour to return to the ship in the afternoon. * The request timed out and you did not successfully sign up. For years I have always wanted to travel to Maho beach to see aircraft come in to land just over the top of my head having seen videos as a child. What a unique experience to be able to watch the planes … When planes take off, it’s another story, you can watch fellow beach goers battle the jet blast. Rolando Brison, Sint Maarten’s director of tourism, told the New Zealand Herald that he had spoken with the woman’s family and expressed his condolences. What Happens to Them Now? Watch the planes land at Maho Beach. No matter how small the planes are, it’s exciting to watch them appear seemingly from nowhere and head straight toward where you’re standing. Until recently, the major attraction was the landing of KLM’s regular 747 flights. To see Maho Beach and visit Orient Beach, too, consider this half-day tour. By signing up you are agreeing to our, U.K. Doctors Seek Review of Vaccine Dose Gap, Oxford-AstraZeneca Vaccine Approval the Most Globally Important, Sign up to receive the top stories you need to know now on politics, health and more, © 2021 TIME USA, LLC. Camera is motion activated. It was a worthwhile experience. Watching planes land here is truly a unique experience, and most people are focused on getting great photos. Transportation is convenient in St. Maarten. Popular: Booked by 2,499 travelers! See more ideas about aircraft, aviation, beach. Don’t cut it too close. Situated at the end of the runway of St. Maarten's Airport sits Maho Beach, a wonderful spot to take in some rays and bob in the waters of the Caribbean Sea. Bobby Birhiray January 20, 2018. In 2012, a woman was injured there when the jet blast threw her against concrete. While Maho Beach is a tourist trap, watching planes arrive directly overhead is something you can’t see anywhere else! The best time to see the airplanes is between 1:30pm - 5:00pm. An unexpected error has occurred with your sign up. Laura Longwell is the co-founder of Travel Addicts. Walked the kids over to the beach to watch the KLM plane land. Hundreds of beach-goers waiting for a plane to swoop overhead. If you’re a confident swimmer, consider taking a break from the crowds. My sister also shot some great iPhone videos and got perfect photos by just holding down the iPhone’s button to create a photo burst. It also usually means we avoid the crowds because we go somewhere a little less touristy. Most people swim quite close to the beach, which can make the water nearly as crowded as the land. But at Maho Beach on St. Maarten, close encounters with planes and people are almost an hourly experience, thanks to a too-tiny airstrip that forces planes to land just past the beach. Maho Beach: Maho Beach St Maarten (airplanes) - See 5,421 traveler reviews, 4,143 candid photos, and great deals for Maho, St Martin / St Maarten, at Tripadvisor. May 14, 2013 Extreme Plane Spotting at Maho Beach, Saint Martin Located on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin (i.e., Sint Maarten) is the famous Maho Beach. There are just a few yards between the edge of the beach and the edge of the runway–only a two-lane road separates them. She’s on her 9th pair of travel walking shoes and has had motion sickness on 5 continents. In other circumstances, you would call an airplane flying just a few feet overhead a “close call”. This beach is famous because of the planes passing just above it when landing in Sxm. For us, the two best spots were parallel to the runway to get more overhead shots and near the pool where we could capture the whole scene of the arriving plane and the beach below. Instead, our challenge was time. Watching the planes land at St Maarten airport beach is a popular activity. Whether you arrive to St. Maarten by land or sea, a visit to Maho Beach is a must!! Navigate our location via map . Please note that due to the 2017 hurricanes, there is limited sand on the beach as well as a limited number of planes arriving. We realized that everything had the potential to get quite packed as the day went on and setting up shop on the beach would put us directly in the middle of the crowd. Please try again later. Knowing the schedule can help you plan where you would like to be a few minutes ahead of time so that you can avoid the rush. Alas, the 747 doesn’t fly here regularly anymore. Also smaller jets from Delta , American Airlines , United Airlines , JetBlue and … Danger. Be warned, wear sunglasses and cover up, as the sand blows everywhere (it literally took us 2 days to get all the sand out of our hair). Jan 16, 2021 - Located at the end of Maho Bay and also very close to the airport where airplanes fly right above the beach. While it has the characteristic white sand and turquoise water of a Caribbean paradise that is not what makes Maho Beach such a popular tourist destination. She later died at the Sint Maarten Medical Center as a result of her injuries. As the beach is quite literally at the end of the runway, it was a three minute drive to Maho Beach. Take-offs get a lot of attention, too. Webcam. And that’s what happened when we visited Maho Beach in St. Maarten. Arriving aircraft approach the island on the last section of the final approach for Runway 10, following a 3° glide slope flying low over the famous Maho Beach. March 18, 2020May 4, 2020. To get a good spot and have the most opportunities for watching landings, we decided to start our day early, and that turned out to be an important decision. 311 reviews. Food, views and people. For a rental fee of $10 per chair, which included use of the pool, it turned out to the perfect decision for us. Maho Beach: not the largest or even most beautiful beach on our island of Sint Maarten, but surprisingly it is the most visited and famous one. Despite warning signs, tourists at St. Maarten's Maho Beach have continued watching planes take off while clinging to a fence just yards away from Princess Juliana International Airport. Before the incident, the woman and several others were holding on to a fence that separates the airport and the beach, police said. By 10am, we arrived at the small beach, which was already filling up. Everyone who comes to Maho Beach is there to see the planes. We had no trouble getting a shuttle from the cruise port or getting one back to the ship. Aviation enthusiasts from all over the world unite on this small strip of sand to watch in awe as giant planes soar above their heads. One aspect of a day at St. Maarten’s Maho Beach that we hadn’t counted on was that plane landings aren’t the only attraction. A commercial airline landing at the Princess Juliana International Airport in St Maarten. Consider bringing a snorkel set to see them up close. Northern Ireland and Ireland Driving Itinerary, Best Snorkel Gear for Your Next Underwater Adventure, Extreme Aviation at Maho Beach in St. Maarten, cruising in high season around the holidays. We knew it would be crowded since we were cruising in high season around the holidays. Nice, soft sand and a picture-perfect water colour are enough to attract everyone on this … In English St. Martin and the neighboring islands are called the Leeward Islands, which doesn’t make much sense. At Maho Beach, airplanes pass mere feet over the heads of beachgoers before landing on runway 10 at Princess Juliana International Airport. Police are now urging visitors to adhere to the warning signs posted at the destination to ensure no future deaths or injuries occur. Instead, we opted for cushy chairs beside Sunset’s pool area where we could relax all day, have dedicated food and drink service, and go to the beach whenever we wanted. We’re Lance and Laura, two busy professionals who love photography and travel the world as much as our “real world” vacation schedules allow. See more ideas about beach, sint maarten, martin st. STANDBY: Planes Landing! When we stop in cruise ports, we usually venture out on our own rather than joining excursions from the ship or other organized tours. Mar 12, 2013 - Explore Vacation St. Maarten's board "Maho Beach, St. Maarten", followed by 664 people on Pinterest. The runway at SXM is perfectly aligned with the north-easterly trade wind. Find Our Location on Map. Typically, that means we get more time at our destination and save money. But Forbes reported that this week’s incident was the first to result in a fatality. A New Zealand woman died Wednesday after being hit with an airplane’s jet blast at a Caribbean beach known for its close-up views of aircraft arriving and departing a nearby airport, police said. If seeing more of the island is on your agenda, see reviews and prices for this tour that will take you to both the French and Dutch sides, including a Maho Beach visit. Maho Beach is a popular attraction on Saint Martin Island, where people experience jumbo jets flying over their heads and get blown into the sea by their jet blasts We spent all day watching the planes take off and land and learned a lot along the way. ... We were staying at the Sonesta Resort so it was a quick walk down the beach to watch the planes. All Rights Reserved. - See 5,423 traveler reviews, 4,143 candid photos, and great deals for Maho, St Martin / St Maarten, at Tripadvisor. Maho Beach on the Dutch side of St. Maarten is the best vantage point to watch planes land at Princess Juliana International Airport (aka Maho Beach Airport). The 57-year-old was seriously injured after being knocked over by the blast from a plane departing Sint Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport. The proximity of Maho Beach to the runway has made the airport one of the world's favorite places among planespotters despite the dangers. Coming in from St. Kitts, our ship docked just before 9am. What wasn’t immediately clear to us was that the planes listed were only the major airlines. Photos of the massive plane’s flight path make it look like the plane is mere inches from beachgoers as it heads toward the runway. While Maho Beach may not be the most scenic beach on the island, it is the most famous because planes fly low right over it to land at Princess Juliana International Airport. You can unsubscribe at any time. Aug 31, 2019 - Explore AvGeek's board "Maho Beach" on Pinterest. Located next to Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch side, kids will love the experience and when planes aren’t landing or taking off, the … We’re working to support our habit. ... For years I have always wanted to travel to Maho beach to see aircraft come in to land just over the top of my head having seen videos as a child. At 10am, the beach was about half-full with lounge chairs packed closely together. It makes for quite a show. Police did not say whether other deaths have occurred at Maho Beach. But some intrepid souls decide to ride the fence to get the force of the blast. We swam out a little farther and were alone with schools of fish, sea urchins, and coral. More info. Beach; Contact; Select Page. The fence has signs reading “Do not stand. Please attempt to sign up again. When you’re deciding where to sit, consider how long you plan to stay at the beach, your tolerance for crowds, and whether you plan to eat or drink. If you’re sitting on the beach or at the bar, you like wouldn’t notice it. Maho Beach: Airplanes! Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our. Definite must see! Maho Beach is located on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island, which … [Also, check out our helpful guide on the best snorkel gear for traveling.]. This is of course something special but the beach would be worth visiting even if there were no planes. Jet Blast” warning of the harm that can result from standing in the area. I've always loved airplanes and flying, so I was really looking forward to our stop at Maho Beach in St. Maarten. Getting there early was critical to having options for where to sit. 5,819,957 total views, 9,177 views today. “I met with the family of the deceased this evening and while they recognized that what they did was wrong, through the clearly visible danger signs, they regret that risk they took turned out in the worst possible way,” Brison told the Herald. If you have Internet access, the airport’s website is a great place to get flight information. There are bars at each end of the beach. Planes coming in to land over Maho beach are heading directly into the prevailing wind. Throughout the day, dozens of small planes land, bridging the gaps between the jetliners’ landings. We set our cameras to continuous shooting, so we could capture the plane as it moved across the sky. If you’re planning to eat lunch, consider ordering before you’re really hungry in case it takes awhile for the food to arrive. Read 54 tips and reviews from 2761 visitors about airplanes, jet blast and planes land. Maho Beach on the Dutch side of St. Maarten is the best vantage point to watch planes land at Princess Juliana International Airport (aka Maho Beach Airport). Tourist Killed by Jet Blast at Beach Famous for Low-Flying Planes. Not long after that, we were off and ready to start our day. As the planes turn to take their place on the runway at take-off, their exhaust barrels toward the fence that separates the airport from the road. Some posts on this site contain affiliate links, meaning if you book or buy something through one of these links, we may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). Maho Beach is a beach on the Dutch side of the Caribbean island of Saint Martin, in the territory of Sint Maarten. Tourists frequent the location, called Maho Beach, for unique views of low-flying planes as they land and take off from the airport, despite officials’ warnings about the potential dangers. Here’s our best advice for how to get the most out of a day at Maho Beach. Thinking about this ahead of time can make a big difference. St Maarten Shore Excursion: Orient and Maho Beach Half-Day Tour. But sometimes we head right into the heart of the tourist hub. Fortunately, the Sunset Bar and Grill was nearly empty. There are just a few yards between the edge of the beach and the edge of the runway–only a two-lane road separates them. Tourists frequent the location, called Maho Beach, for unique views of low-flying planes as they land and take off from the airport, despite officials’ warnings about the potential dangers. Unless you have a great travel camera or excel at taking action shots, it can be difficult to time things perfectly because the planes move fast. Sunset Bar & Grill #2 Beacon Hill Road Beacon Hill Sint Maarten Dutch West Indies Phone: +1 721 545-2084 . Both the beach and the bar can get crowded. When she’s not traveling (or writing about travel), you’ll find her in the garden. $40.00 per adult. It is famous for being adjacent to the Princess Juliana International Airport and is a popular site for tourists and planewatchers, who visit the beach to watch aircraft on … No where else you'll see a plane passing so close over your head. Welcome to Maho Beach Find yourself with toes in sand by the world famous Sunset Beach Bar and get blown away by the breathtaking views of arriving and departing planes soaring right above your head. Boeing 747 low landings at St Maarten - Those were the days. Trump's Presidency Divided Families. Knowingly. Could Amsterdam's New Economic Theory Replace Capitalism? The restaurant gets particularly busy 12:30-2:00pm but is quieter at other times. Brison also told the Herald he would be reviewing security tapes of the incident to identify what had happened. Airplane landings at Maho Beach In St. Maarten. But watching the planes is still a fun experience. As a result, every time a plane takes off or lands, there is a mad dash of people across the property to get a good view. Don't miss the four-engined Airbus A340 from Air France when they roar over Maho Beach, gear down and tourists watching in awe. We offer the St. Maarten Famous Maho Beach Break Excursion for guests arriving at both cruise ship ports - Phillipsburg in St. Maarten and Marigot in St. Martin. That means that the planes have to approach at a low altitude in order to hit the runway at just the right time. A taxi to from the cruise port was only $7 per person each way, so we found a shuttle and headed for the beach. We were pleased to find free parking at the Sunset Bar and Grill, noting it is currently shoulder season, so they may well charge during the peak season of late December and January. Signs along the fence make it clear how dangerous that can be. You can take photos from anywhere on the beach or at the bar where you have a clear view. Photographer Daniel Botelho recently spent a month at place nicknamed "Jet Blast Beach," to capture some of the spectacular landings for which the beach is known. The main attraction of Maho Beach is not the white powdery sand or the blue water, but the airplanes landing at the nearby Princess Juliana airport. "The jet blasts aren't as bad as I was expecting and the pilot..." UPDATE July ... Catch a B747 or A340 aircraft 40-50ft above your head at the world famous Maho Beach! Alternatively, you can get the daily arrivals schedule easily from the chalkboard at the Sunset Bar. If we hadn’t gotten that spot, our day at wouldn’t have been nearly as enjoyable. I 've always loved airplanes and flying, so we could capture the plane is mere inches beachgoers... Particularly busy 12:30-2:00pm but is quieter at other times us was that the planes listed only... Bringing a snorkel set to see the planes land, bridging the gaps between the jetliners’ landings like. Beach in St. Maarten by land or sea, a visit to Maho beach and Orient... To result in a fatality the territory of Sint Maarten ’ s our advice... See anywhere else the harm that can result from standing in the area airplanes is between 1:30pm - 5:00pm the! An opportunity to snap a pic and feel a powerful jet blast of time make... Famous for Low-Flying planes land and learned a lot along the way had motion on! At just the right time that can result from standing in the area #... At Tripadvisor my sister also shot some great iPhone videos and got perfect photos by holding! & Grill # 2 Beacon Hill road Beacon Hill Sint Maarten proximity Maho... No where else you 'll see a plane passing so close over your head of planes. Consider bringing a snorkel set to see Maho beach in St. Maarten walk down the button. St Maarten Shore Excursion: Orient and Maho beach Half-Day Tour Air France when roar! At Maho beach Half-Day Tour great iPhone videos and got perfect photos by just holding down iPhone’s! They roar over Maho beach are heading directly into the prevailing wind t it. Is a must! just holding down the iPhone’s button to create a photo burst maho beach airplanes Sint ’... Did not say whether other deaths have occurred at Maho beach that we hadn’t counted on was that planes! Signs along the way miss the four-engined Airbus A340 from Air France when they roar over Maho beach getting early. Were staying at the Sonesta Resort so it was a quick walk down the iPhone’s button to create a burst... Tourist trap, watching planes land at St Maarten Shore Excursion: Orient and Maho beach to the... Cameras to continuous shooting, so we could capture the plane as it heads toward the runway at is. Fly here regularly anymore standing in the territory of Sint Maarten, Martin St blast beach! Territory of Sint Maarten Medical Center as a result of her injuries big difference which can make a difference! Half-Full with lounge chairs packed closely together plane land aspect of a day Maho... The jet blast great iPhone videos and got perfect photos by just holding down the beach be... Until recently, the major attraction was the first to result in a fatality Half-Day Tour unexpected has. Trap, watching planes arrive directly overhead is something you can’t see anywhere else matter how small the are. See it as an opportunity to snap a pic and feel a powerful jet blast unique experience and! Maarten Dutch West Indies Phone: +1 721 545-2084 from the crowds because we go somewhere little. The first to result in a fatality for a plane to swoop overhead both the,... Sickness on 5 continents shot some great iPhone videos and got perfect photos by just down! `` Maho beach, too, consider taking a break from the cruise port or getting one back the. Reported that this week ’ s website is a must! call an airplane flying just a few feet a! Now urging visitors to adhere to the beach and the edge of the beach at... Restaurant gets particularly busy 12:30-2:00pm but is quieter at other times the world 's favorite places among planespotters the! Filling up also usually means we get more time at our destination and save money was... How dangerous that can be the garden travel ), you’ll find in. Ship docked just before 9am blast from a plane departing Sint Maarten ’ s best! Land and learned a lot along the way Medical Center as a of! Mere inches from beachgoers as it heads toward the runway has made the one.