Pinel Island

Pinel Island, a little treasure in St Martin:

Pinel Island is located on North East of St Martin island. It is one of the most visited place of St Martin. Pinel Island is considered one of the best snorkeling location of St Martin and it is a paradise for kayak users or Stand Up Paddle board lovers. It takes part in the heart of the Marine Reserve of St Martin. Pinel Island is accessible by ferry boat, kayak or Stand Up Paddle board from Cul-de-Sac, St Martin. The story suggests that a Captain Pinel, rejected from the island of Saba, came to Pinel Island to find refuge.. Fake or no, it is a beautiful place to escape from the modern world.

On the left side of the main beach of Pinel Island you find an exotic little restaurant witch is known for its fantastic Caribbean cuisine. The French owners Eric and Marion arrived in St Martin many years ago and started this restaurant when only few people visited Pinel Island. If you haven’t had a fresh lobster at the Karibuni restaurant, you haven’t tasted paradise yet!

At the right side of the beach you can eat, chill and relax at Yellow Beach restaurant. Marco, the owner of the restaurant, is famous in St Martin. He has a fine nose for what guests really need on a paradise like Pinel island, use it skilfully!

Behind the main beach, search for the natural part of St Martin. Follow the tiny trail and escape to the Northern side of Pinel Island. This wild beach, protected by a reef bar is this kind of beach that make you feel like Robinson Crusoe. You can reach it with a kayak by taking the channel between Pinel Island and St Martin. Do not try with a Stand Up Paddle board, it is choppy. People used to stay on the main beach of Pinel Island, so you can feel really quiet here. Continue the path and on the top of the hill you will have a fantastic view on the other islands. Caye Verte (Green Cay) in front of Orient Beach, St Barthelemy, Tintamarre, Anguilla and of course St Martin! Under your feet, you can see the lagoon of the last beach. Protected by a reef bar, it is a good place for snorkeling. Shallow water and some lobsters hidden into holes. You can also arrive on this beach by the sea with a kayak. It is not really easy to approach this beach with a Stand Up Paddle board because the sea is usually a little bit choppy on this side. If you decide to do it, once you are in the lagoon, you will have an amazing view from your Stand Up Paddle board!

Just after the Southern point of Pinel Island is the snorkel trail. Respect the rules, and do not go between the buoys with your kayak or Stand Up Paddle board. Isabelle welcomes you here. She is a marine biologist and have tons of informations to give to you! Here you can rent snorkel gear or go for a tour with her. Isabelle has a passion for the sea and for its unhabitants. And if you come with our kayak or Stand Up Paddle board, you will get a discount!

A short distance from Pinel island and St Martin lies Little Key. This island is only accessible with a kayak or s tand up paddle. Little Key is the small, undeveloped island you pass on the ferry to Pinel island. When the water is calm, it is possible to kayak around the island, which offers a variety of different marine habitats. In front of Little Key, there is a sandbar which is THE perfect place to Stand Up Paddle in St Martin. Because it is less accessible, the corals here are in much better condition and the sea life is abundant. Tropical fish, like trumpetfish and parrotfish are abundant. During your trip on your kayak or paddle board, keep an eye out for spotted eagle rays or sea turtles in the sea grass beds.