Things To Do · R&R's Guide To SXM

Wanna spice up ya stay beyond de beach? From thrill rides to island hopping, we got all kinda vibes to fill up your SXM days. Here be ten top tings to do, island style, in no particular order. Visiting St Barth’s isn’t on the list, but is certainly an option if you want to pay 15x more for just about anything you eat or do.

1. Parotte Ville Bird Park

A sweet lil’ stop for da whole fam. Hand-feed parrots, learn a lil’ birdie knowledge, and take in de island greenery. We take EVERYONE who visits da island here. It’s unexpected fun to feed the birds and have them land all over you (unless you’re Alfred Hitchcock traumatized). Would never be allowed in the states. It’s solid fun for about an hour. You’ll sweat cause it’s hot, but we’d say don’t miss this if you want to do something you might never have the opportunity to do anywhere else.

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ZIPLINES & ADVENTURE

2. Loterie Farm Zip Line & Adventure Park

Fly through de jungle canopy on a zipline, hike peaceful nature trails, or lounge by de pool wit’ a rum punch in hand. It’s part wild, part chill—SXM to de core. We’ve been a handful of times. It’s an elevated pool day with a great lunch spot on site. They close at 5. It’s bougie and exclusive.

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3. Rainforest Adventures / Rockland Estate

Flyin’ Dutchman zipline is no joke, seen? You ride de lift to de top, then drop with a view. There’s also a museum and scenic rides—fun for all ages. But not for Renée because she’s afraid of ‘dem heights! Still not sure? Renée’s 77-year old mother did this zipline—you can, too. And the view of all the nearby islands is ABSURDLY amazing.

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ISLAND DAY TRIPS

4. Pinel Island Day Trip

Ferry from Cul-de-Sac, snorkel in calm waters, and grab lunch barefoot in the sand. Early bird gets the best beach chair, mon! This is pretty cool, but if you can’t find time for it, don’t sweat it. We don’t love it more than any of the other awesome places on this island. It’s just something different because you can only get there by boat.

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5. Anguilla (Rhymes with Gorilla) by Ferry or Charter

Tiny hop over to Anguilla for dat sugar-white sand and chill beach bars. Bring ya passport and go make a day of it! Honestly, the only reason we’d go to Anguilla is if we were on a boat and wanted to do a fun day trip OR if we were going to go see Banky Banx. IF you have a chance to see Banky, it’s once in a lifetime. Probably the #1 live music experience we’ve ever had. Simply epic. Caribbean AF.

Dune Preserve Ferry

6. Saba Day Trip (via Ferry or Air)

Call she “de Unspoiled Queen.” Hike to de top of Mount Scenery (we did…thank god there was a bar halfway so we had incentive to get to the top for the reward on the way down) or dive into crystal-clear waters if you’re into that sort of top-dive-destination thing. It’s like nothin’ else in de Caribbean, fo’ sure. Known for their lobsters and referred to as “the Rock.” It’s Dutch AF and has a population of ~1500. Stay at Juliana’s if you go. Unless, of course, you want to spring for the Haiku House.

Haiku House Saba Tourism Juliana’s

BOATS & SNORKELING

7. Creole Rock Snorkeling Tours

Hop on a boat from Grand Case and snorkel de reefs around Creole Rock. Colorful fish, clear water, and easy vibes. Haven’t done this, but totally would.

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8. Private Catamaran Charter

Wanna feel fancy? Book a catamaran, sip bubbly, and sail into de sunset. Group options or private parties—ya pick! Tons of options for this. Our #1 pick is Enigma. Great boat that they don’t pack with people so you can enjoy yourself without feeling cramped. Great food. Great service. Great experience. We’d also like to try Piratz because we love food.

Enigma Pyratz

ON LAND

9. Fort Louis & Marigot Market

Walk up de old fort for a killer view of de harbor (worth doing), then stroll down to de market for some local spice and handmade goods (less worth doing).

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10. Round da Island Beach Bar Crawl — Orient to Pointe Blanche in Philipsburg

Start wit’ a ti-punch anywhere on Orient Beach, bounce up to Anse Marcel, down to Grand Case, pop into Friar’s, photo op at Baie Rouge, have a bucket o’ beer and a $5 burger at Rosie’s in Mullet, snap a photo in Maho, cruise through Simpson Bay and stop at the Yacht Club by the bridge, grab another burger at Tap ‘n Still during $3 drinks happy hour, and end de night at Grumpy’s in Pointe Blanche. It’s a full-on island mission!