Baie Longue, St. Martin: what to know before you go
Baie Longue, also called Long Bay, is 1.8 km of pale sand on the south-west side of Terres Basses. It is the longest undeveloped beach on St. Martin, with no bars, no loungers and often only a few people on it: the beach Micheline and Lionel send guests to when they want somewhere to themselves. Come for long walks, a swim on a calm day and the sunset over the open sea. Here is how to get there, when to swim and what to bring.
How to get to Baie Longue
The beach is public, but it sits inside the Terres Basses residential area, so you drive in through a security gate. When the guard stops you, say you are going to the beach and you will be let through. The main public entrance and car park are near La Samanna.
Park in the car park, never across a gate or driveway, and leave nothing on view in the car. There is no bus. From Marigot you drive out through Sandy Ground and Baie Nettlé; from the airport, through Cupecoy. From Villa Zenitude it is a 10 to 15 minute walk to the main entrance, or 2 minutes by car.
Is Baie Longue safe for swimming?
On a flat day, yes: clear water, a sandy bottom and all the room you want. But the beach is open to the sea, with no reef to break the waves, and the water gets deep close to shore. When a swell is running, mostly in winter, waves dump onto a steep beach and currents run along it. There is no lifeguard, and often nobody else nearby.
So look before you go in. If waves are breaking hard or running high up the sand, walk the beach instead and swim another day, or try Baie Rouge on the other side of the peninsula. Check the water's edge for stones, which the sea sometimes uncovers. Snorkelling is best at the rocky ends, and only on calm days.
What to bring
Nothing is sold on the beach, so bring the day with you.
- Water and something to eat
- Shade: there is not much, so bring an umbrella if you plan to stay
- Sun protection, ideally reef-safe
- A mask and snorkel for the rocky ends
- Mosquito repellent if you stay for sunset: they come out at dusk
- A bag to take your rubbish home
La Samanna
La Samanna, a Belmond hotel built in the early 1970s, sits at one end of the bay, near the main public entrance. The beach in front of it is public, but the hotel's loungers, bar and restaurant are for its guests and diners. The hotel closes for part of the low season: in 2026, until mid-November.
Sunset on Baie Longue
Baie Longue faces south-west, over open sea, so it is one of the best places on the island to watch the sun go down. Arrive an hour early, walk the length of the beach and head back as the light goes: access to the beaches is restricted at night, and there are no lights on the path. From Villa Zenitude's deck you see the same sunset over the bay without leaving the pool.
Sea turtles
Sea turtles nest on Baie Longue and on Plum Bay next door, which are among the most active nesting beaches the Saint-Martin nature reserve monitors. If you see tracks in the sand or a marked nest, keep your distance and leave it undisturbed.
Plum Bay and Baie Rouge nearby
Plum Bay is about a kilometre north, around the headland, and Baie Rouge is on the north side of the peninsula, 5 minutes away by car. The three beaches face different directions, so when one is rough another may be calm. Baie Nettlé, 5 minutes away, is the nearest place for lunch.
Sources
- Wikipédia: list of beaches on Saint-Martin, with lengths and public access points (in French)
- Guide Saint-Martin: Baie Longue, access through the security post (in French)
- This is SXM: Baie Longue, conditions and access
- Belmond: La Samanna
- Réserve naturelle de Saint-Martin: sea turtle nesting monitoring, 2022 season (in French)
Questions
Is Baie Longue a public beach?
Yes. Like every beach in Saint-Martin it is open to the public during the day. The main entrance and car park are near La Samanna; when the guard at the Terres Basses gate stops you, say you are going to the beach.
Is Baie Longue the longest beach on St. Martin?
Not quite. At 1.8 km it is the longest undeveloped beach on the island. Orient Bay, on the east coast, is slightly longer, at about 2 km.
Can you swim at Baie Longue?
On calm days, yes. The water gets deep quickly and there is no lifeguard, so when a swell is running and waves are breaking hard on the sand, it is safer not to swim.
Are there facilities at Baie Longue?
No. There are no toilets, showers, food stalls or loungers. La Samanna's bar and restaurant are for hotel guests and diners.
Is Baie Longue the same as Long Bay?
Yes. Baie Longue is the French name and Long Bay the English one. It is a different beach from Long Bay on other Caribbean islands.
Walk to Baie Longue from your door
Villa Zenitude is a private one-bedroom guest house in Terres Basses, with a plunge pool, a 200° sea view and Baie Longue within walking distance.
See the villa