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Marigot is the main town of the French side of the Caribbean island of St. Martin and lies on the northwest coast, between the open Bay of Marigot and Simpson Bay Lagoon. Here you can read how to get from the airport to Marina Fort Louis, where to anchor in the bay, where to shop, what wind to expect, which sailing destinations are nearby, and what skippers should note when clearing in and berthing.
The essentials at a glance
- Princess Juliana International Airport (code SXM) is in the Dutch side of the island, about 4 kilometres from Marigot as the crow flies. By taxi you are in town in 20 to 30 minutes.
- Marina Fort Louis is Marigot's harbour: 150 berths on the northern edge of town, below the old fort. If no berth is available, you anchor in the bay in front of it.
- Marina Royale on the lagoon has been closed to boats since Hurricane Irma.
- Fresh fruit, vegetables and fish are available at the market by Marigot harbour, Monday to Saturday mornings.
Where is Marina Fort Louis?
Marina Fort Louis is in the north of Marigot at the foot of the hill with the old fort, opening onto the Bay of Marigot. On the map you see it as a single point. In front of the marina lies the anchorage in the Bay of Marigot; to the south the waterfront promenade with the market adjoins.
Map from OpenStreetMap. When the map is displayed, data is transmitted to the provider.
More InformationThe town's second marina, Marina Royale about 600 metres further south on the lagoon, has been closed to boats since Hurricane Irma in September 2017. As of today (October 2026) its quayside berths are not accessible; the quay is only open as a promenade. Further marinas are on Simpson Bay Lagoon in the Dutch side of the island, a good 3 kilometres to the south.
Arriving for your trip start in Marigot
International flights land at Princess Juliana Airport in the Dutch side; regional flights from Guadeloupe and Martinique land at the small Grand Case Airport in the French side. From both you are quickly in Marigot.
From Princess Juliana Airport to Marigot
Princess Juliana Airport is on Simpson Bay in the south of the lagoon, about 4 kilometres from Marigot as the crow flies. The taxis wait in front of the terminal on a dedicated lane. They run at fixed prices; you pay cash, US dollars are accepted. To the ferry landing in Marigot you need 20 to 30 minutes, depending on traffic. There is no bus directly from the airport. Car hire desks are near the arrivals hall.
By landing at Princess Juliana you are entering the Dutch side. For this you need a valid passport. Before the flight you also fill in online at entry.sx the entry card for the Dutch side (ED-Card).
From Grand Case Airport to Marigot
Grand Case–L’Espérance Airport (code SFG) is in the French side near the town of Grand Case, a good 5 kilometres northeast of Marigot as the crow flies. From here there are only flights within the French Antilles. Taxis run regularly to Marigot; beside the terminal there is a car park.
By car, coach or ferry
Public minibuses run on the island, but without stopping at the airport. With luggage, taxi or hire car are more convenient. From the ferry landing in Marigot, ten ferries a day sail to Blowing Point on Anguilla, the first at 8.30 a.m., the last at 6 p.m. On departure from Marigot you pay an exit fee of 7 euros (as of October 2026).
Showers and sanitary facilities
Marina Fort Louis has sanitary facilities and a self-service laundry.
Shopping for the trip
Marigot market is on Boulevard de France directly on the waterfront promenade south of Marina Fort Louis, about five minutes' walk from the ferry landing. It is open Monday to Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Besides mangoes, guavas and plantains there are fish, lobster and prawns of the day, plus spices. On Wednesday and Saturday mornings the day's catch is auctioned; the best pieces go quickly.
Hospital and emergency numbers
Louis-Constant Fleming Hospital is in Marigot; its casualty department is open round the clock.
- 112: European emergency number, free
- 15: ambulance service (SAMU), 17: police, 18: fire brigade
- 196: Sea rescue via CROSS Antilles-Guyane rescue coordination centre; at sea also VHF channel 16
Marina Fort Louis at a glance
| Feature | Marina Fort Louis |
|---|---|
| Location | Bay of Marigot, northern edge of town, below the fort |
| Access | directly from sea, no bridge |
| Berths | 150, yachts up to 80 m, draught up to 3.6 m |
| VHF channel | 16 |
| Harbour office telephone | +590 590 77 31 26 |
| Facilities | Water, electricity 110, 220 and 380 volts, diesel, Wi-Fi, dinghy dock |
| Toilets | Toilet and shower facilities, launderette |
| Clearance | at the harbour office |
The marina lies beneath Fort Louis in Marigot Bay and is protected from waves, current and swell. It has 150 berths and takes yachts up to 80 metres in length and 3.6 metres draught. Water with individual meters and electricity to European and American standards, with 110, 220 and 380 volts, are available at the berths. There is also a fuel station with low-sulphur diesel, a dinghy dock and Wi-Fi. The harbour office assists with clearance, i.e. checking in and out.
The anchorage in Marigot Bay lies off the marina. You anchor here if there is no berth free in the marina, as anchoring inside the harbour basin itself is not permitted.
What is the weather like in Marigot for sailing?
Around St Martin the trade winds blow from the east almost all year. From December to February they blow fresh from east-northeast and bring frequent squalls, brief rain showers. From March to May they veer to east to southeast, and it becomes drier. The trade winds blow most strongly from December to March.
The Atlantic swell from northeast to southeast runs mainly against the east coast. Marigot lies on the northwest side of the island, sheltered from the trades. The tidal range is small at around 20 centimetres.
From 1 June to 30 November is hurricane season. From force 7 Beaufort onwards, Météo-France issues a strong wind warning for the coast.
Which cruising destinations can you reach from Marigot?
From Marigot, Anguilla, the north coast of St Martin and the nature reserve around Tintamarre lie within short day sails, St Barth and Saba in a longer sail. The distances are rounded over-water distances on the usual course from Marina Fort Louis; the chart applies for exact planning.
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- Grand Case on the north coast of St Martin: around 4 nm
- Tintamarre off the northeast coast: around 8 nm
- Road Bay on Anguilla, round the western end of Anguilla: around 13 nm
- Gustavia on St Barth: around 25 nm
- Saba: around 30 nm
Grand Case is regarded as the gastronomic capital of St Martin; small restaurants here occupy old Caribbean houses along the bay.
Tintamarre is uninhabited and belongs to the Réserve Naturelle, the state nature reserve of St Martin. The anchorage lies on the southwest side off a white sandy beach. The reserve has laid 17 yellow buoys there for boats up to 15 metres or 15 tonnes. Only boats under 10 metres may anchor, and only on sand. Anyone wishing to stay overnight needs prior permission from the Réserve Naturelle, in which case use of a buoy is compulsory. Off the small island of Pinel in the same reserve, overnight stays on board are prohibited.
Anguilla is a British overseas territory, Saba belongs to the Netherlands. Before departing for there you clear out at Marigot. For sailing in the waters of Anguilla the country requires its own permit, the Cruising Permit.
St Barth is French like St Martin. Gustavia is the island's main town and its harbour.
Further south in the chain of the Lesser Antilles lie Martinique and Grenada. How trips begin there you can read in the profiles for Le Marin on Martinique and the Port Louis Marina on Grenada.
What can you do ashore in Marigot?
The fort, market and waterfront promenade are within walking distance from Marina Fort Louis; for Grand Case, Pic Paradis and the beaches on the east coast you'll need a taxi or hire car.
- Fort Louis: The fortress was built in 1789 to protect the warehouses at Marigot harbour, where salt, coffee, sugar and rum were stored. From the ruins on the hill directly above Marina Fort Louis you can see across Marigot, the lagoon and as far as Anguilla.
- Market and waterfront promenade: Opposite the market stand lolos, simple food stalls serving Caribbean cuisine, and stalls selling fresh coconut water and sugar cane juice.
- Grand Case: Those not sailing there by boat take a taxi to the neighbouring village for dinner, roughly 5 kilometres as the crow flies.
- Pic Paradis and Loterie Farm: At 424 metres, Pic Paradis is the island's highest point and the starting point for several hiking trails. At its foot lies Loterie Farm, a sugar plantation from 1773 which operated until 1855. Today it is a nature reserve with climbing courses and zip lines.
- Orient Bay: The island's longest beach lies on the east coast, with turquoise water.
For skippers: Clearing in, berthing and sea weather in Marigot
At Marina Fort Louis you berth at the place assigned to you by the capitainerie, where you also complete clearance. If you're arriving from another country or sailing to one, clearance is compulsory.
Clearing in at Marigot
St Martin belongs to the French Antilles. Every yacht arriving from or departing to another country must report entry and exit to French customs, regardless of flag or nationality, whether private or commercial.
- The skipper completes the French customs administration form online, before arrival or before departure. The form asks for details about the boat, owner, crew, last and next port, and intended length of stay.
- You receive a certificate with a digital customs stamp. The automatic acknowledgement by email is not sufficient.
- Because neighbouring countries do not yet recognise the digital certificate, you print it out and have it stamped at an authorised clearance point. Without internet access, you complete the form directly there.
- Two points are authorised in Marigot: the capitainerie at Marina Fort Louis and the gare maritime at Marigot harbour.
The French customs information sheet links to the form and the current list of clearance points.
Berthing at Marina Fort Louis and anchoring in the bay
At Marina Fort Louis you announce your arrival on VHF channel 16 or by phone on +590 590 77 31 26. The capitainerie is staffed from mid-November to mid-June on Mondays to Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., on Sundays and public holidays until 5 p.m. From mid-June to mid-November it opens on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 12 noon and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., at weekends and on public holidays only in the mornings. Anchoring is not permitted within the harbour basin. If no berth is available, you anchor in the bay of Marigot off the marina.
Approach
Marina Fort Louis can be reached directly from seaward; there is no bridge on the approach. Entering at night is not recommended. The harbour entrance is marked by a green light to port, as the Caribbean uses buoyage system B: when entering, green marks lie to port, red marks to starboard.
Storm precautions
Marina Fort Louis is not a hurricane refuge. The most dangerous months of the hurricane season are September and October.
Which sea weather forecast applies to Marigot?
Météo-France is responsible. There is a dedicated harbour forecast for Marigot with wind and gusts, sea state, swell and tides, plus a forecast for the sea area around St Martin and St Barth.
The rescue coordination centre CROSS Antilles-Guyane broadcasts the coastal weather forecast three to four times daily on VHF, announcing it beforehand on Channel 16 with an indication of which channel will carry it. It transmits the strong wind warning (BMS) immediately and then hourly at the half-hour. Times are given in UTC or local time; in the West Indies, local time is UTC minus four hours.
Trips from Marigot on Törnfinder
In October 2026 there are 13 trip dates on Törnfinder in the next twelve months departing from or arriving at Marina Fort Louis. Most depart in March, February and December; eight days is typical.
You can find offers throughout the sailing area under Sailing in the Caribbean, all other sailing areas in the trip overview.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Princess Juliana airport to Marina Fort Louis?
Easiest by taxi; the journey to Marigot takes 20 to 30 minutes. Taxis run on fixed fares and accept cash, including US dollars. There is no bus directly from the airport.
Can I moor at Marina Royale in Marigot?
No. Since Hurricane Irma in 2017, Marina Royale's berths have been closed to boats. Boats moor at Marina Fort Louis, at anchor in Marigot Bay or in Simpson Bay Lagoon.
Do I need a passport for St Martin?
Yes, if you are landing at Princess Juliana. You also fill in the entry card for the Dutch side online at entry.sx before your flight.
Are there showers at Marina Fort Louis?
Yes. Marina Fort Louis has sanitary facilities and a self-service launderette.
Is Marigot on St Martin the same as Marigot Bay on St Lucia?
No. Marigot is the capital of the French side of St Martin in the north of the Lesser Antilles. Marigot Bay is a bay on St Lucia, far to the south of the island chain.
Where do I clear in at Marigot?
At the capitainerie of Marina Fort Louis or at the gare maritime of Marigot harbour. Beforehand you fill in the French customs form online; you have the certificate stamped there.
