Top 9 Things To Do With Kids In Saint Martin

The Rusty Parrot Pirate Experience

If you have a pirate fanatic in your family you have to check out The Rusty Parrot Pirate Experience. It’s a high tech experience through a pirate ship that is both adults and children will enjoy. Disclosure that The Rusty Parrot recommends this experience for children who are five and up as well as adults. We took a one, three and five year old. The one year old LOVED it and was not bothered whatsoever by the louder noises. Our three year old was a bit hesitant but made it through to the end without any major issues. Our five year old was in heaven and asks everyday to go back.

This excursion is a bit on the pricey side, but it is very well done. It reminds me of an attraction at Disney World or Universal Studios. For us it was worth it again because our five year old is absolutely pirate obsessed. Admission also includes a rum cocktail (or juice for the kids) at their bar area on the top of the ship which has gorgeous views. The gift shop also has great options for kids to take back as souvenirs that were all reasonably priced in my opinion. It truly is fun for the whole family and is very well done.

The Rusty Parrot is also a great place to visit if you are visiting via cruise ship and they have set up the experience in a way to expertly accommodate cruise groups.

You will need to book your time slot to visit in advance through The Rusty Parrot web site found here.

Parrot Ville Bird Park

Another favorite spot of ours in Saint Martin is Parrot Ville Bird Park. This is truly a hidden gem and unique experience your family won’t forget. The park is an open air habitat for many different varieties of exotic birds. You can walk through the habitat and feed the birds with seeds that come provided with your admission. This is such a great opportunity to get up close with some beautiful and colorful birds who are super friendly.

Parrot Ville Bird Park also has a playground area which is a rarity in Saint Martin and was a treat for a children to visit after the bird park. They also have a small museum and cafe area with ice cream and smoothies for sale.

Historic Fort Louis

On the French side of the island is Fort Louis. Accessible by a short hike, this fort has remains including canons (!) from the fort built in 1789 to protect Marigot Bay.

The panoramic views overlooking Fort Louis Mariana and Simpson Bay are spectacular and worth the trip even if you are not particularly interested in historical forts. You can even spot neighboring island Anguilla in the distance.

This site is free to visit. You can park at the bottom of the fort property next to a police station and then make the ascent to the top (don’t be deterred it’s not too strenuous).

Tip, this is a beautiful spot to see the lights begin to come on across the island in the evening. Just don’t stay out until it’s too dark! Alternatively, visit the fort early in the morning before the heat starts to set in.

Loterie Farm

Located on the French side of Saint Martin Loterie Farm is a beautifully preserved 135-mile nature preserve with a variety of activities. From extreme sports to extreme relaxing it truly has something for everyone. Loterie Farm is home to a famous ziplining course, guided and unguided hiking as well as personal poolside cabanas.

Despite the variety of activities offered at Loterie Farm, I would say this destination is better for those traveling with older children and/or just adults. We took all three of our little ones (5 and under at the time) on the easier of the two hikes that are offered. We all made it but it was certainly a challenge with many very steep climbs and even a part of the hike where we were climbing steep rocks. Older children will likely enjoy the hike more and be better equipped to handle it. We did see lots of monkeys swinging from the trees on our way to the hike and tons of iguanas which was lots of fun.

While the pool area is open to all ages it definitely has more adult-only vibes. If you have older children this won’t be a problem but with our wild splashes we decided to forgo the pool area entirely.

There are also obstacle courses available at Loterie Farm that would be fun for older children. There is a height requirement (this can be confusing to confirm online but trust us there is one). All of our children were too young for the obstacle course but speaking with families who have older children it is worth checking out if your kids meet the height requirement.

Loterie Farm also has a fantastic restaurant onsite and they were very accommodating with our little ones. The restaurant typically does not open until 12PM but the bar area is open earlier so you can grab a seat there if you arrive before noon.

Learn more about Loterie Farm here.

Butterfly Farm

At the time this was written Butterfly Farm was still closed. we are including it on this list in hopes it will one day return since it is a fantastic activity to do with children in Saint Martin. Be sure to check their Web site for the latest information before visiting.

Children and adults alike will be fascinated by all over 100 different types of exotic butterflies from all around the world. The exhibit takes place in a manmade rainforest amid lush vegetation, ponds and a trickling waterfall. The butterflies fly all around you while you visit (tip, where a citrus scent and/or bright clothing if you want to increase the chances of butterflies landing on you). Early arrivers may get to witness new butterflies coming out from their chrysalides. The Butterfly Farm even has several very rare species including the Malaysian malachite and Central American postman.

Admission to the Butterfly Farm includes a free return pass that can be used anytime during the duration of your trip to Saint Martin. There are also tours that take place throughout the day that last between 15-20 minutes with the last tour taking place at 3PM at the time of this writing (check their Web site here for the latest information).

Snorkeling

Saint Martin has a lot to offer for those looking to snorkel from beginners to experts alike. Many of the beaches have great spots to snorkel. Some of our favorites for family-friendly snorkeling include Mullet Bay, Plum Bay and Baie Rouge. Pinel Island which is a short ferry ride away from mainland St Martin also has some great snorkeling.

Swim with Dolphins in Anguilla

For those willing to travel outside of Saint Martin, a short ferry ride over to Anguilla brings visitors to Dolphin Discovery. Here you can swim alongside dolphins for an unforgettable experience.

Carousel Gelato

Lastly a list of recommended spots in St Martin to visit with children would be incomplete without the island’s famous gelato spot Carousel Gelato. Located in Simpson Bay and a frequent stop on island tours this shop was established by an Italian couple. It’s a fun stop for kids and adults alike especially now that Topper’s has taken over. For those who are not familiar, Topper’s is a local rum distillery and they have combined their operations with the famous gelato that gained Carousel its fame.

Among the updates Topper’s has made since taking over unfortunately for families included removing the famous carousel the site was originally named for in favorite of building a very pretty bar area overlooking the water. For those who are nostalgic about the carousel you will be pleased to learn that Topper’s has donated it to the SXM airport and it will soon hopefully be displayed there to preserve its history.

With Topper’s taking over you can also purchase rum flight tours and sample all of their offerings. There are two tiers of tastings available. My husband and I split the larger tasting and enjoyed sampling the rum and talking with the staff who are very knowledgeable and friendly. Tip, if you are staying a while you may also want to consider purchasing one of the refillable bottles of rum from Toppers.

Beaches

If you are coming to Saint Martin there is no doubt you will spend the majority of your time at one of the island’s amazing beaches. Families traveling to Saint Martin with kids are in luck because there is a wide range of beaches to explore that are ideal for children. We have a whole article on The Best Beaches in Saint Martin for kids that you can find here.

Looking for more information about Saint Martin? Check out these other articles from The Travel Resource.

Best Beaches in Saint Martin for Families

Packing List for a Caribbean Vacation

Stunning Saint Martin Beaches You Won’t Want to Miss

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