The sea temperature at Sint Maarten (Maho Beach) today is 29.5 °C (85 °F) – water as warm as a bath. The usual October average is 29.5 °C. The forecast for the next 3 days is around 29.5 °C. Over the last 30 days the sea temperature has held at around 29.5 °C. Swimmable all year – the sea averages 26 °C or more in every month. Source: Sea Temp Map (seatempmap.com) – NASA MUR satellite data and the Copernicus Marine sea forecast.
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 26.5°C / 79.7°F | 26.9°C / 80.4°F | 27.4°C / 81.3°F |
| February | 26.0°C / 78.7°F | 26.4°C / 79.6°F | 26.9°C / 80.3°F |
| March | 26.1°C / 79.0°F | 26.5°C / 79.8°F | 27.1°C / 80.9°F |
| April | 26.4°C / 79.6°F | 26.9°C / 80.4°F | 27.6°C / 81.6°F |
| May | 27.2°C / 81.0°F | 27.8°C / 82.1°F | 28.6°C / 83.5°F |
| June | 27.8°C / 82.1°F | 28.4°C / 83.1°F | 29.3°C / 84.7°F |
| July | 28.1°C / 82.6°F | 28.7°C / 83.6°F | 29.3°C / 84.7°F |
| August | 28.6°C / 83.5°F | 29.1°C / 84.5°F | 29.6°C / 85.3°F |
| September | 29.2°C / 84.5°F | 29.7°C / 85.4°F | 30.1°C / 86.2°F |
| October | 28.9°C / 84.0°F | 29.5°C / 85.2°F | 30.2°C / 86.4°F |
| November | 28.2°C / 82.8°F | 28.7°C / 83.6°F | 29.2°C / 84.5°F |
| December | 27.3°C / 81.1°F | 27.7°C / 81.9°F | 28.3°C / 83.0°F |
| Month | Min | Avg | Max |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 25.2°C / 77.3°F | 25.5°C / 77.8°F | 25.5°C / 78.0°F |
| February | 24.7°C / 76.5°F | 25.1°C / 77.2°F | 25.2°C / 77.3°F |
| March | 24.8°C / 76.7°F | 25.2°C / 77.4°F | 25.4°C / 77.7°F |
| April | 25.1°C / 77.1°F | 25.5°C / 77.8°F | 25.7°C / 78.2°F |
| May | 26.3°C / 79.3°F | 26.6°C / 80.0°F | 26.9°C / 80.4°F |
| June | 26.9°C / 80.5°F | 27.3°C / 81.1°F | 27.5°C / 81.5°F |
| July | 27.2°C / 80.9°F | 27.6°C / 81.6°F | 27.8°C / 82.1°F |
| August | 27.5°C / 81.6°F | 27.9°C / 82.3°F | 28.1°C / 82.6°F |
| September | 27.7°C / 81.8°F | 28.0°C / 82.5°F | 28.2°C / 82.7°F |
| October | 27.5°C / 81.5°F | 27.8°C / 82.1°F | 28.0°C / 82.4°F |
| November | 26.7°C / 80.0°F | 27.0°C / 80.5°F | 27.0°C / 80.7°F |
| December | 25.8°C / 78.5°F | 26.1°C / 79.0°F | 26.2°C / 79.1°F |
5-year averages (2021–2025). Min/Max are typical daily lows and highs, not record extremes. (Copernicus ERA5)
Maho Beach holidays
Planes coming in to land at Princess Juliana International Airport pass low over Maho Beach, a short strip of sand at the end of the runway on Sint Maarten, the Dutch side of the island of Saint Martin. Watching the aircraft arrive from the beach, with arrival times chalked up at the beach bars, has made this small bay famous well beyond the island.
Beaches
Maho Beach itself is narrow and slopes quickly into deeper water, and the waves can be strong. Standing behind the aircraft as they take off is dangerous: jet blast has blown people over and caused serious injuries, and warning signs along the fence say so. Mullet Bay, a short walk north-west, is a wider sandy beach that can be pleasant for swimming in calm conditions, although its surf can be strong, and Cupecoy further west has small coves beneath ochre-coloured cliffs. On the French side, Orient Bay on the east coast is long and lively, with water sports and beach restaurants.
Things to do
Philipsburg, the capital of Sint Maarten, lies on Great Bay, with shops along Front Street, a boardwalk by the beach and a large cruise port. Marigot, the capital of the French part, Saint-Martin, has a waterfront market and the ruins of Fort Louis above the harbour. Simpson Bay Lagoon, next to Maho, is busy with yachts and boat trips. The island of Saint Martin has been divided between France and the Netherlands since the Treaty of Concordia in 1648, and there are normally no border controls between the two sides.
Weather and best time to visit
At Maho Beach the sea stays above 26 °C / 79 °F all year, even in the coolest month.
Sint Maarten is warm all year, with trade winds from the east. December to April is generally the drier and busier season. The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November; Hurricane Irma caused severe damage on the island in 2017. Maho Beach gets busiest around the movements of the largest aircraft, so check the day's arrivals and departures before visiting.
Hotels and where to stay
A resort stands right beside Maho Beach, and hotels, apartments and villas are spread around Simpson Bay, Cupecoy and the lagoon. Philipsburg suits visitors who want shops and restaurants nearby, while the French side offers smaller hotels in Grand Case and Orient Bay.
Signature hotels: Sonesta Maho Beach All Inclusive Resort Casino & Spa (Maho)
Airport and getting there
The runway of Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) is directly behind Maho Beach, and the passenger terminal is a short taxi ride away. Flights connect the airport with North America, Europe and other Caribbean islands. Grand Case–L'Espérance Airport (SFG) on the French side handles small regional aircraft, and ferries sail from Philipsburg and Marigot to neighbouring islands; check current timetables and weather-related cancellations.