Flying into St. Maarten? Compare Anguilla, St. Barts, and Saba for nearby island day trips, beach escapes, luxury stays, and short regional adventures.
Best overall
Anguilla
Easiest no-flight trip
Anguilla ferry
Most glamorous
St. Barts
Best nature trip
Saba
Most travelers asking about islands near SXM are not choosing between equally accessible destinations on a blank canvas. They have already landed at Princess Juliana International Airport. They have limited extra travel budget and a fixed number of days. They want a nearby island that rewards the detour without adding too much friction or cost.
That framing changes everything. In that context, Anguilla is the standout choice for most beach-focused travelers — not because the other islands are poor options, but because its ferry connection is both cheap and fast, it consistently delivers some of the Caribbean's best beach experiences, and the logistics are simple enough to support a half-day trip without pre-booking flights or managing tight luggage limits.
The alternatives have their own strong cases. St. Barts is genuinely spectacular — but getting there requires a small prop plane booking, tight luggage limits, no night landings, and costs around $350–400+ round trip before you have spent anything on the island. Saba is extraordinary for hikers and divers, but it is not a beach destination at all. Neither is a wrong choice, but both require significantly more pre-planning and budget than Anguilla.
If you have one free day from SXM and want the clearest beach payoff, Anguilla's ferry answer is hard to beat.
If you are flying into SXM and want the easiest nearby island escape, Anguilla is usually the best choice. A public ferry gets you there in ~25 minutes for around $60–70 round trip, no extra flight needed, and the payoff is 33 world-class beaches.
St. Barts is better for luxury shopping and French-style glamour, but flights run ~$350–400+ round trip on small prop planes. Saba is better for hiking, diving, and nature, with flights from ~$250+. For a classic Caribbean beach day, Anguilla is the clearest pick.
You can reach Anguilla by public ferry in ~25 minutes at ~$60–70 round trip — no prop plane booking, no tight luggage limits, no night-flight restrictions.
Anguilla has 33 beaches — powdery white sand, calm swimmable water, and consistently uncrowded stretches even at popular spots.
You can leave in the morning, enjoy a full beach day, and return to St. Martin later — the ferry schedule supports easy same-day trips.
At ~$60–70 round trip by ferry, Anguilla is dramatically cheaper to reach than St. Barts (~$350–400+ by flight) or Saba (~$250+ by flight).
Compare the three strongest nearby options from St. Maarten: Anguilla, St. Barts, and Saba.
Best overall island near SXM
The easiest and most rewarding island trip from SXM for most travelers. Anguilla gives you 33 world-class beaches, a short ferry connection with no flight required, and a calmer escape from busy St. Maarten.
Vibe
Quiet, beach-first, easy
Best for luxury style
St. Barts is the stylish choice near SXM, known for European luxury, designer boutiques in Gustavia, French dining, and a high-end social scene. Note: only small prop planes (max ~20 passengers) can land at SBH — no jets, and no night landings.
Vibe
Chic, upscale, social
Best for nature and hiking
Saba is the nature-focused choice nicknamed 'The Unspoiled Queen.' It is not a beach island, but it offers excellent hiking, world-class diving, and a very different Caribbean experience. Flights land at Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport — home to the world's shortest commercial runway at just 400 meters.
Vibe
Quiet, volcanic, adventurous
Use this table to quickly compare travel style, beach quality, access, cost, and best use case.
Anguilla vs St. Barts vs Saba from SXM.
| Category | Anguilla 🇦🇮 | St. Barts 🇧🇱 | Saba 🇧🇶 |
|---|---|---|---|
Best For | Beaches, families, couples, relaxed day trips | Luxury shopping, French dining, glam stays | Hiking, diving, nature, quiet adventure |
Travel Method | Ferry from Marigot (French side) or short flight to AXA | Small prop plane only (max ~20 pax, no jets, no night landings) from SXM | Short prop plane flight from SXM, or ~90–120 min ferry (The Edge / Makana) |
Typical Travel Time | ~25 minutes by ferry; or ~10 min by small plane to AXA | ~10–15 minutes by flight from SXM | ~12–15 minutes by flight from SXM |
Estimated Round Trip | ~$60–70 by public ferry — the most affordable nearby island option | ~$350–400+ by flight; plus significantly higher costs once on the island | ~$250+ by flight; more than Anguilla ferry but less than St. Barts overall |
Beach Quality | Best beaches of the three — 33 options, powdery sand, calm swimmable water | Beautiful and scenic beaches, smaller coves, ~15 beaches total | Not a beach destination — volcanic terrain, no sandy beaches |
Trip Style | Easy beach escape — works as a day trip or multi-night stay | Luxury scene, shopping, and French dining | Outdoor adventure — dramatic arrival on world's shortest commercial runway |
Most travelers landing at SXM want one of three things: beaches, convenience, or a special island escape. Anguilla checks all three better than the nearby alternatives for a classic Caribbean beach day.
You do not need a prop plane booking, the public ferry runs throughout the day for ~$60–70 round trip, and the payoff is immediate: 33 beaches including Shoal Bay East, Meads Bay, Rendezvous Bay, and Maundays Bay — all routinely ranked among the Caribbean's best.
With 33 beaches and consistently calm, swimmable water, Anguilla is the strongest pick for a memorable beach day from SXM.
The public ferry costs ~$60–70 round trip — far less than flying to St. Barts (~$350–400+) or Saba (~$250+), with no small-plane logistics.
A morning departure and evening return works well with the ferry schedule. Most ferries run 7 AM–7 PM, supporting a full beach day.
Rendezvous Bay and the West End beaches are close to the Blowing Point ferry arrival — you can be in the water within minutes of docking.
Use these guides to plan your ferry route, compare islands, and choose your best Anguilla beach day.
Compare ferry options, plan your timing from SXM airport, and choose the beach you want to visit first.
