Day Trips by Boat: Pinel Island, Tintamarre & Beyond

A Pinel Island day trip is one of the easiest, most rewarding boat outings on the island: a short crossing from the French north-east coast lands you on a tiny islet with shallow, calm water and a couple of beach spots. You don't need a plan beyond sunscreen, water, and somewhere to be lazy for a few hours.

We think of these little islands as the antidote to a packed beach day. They're close, they're low-effort, and they reset something in you.

What is the Pinel Island day trip, exactly?

Îlet Pinel is a small islet just off Saint-Martin, the French northern half of the island. A quick boat hop takes you across a narrow channel to water that's clear and shallow enough that you can wade out a long way without ever being out of your depth. That makes it a favorite for families, weak swimmers, and anyone who'd rather float than swim laps.

The crossing is genuinely short. Boats run back and forth through the day, so you can stay an hour or stay for lunch. Because schedules and operators change, we'd rather you check times locally on the day than trust a number you read online.

How do you get to Pinel Island?

You drive to the French north-east coast, leave the car, and take a short boat across. There's no need to book a big excursion unless you want one. The practical thing is to arrive earlier rather than later, especially in the busy December-to-April season, when the small beaches fill up by midday.

What about Tintamarre?

Tintamarre is an uninhabited islet and nature area off the same northern coast. It's wilder than Pinel: no village feel, just beach, scrub, and quiet. People go for the snorkeling and the sense of having stepped slightly off the map. Boat trips that include Tintamarre are common, and the appeal is exactly its emptiness.

Treat it as a nature spot. Take everything out that you bring in, and don't expect services once you're ashore.

Where else can you go by boat?

The island sits in good company. From the Dutch and French coasts, boats reach the calmer bays and, on longer days, the neighboring islands.

• Happy Bay and Friar's Bay — quiet French-side beaches, lovely for a slow swim.
• Orient Bay — a long, open stretch on the French east coast.
• Anguilla — a flat, low island a crossing away, known for long white beaches.
• St. Barthélemy (St. Barth) — a chic day-trip island reached by a longer sea crossing or short flight.

For first-timers, we'd start with Pinel and add Tintamarre if you want a wilder second stop. Save Anguilla and St. Barth for a full day with an early start.

What should you bring on an islet day?

The smaller the island, the less you'll find waiting for you, so pack like the beach is empty.

• Water and shade — sun hat, reef-safe sunscreen, and more water than you think.
• Reef shoes — handy on rockier entries and for snorkeling.
• Cash — euros on the French side; not every small spot takes cards.
• A dry bag — for phones and anything you'd hate to soak on the crossing.
• A real picnic — the difference between a good islet day and a great one.

On the picnic: a small island is the perfect excuse to bring your own lunch rather than rely on finding food once you're there. Before you drive to the boat, swing through Simpson Bay and pack a bag from a French-style bakery — a couple of baguette sandwiches, something sweet, fruit. La Sucrière is built for exactly this kind of morning. Cold water and a flaky pastry eaten with your feet in the sand is hard to beat.

When is the best time to go?

The dry high season, roughly December through April, gives you the steadiest weather and calmest crossings. Hurricane season runs June 1 to November 30, with the peak in August and September, so build in flexibility if you visit then. On any day, mornings tend to be calmer and less crowded than afternoons.

The trick to these islets isn't doing more. It's bringing the right small things, going early, and letting the day stay slow.