Of all the beaches, in all the world, this is the one you should visit. No trip to St Maarten would be complete without seeing the incredible sight of planes landing and taking off from Princess Juliana airport. You might have seen the clips on Youtube.

One pastime is spotting the plane's lights from the horizon, waiting for it to get closer and then it flying directly overhead, so low that it looks like you could almost touch the undercarriage. The other is not encouraged, but standing behind a plane when it's taking off and being blasted by the back draft is also very popular.When there are no distractions from the planes, Maho beach a lovely for taking a swim. Always a beautiful azure color and usually tranquil, it's safer at the north end nearer the Sonesta Maho resort and away from the crowd with a gentle slope.

There are two bars at either end. Both serve food and the full range of Caribbean cocktails and beers.[layout][half]The first one is Guy's Driftwood Boat Bar. It's called a boat bar because it actually looks like a boat!Friendly, fun and relaxed the bar staff know how to mix a mean Rum Punch and other delicious cocktails along with all the Caribbean beers that are available.[/half][half is_last="true"]

Guy's Driftwood Beach Bar

[/half][/layout]You can sit at the brightly coloured bar and have a few drinks or lounge on the sun beds on the beach taking in the music and sights or sit at the picnic tables and enjoy your lunch watching the planes and the people getting blasted by the planes.[layout][half]

Sunset Beach Bar

At the other end of the beach there is Sunset Beach Bar, notably one of the most famous bars on the island. Not only because of the location with it's extensive view of the runway and white sandy beach, but the daily activities that are organized to keep you happy during the day and into the evening. Crab races on the beach, free drinks for topless women (all day) and live music with the excellent house band Percy Rankin, to name but a few. There is a large surf board stuck in the sand with all the flight arrival times so you can plan your visit for the photo op of the larger planes from KLM, Air France and American Airways. There is quite an extensive menu that is available all day from full American breakfast to Caribbean dinner. Locally caught fish steaks, all sorts of pancakes, burgers and lot's, lot's more. Written by local pirate "Lindy Green".