• Overview map locating Tintamarre Island off the northeast coast of Saint Martin.

    Island Overview Map

    Get your bearings around Tintamarre Island and the surrounding coast.
  • White sailboat tied to a yellow buoy in rippled blue water, with a sandy beach and low scrub behind it.

    Marina & Waterfront

    With sails stowed, a cruiser rests on a yellow mooring buoy off a sweep of pale sand.
  • Stern view of a white powerboat crossing blue water toward a low, scrub-covered island.

    Harbor Approach

    A white wake fans out behind the cruiser as a pale strip of sand comes into view ahead.

Why This Harbor Matters

Tintamarre gives sailors and powerboaters a chance to spend a day off Saint Martin without making landfall in a town. At Baie Blanche, the boat becomes the base for the visit: a place to dry off after a swim, eat lunch, and decide whether to go ashore again.

The white beach is the obvious draw, but it tells only half the story. The island’s east side rises in cliffs, and traces of farms and a former airstrip recall a time when people lived and worked here. From the water, it’s easy to see why the shore draws your eye first; the island’s past is less obvious.

Give Tintamarre enough time to stand on its own. You can pair it with another stop, but there’s no need to hurry a beach morning into a full circuit of the coast. Arrive with what the crew needs and keep the rest of the day flexible.

Harbor Snapshot

Country Saint Martin (French side)
Region Northern Leeward Islands
Harbor Type Uninhabited offshore island
Primary Cruising Role Nature reserve day stop
Best Known For Baie Blanche’s white-sand beach
Protection Baie Blanche is on the west side; suitability varies with wind and swell
Provisioning Bring food and drinking water aboard
Fuel & Water Plan fuel and water stops on Saint Martin
Customs & Immigration No clearance on Tintamarre; use Marigot, French Saint Martin, when entering from abroad
Typical Stay Day visit; overnight mooring requires prior written permission
Cruising Importance A protected island visit off French Saint Martin

Cruising Highlights

At-a-glance features that define the cruising experience at this harbor.

A day at Baie Blanche

A day at Baie Blanche

  • Make the west-side beach the focus of the visit
  • Leave time for both a swim and a shore break
  • Keep the boat as your base for lunch
  • Give yourself the option to head back early
A reserve visit

A reserve visit

  • Use the reserve’s visitor mooring system
  • Leave clay and other natural material in place
  • Watch wildlife without feeding it
  • Keep pets aboard
A different shore on foot

A different shore on foot

  • Follow the path from Baie Blanche
  • Bring shoes for the walk
  • See the south lagoon beach from land
  • Leave the lagoon out of your anchoring plans
Fit the island into a cruising day

Fit the island into a cruising day

  • Check the forecast before committing to the stop
  • Sort out fuel and water on Saint Martin
  • Consider Pinel as a separate stop
  • Arrange overnight permission in advance if needed

Explore Tintamarre Island

A person holds a glass of water beside two sandwiches on a sailboat’s cockpit table, with a low, sandy shoreline in the background.
A person holds a glass of water beside two sandwiches on a sailboat’s cockpit table, with a low, sandy shoreline in the background.
JAG IMAGES / Adobe Stock - stock.adobe.com · Adobe Stock Standard License. Cropped and resized to 1800 × 1200; converted to WebP.
Underwater view of two snorkelers with blue and yellow fins swimming above a sandy seabed.
Underwater view of two snorkelers with blue and yellow fins swimming above a sandy seabed.
Overhanging leaves frame a sandy beach and several boats offshore, including a white catamaran with a yellow canopy.
Overhanging leaves frame a sandy beach and several boats offshore, including a white catamaran with a yellow canopy.

Nearby Harbors

Discover the natural next stops for your cruise, whether you are looking for customs clearance, protected anchorages, marina services, or planning your next passage.

Pinel Island

Pinel Island

Pinel Island gives a Saint-Martin boating day a destination ashore: a beach facing Cul-de-Sac, lunch beside the water and footpaths leading away from the restaurant frontage. Known locally as Îlet Pinel, it belongs to the French side of Saint-Martin and sits within the national nature reserve.

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Grand Case Harbor

Grand Case Harbor

Grand Case Harbor combines a scenic beachfront anchorage with one of the Caribbean’s most distinctive waterfront villages.

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Marigot Harbor

Marigot Harbor

Marigot Harbor is the cultural and maritime heart of French Saint Martin, offering sailors a unique blend of protected waters, European charm, and Caribbean cruising convenience.

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Oyster Pond Harbor

Oyster Pond Harbor

Oyster Pond Harbor is one of Saint Martin's most protected cruising destinations and serves as an important gateway to St. Barthélemy and the northeastern Caribbean.

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Tintamarre Island Harbor Collection keepsake

Harbor Collection

Celebrate This Harbor

Every harbor tells a story. Create a personalized Harbor Collection keepsake to remember your time in Tintamarre Island, from moments on the water to a favorite stop ashore and the people who shared the journey.

Four Timeless Designs

Home Port Favorite Harbor Harbor Memory Coordinates

Celebrate

  • Boat Name
  • Harbor Name
  • Year Visited
  • Coordinates (Optional)
  • Design Style
  • Personal Message (Optional)

Crafted to Last

  • Premium Acacia Hardwood
  • Precision Laser Engraving
  • Food-Safe Finish
  • Made in the USA
Shop Harbor Collection

Frequently Asked Questions

Find practical answers to common questions about visiting Tintamarre Island, including harbor facilities, shoreside services, trip planning, and what boaters should confirm before arrival.

Can I stay overnight on a mooring at Tintamarre? +
Yes, if you have prior written authorization from the reserve. Apply at least three working days ahead and wait for approval before counting on the stay. Overnight anchoring is prohibited.
Can I bring my dog ashore at Tintamarre? +
No. Keep pets aboard during your visit to the reserve.
Can I camp on Tintamarre instead of sleeping aboard? +
Camping is limited to designated areas and requires a separate application. Permission to moor overnight does not cover camping ashore.
Where is the snorkeling at Baie Blanche? +
The reserve identifies the water near the northern point as a snorkeling area. If you see turtles, watch without feeding them.
Can I visit Tintamarre without bringing my own boat? +
Yes. Scoobi Charters runs a catamaran outing that includes Tintamarre and lists check-in at Anse Marcel Marina or Grand Case Beach Club. Confirm your departure point when booking.
What can I see of Tintamarre’s past ashore? +
Remnants of former farms and the island’s airfield survive inland. They’re traces of earlier uses of the island, so don’t plan around a staffed historic site.

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Harbor Collection personalized nautical keepsake

Personalized Keepsake

Harbor Collection

Celebrate your favorite harbor, home port, or unforgettable sailing adventure with a personalized Harbor Collection keepsake.

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