Arriving through St. Maarten airport
St. Maarten airport usually means Princess Juliana International Airport, with the code SXM, on the southern side of the island. Taxis, private transfers, rental cars and accommodation shuttles are among the transport options listed by the airport. Grand Case airport, coded SFG, is a regional alternative on the French side. Keep the airport name and your accommodation address together when arranging collection, especially when continuing to the northern part of the island.
Your destination shapes the next step. A transfer from SXM to Marigot crosses to the French side; a journey to Philipsburg remains on the southern side. Marigot is also a ferry departure point, but a flight arrival and a ferry departure are separate stages with immigration, baggage and road travel between them. Choose your accommodation area before settling the transport plan.
Taxi and transfers from Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM)
For SXM to Marigot, arrange a transfer with the French-side destination clearly specified. Marigot’s waterfront, central town area and ferry terminal make the exact drop-off important. Keep flight information, luggage requirements and the destination address together when selecting the service. Road traffic and bridge openings can affect the journey, so allow time rather than treating a short route as a fixed transfer duration.
Taxis are another arrival option. The tourism office’s published fares, accessed in November 2026, list USD 8 to Maho, USD 15 to Simpson Bay, USD 20 to Philipsburg and USD 25 to the cruise port for one or two people. Larger parties use separate per-person fare bands. These southern destination fares should not be used to price a Marigot journey. Establish the applicable total, luggage charges, late-arrival terms and payment method before departure.
Book a fixed-price transfer from Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on intui.travel.
Airport departure transfer
For departure, this shared transfer takes you from your hotel to the airport.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Shared hotel-to-airport departure transfer
For the journey home: a one-way shared transfer with a professional driver, distinct from an arrival transfer to Marigot.
Departure transfer from hotel to airport
The shared transfer offered here runs in the departure direction, from a hotel to St. Maarten airport. It includes a professional driver and a one-way shared transfer. This differs from arranging an arrival from SXM to Marigot. Select it for the airport-bound leg and allow for the shared format when organising your flight day. The excursion overview concerns sightseeing days rather than this airport journey.
Car rental and parking
A rental car can be useful when your plans involve several areas, such as Philipsburg, Marigot and Orient Bay. Traffic drives on the right and seat belts are required. Rental age, licence requirements, deposit, insurance and permission to cross between the island’s two jurisdictions depend on the contract. Read those conditions for the car you choose instead of applying one assumed island-wide rule.
Airport parking information accessed in November 2026 lists USD 2 per half hour, USD 30 per day and a USD 50 administration fee for a lost ticket. Spaces are allocated according to availability without advance reservation, with cash or card payment. Use the parking area for a parked vehicle and keep short-stop areas clear. For road trips beyond arrival day, the beach guide helps narrow the destination list.
Minibuses and the airport terminal
The airport has no direct bus service from the terminal. A minibus route passes through the airport area on the way between Philipsburg and Mullet Bay, via Simpson Bay and Maho. This is different from a scheduled terminal pickup. Minibuses have no fixed timetable, so a taxi or arranged transfer offers a clearer collection plan for an arrival with luggage or a timed onward journey.
Harbours and ferries
Cruise arrivals use the port near Philipsburg. For independent onward sea travel, Marigot serves Anguilla and St. Barth, while a Philipsburg route runs to Gustavia on St. Barth. Choose the actual departure terminal before organising road transport. International ferry journeys require the destination’s entry formalities, and weather can interrupt sailings. A flight-to-ferry plan therefore needs time for the land journey and ferry procedures.
For Marigot to Anguilla, the port information accessed in November 2026 lists a separate EUR 7 head fee from age four, payable in EUR cash or by card, with USD cash excluded for that fee. Keep this separate from the ferry fare and other charges. The Anguilla guide covers the choice between independent ferry travel and organised day trips.
Entry and the digital ED card
Complete a digital ED card for each traveller arriving through Sint Maarten, including those continuing to the French side. Prepare passports, onward or return travel, accommodation details and evidence of funds. For visa-free entry, the passport must be no more than ten years old and valid throughout the stay. Visa eligibility depends on nationality and the journey; the open land border does not replace the initial entry requirements.
Saint-Martin and Saint-Barthélemy are outside Schengen. Consider their requirements separately when continuing there. At SXM, connecting passengers pass immigration and customs, collect baggage and check in again according to the airport’s guidance. Build those steps into a connection rather than planning around an uninterrupted airside transit. Keep arrival-day plans light enough to accommodate the actual airport and road journey.
Questions about your visit
Is there a direct bus from the terminal?
The airport states that direct terminal bus service is unavailable. The minibus route through the airport area is a separate option without a fixed timetable.
Is the shared transfer an arrival service to Marigot?
The offered shared transfer runs from a hotel to the airport for departure. An arrival transfer from SXM to Marigot is a separate journey.
Do I need the ED card if I stay on the French side?
Yes. Each traveller arriving through Sint Maarten needs the digital ED form, including visitors who continue to the French side after arrival.