Pinel Island
Categorized in St. Maarten, French West Indies
L'îlet Pinel is an incredible place on earth, quite simply paradise.
During our stay on the island of Saint Martin in the West Indies, we wanted to discover this little islet. Well, we went back a second time, because we loved it so much, and our memories of it are still very vivid!
Accessible by kayak or boat, during the day only
Island Pinel is a nature reserve, so it's not possible to stay there for several days, and the island can only be explored on foot.
There are two restaurants on the island, but you'll see them when you arrive. That's all the facilities you'll find, as the rest of the island is completely wild.
The landing stage is on rue de Cul-de-Sac (map). From here, you can board a boat or cross by kayak.
The boats are not ferries, but large motorboats that can hold up to 20 people. The crossing takes around ten minutes.
Snorkel with thousands of tropical fish
It was in Saint Martin that we tried out our masks and snorkels. And for a first-timer, we quickly saw some superb fish, effortlessly and without straying far from the shore.
We really recommend that you take your snorkeling gear with you to discover the marine flora and fauna.
Venture into the Savane, the incredible landscape on the other side of Pinel island.
Nicknamed the Savannah because of its distinctive vegetation, the western part of îlet Pinel is well worth exploring.
There's a small path through the tall grass that you have to follow to reach the beach to the west (map).
If you like the feeling of being at the end of the world, this trail is just what you need.
The restaurants of Pinel Island: A taste of the West Indies
L'îlet Pinel offers two beach restaurants, both of which are really nice for their festive atmosphere, delicious food and really lovely staff.
If you like lobsters, this is the place to go, but ask the price first.
We have fond memories of the restaurant Le Yellow and the waiter Martin, who was really great.
Meet the iguanas, the inhabitants and guardians of Pinel Island
Don't be afraid, iguanas are funny, endearing animals that are only waiting for you to give them a little attention and a couple of fruits or vegetables.
Curious and not shy, the iguanas of îlet Pinel love to see tourists arrive, because they know that some of them will give them a little something to nibble on.
Don't give the iguanas just anything to eat, though: they mainly eat fruit, vegetables and insects. We asked for salad leaves at the restaurant, and that's what the iguanas prefer.
We loved seeing the iguanas roaming around the island. We found them both majestic (some are over a metre long) and amusing. They're very interesting to watch, and feeding them is a really great experience as they're not very shy.
Don't try to catch them, they don't like it and may defend themselves by flicking their tails (their only means of defense).
