Getting from Orient Beach to Pinel Island

[mivama]

I heard somewhere that there might be some places on Orient Beach that will take you out to Pinel island and pick you up. Does anyone have any experience with this?

[gail811]

The ferry we took is just north of Orient Beach. If you want to go to Pinel Island, I would take a cab from the port and plan to spend the day. It is BEAUTIFUL and very few people go over. Our driver came back and was waiting for us at the time we asked her to be there.

 

 

 

[Rickster]

Gail, how much is the boat ride to and from Pinel Island?

 

Thanks, Rick.

[gail811]

Six dollars per person for a RT ticket. They run every half hour, starting at 1000 or 1030 I believe.

[The Anchor Banker]

Could you please give us a bit more information? Why go there vs. staying at Orient Beach? Do you have more pictures, etc. I'm very curious if this is a must see!

[Rickster]

Thanks Gail, 30 days to go and I'll be there.

Rick.

 

Banker, google Pinel Island and you'll see. I'll been to Orient many times and just looking for something different.

[gtaylor]

Six dollars per person for a RT ticket. They run every half hour, starting at 1000 or 1030 I believe.

 

I'm pretty sure that the ferry is now seven dollars round trip.

 

gary

[gtaylor]

I heard somewhere that there might be some places on Orient Beach that will take you out to Pinel island and pick you up. Does anyone have any experience with this?

 

Back in 2007, I noticed that watersports down at Boo Boo Jam offered a water taxi out to Pinel for $10 per person.

 

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You could check there, BUT, I didn't see the sign in 2008 or 2009. I'd also note that the sign says taxi TO Pinel. It didn't say anything about the return???

 

In 2007, Wind Adventures offered One Day In Pinel for 50 Euro for 1 or 2.

 

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I did some investigating, and found something quite interesting. Interesting enough that I'm considering it for our next trip.

 

The good news is that the deal at Wind Adventures appears to have gotten better.

 

It's still 50 Euros (About $75 US), but now the offer appears to be for up to 3 people. Maximum of 5 at additional charge.

 

The trip includes a 45 minute tour of Orient Bay on a Hobie Cat 16, and then you are dropped off on Pinel, to be picked up and returned to Orient at a time of your choosing.

 

Very interesting.

 

gary

[gail811]

For us it was the desire to get away from the crowds and see something different. Here is a link to all of our pictures from our day in St. Maarten. http://outdoors.webshots.com/album/570888220PxblgJ

 

We had lunch served to us in the cart pictured below, and several months after we got home we saw the same picture in the Caribbean Travel & Life magazine; they were doing an article on St. Maarten! The driver that took us from the cruise ship stand arranged the time to come back and get us; she was there waiting for us when we got off the ferry.

 

 

 

And this is the young man to look for, Oliver. He works the yellow umbrella area and took great care of us!