St Martin – Galion Bay
Galion Bay on the French, eastern side of the island sits in a protected nature reserve where no motorboats or jet skis are allowed, and is voted one of its best and safest beaches. A 1 km wide sandy lagoon with standing areas and no current is closed off by an outer reef about 400 m out, so the water is warm and flat inside, while the reef gives breaking waves of 1–3 m in the right conditions and surf from September to November: a small Mauritius in the Caribbean. The trade wind is almost constant, side-onshore from the left at 18–25 knots from November to March and from the right at 16–20 knots from June to September, so you improve on both tacks; suits everyone from beginners to wave riders.
Source: sportif.travel · checked 2026-09-22