Bernard's Tours — 20+ Years of Island Tours and Cruise-Friendly Excursions
A veteran tour operator with 5+ guided tour packages, private custom itineraries, and cruise ship-friendly scheduling from Guana Bay.
Why Go
Bernard's Tours has been showing visitors St. Maarten for over 20 years — long enough to have refined the island tour into an art form. With five distinct tour packages, private 'Do It Your Way' custom options, and a cruise-ship-friendly guarantee of timely returns, this is the operator that veteran cruise travelers and repeat visitors keep coming back to.
The Experience
Twenty years of tour operation on a 37-square-mile island means Bernard's has driven every road, stopped at every viewpoint, and refined the timing of each tour to maximize what visitors see without rushing or backtracking. The tour lineup covers different appetites: the Adventure Island Tour (5 hours) is the comprehensive option, covering Maho plane spotting, beaches, iguanas, and highlights of both sides. The Fabulous Dutch & French Tour (4 hours) focuses on the cultural contrast between the two nations sharing one island. The Maho Beach Blast (4 hours) is for visitors who want the plane-watching experience as the centerpiece. Orient Beach Splash/Express targets the French side's famous beach. And the Taste of St. Maarten/Martin is a private food and wine experience for culinary visitors. The 'Do It Your Way' private option hands the itinerary to you — tell Bernard's what you want to see, eat, photograph, or experience, and they build the route. The cruise-ship-friendly scheduling is not a vague promise: 20 years of experience with cruise port timing means they know exactly how long each tour takes and when to head back. The Guana Bay Road base puts the operation near the eastern coast, close to Dawn Beach and the French border.
What to Try
Book the Adventure Island Tour on your first visit for the complete overview. Try the Taste of St. Maarten/Martin on a return trip for the culinary deep dive. Request the 'Do It Your Way' private tour if you have specific interests — photography, history, beaches, shopping — that a standard tour would skim over. Use the airport transfer service with Bernard's for a mini-tour on the way to your hotel.
Insider Tip
The Guana Bay Road location is near one of the island's least-visited beaches: Guana Bay. Ask your Bernard's guide about stopping there during a tour — the rugged Atlantic coastline and empty sand offer a completely different perspective from the tourist beaches on the western side.
The Practical Stuff
Based at Guana Bay Road 5C, Philipsburg, Dutch side. Tours: Adventure Island (5 hrs), Fabulous Dutch & French (4 hrs), Maho Beach Blast (4 hrs), Orient Beach Splash, Taste of St. Maarten (private food/wine), Do It Your Way (custom). Also: airport transfers, cruise terminal pickups, taxi service. 20+ years operating. Price range: moderate ($$). Cruise-friendly scheduling guaranteed.
Pair It With
- Gibbs Bay Guide — Hidden east-coast beach near the Bernard's base for a post-tour swim
- Topgunsxm Guide — Adventure activity near Guana Bay to pair with a tour day