Pelican Park: Sint Maarten's Newest Attraction Opens a View Worth Celebrating on World Tourism Day
Point Blanche, Sint Maarten — Every year on September 27, the world marks World Tourism Day. It is a good moment to ask a simple question: what is new on our island? This year there is a fresh answer, and it sits 500 feet above Great Bay.
A Discovery, Even After Decades
As a resident of Sint Maarten for several decades, I believed I knew every neighborhood, every beach and every nature spot, down to the potholes on the roads. So it was something of an awakening to learn about the remarkable venue an enthusiastic team has created right here in Point Blanche.
The drive itself is part of the experience. The road winds up the hill through a quiet residential area, opening onto grand views that would be worth the exploration on their own. Then you reach the beautifully crafted entrance to Pelican Park, and step into a magical part of Sint Maarten I never knew existed.
A Different Perspective on a Familiar Island
Pelican Park, on the ridge of Pelican Peak, is Sint Maarten's newest visitor attraction. The idea is refreshingly simple. A walkway winds along the hilltop through the natural landscape, and from almost every step you look down on the island. Sailboats cross Great Bay. The Dutch and French sides stretch away in either direction. The trade winds come straight off the sea.
Most visitors see Sint Maarten from sea level: from the cruise pier, from Front Street, from a beach chair. Pelican Park turns that view around. From the ridge, Philipsburg, the harbor and the surrounding hills fall into place like a map.
A guide is on hand to point out what you are looking at from the platforms. The islands of St Barths and Saba seem close enough to touch, and on very clear days St Kitts, Nevis and even Montserrat appear on the horizon.
The trail to the top is not a hard walk. The stairs are spread out generously, and most visitors will manage them at an easy pace. Anyone who finds the climb too much can stop at a large platform just below the summit, where the view is hardly less spectacular. Visitors with disabilities will not be able to take the stairs, but no one has to miss out: right at the entrance level, a viewing platform already offers an impressive panorama. Restrooms and a snack bar are on site as well. Comfortable shoes are a good idea for the climb, and a camera is essential either way.
Guardians of a Green Hilltop
What impressed me most is how seriously the team takes its role. They are the custodians of acres of untouched nature, just above Philipsburg and one of the world's busiest cruise ports. In a place where green space is under constant pressure, that commitment deserves recognition.
Minutes From the Cruise Port
Location is one of the park's strongest points. Pelican Park is only a few minutes from the Philipsburg cruise port, which makes it an easy first or last stop for cruise passengers who want something more than shopping, without committing to a full-day tour. It also offers the perfect selfie: yourself, high above the very ship you are traveling on. No advance booking is needed. Tickets are sold at the entrance, and both cash and major credit cards are accepted.
Why a New Attraction Matters This Year
The theme of World Tourism Day 2026 is "Digital Agenda and Artificial Intelligence to Redesign Tourism." UN Tourism has pointed out a real risk in that shift: travel apps and AI assistants tend to send visitors to the same handful of well-known places and platforms, while newer and smaller destinations get overlooked.
That is exactly the challenge a young, locally rooted attraction like Pelican Park faces. The island's classic sights will always get their share of attention. New experiences need the community, local media and satisfied visitors to put them on the map, online as well as on the ground. Celebrating World Tourism Day with a visit to something new is one of the most practical ways to support Sint Maarten's tourism future.
Plan Your Visit
- Where: Flamingo Road #39, Point Blanche, Sint Maarten
- Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Admission (introductory pricing): Adults (18+) $20, youth (13–17) $15, children 12 and under free
- On site: Restrooms, snack bar, guide at the viewing platforms
- Phone: +1 (721) 581-5920
- Email: info@pelicanparksxm.com
- Website: pelicanparksxm.com
Come for the views. Stay for the feeling. And this World Tourism Day, see your island from a new height.