Porto Cupecoy — A Marina Village on the Lagoon
Porto Cupecoy is a self-contained luxury condominium and marina community on the southern shore of Simpson Bay Lagoon, positioned at the western end of the Dutch side just before the French border. The development covers nearly 20 acres and combines residential units, a full-service marina, a central plaza with restaurants and shops, and a comprehensive amenity package that functions as a small resort within itself.
The community was completed before Hurricane Irma struck in September 2017. Unlike much of Sint Maarten, Porto Cupecoy sustained no significant damage — a result of both the quality of the construction and its sheltered location at the bottom of a deep cove, which protected it from the worst of the storm's impact — and most businesses in the plaza were back in operation within a week of the storm passing. While the rest of the island was still in recovery, Porto Cupecoy was functioning. That resilience is worth knowing about for anyone considering property here.
The Marina
Porto Cupecoy's marina is one of the most capable on the island — 54 slips accommodating vessels up to 250 feet, with 12 dedicated mega-yacht berths. Full marina services include high-speed fuel delivery, electrical connections at multiple amperages, water, pump-out, and wireless internet. Slip ownership, long-term rentals, and transient berths are all available. The marina operates with a concierge program — the first of its kind on Sint Maarten when it was introduced.
One important caveat for mariners: access to Porto Cupecoy's marina is constrained by the surrounding causeway infrastructure. The French-side bridge is too narrow for larger vessels, and the causeway's own bridge opens only twice per day. Skippers of larger boats should confirm current bridge opening schedules before planning their approach or departure. This is a practical consideration that the marina's impressive slip specifications alone do not convey.
The Plaza
The central plaza overlooks the marina and is the social heart of the community. Restaurants, a Carrefour supermarket, boutiques, and service businesses occupy the ground-floor spaces. The dining options are consistently interesting — this is not a resort food court but a genuine collection of restaurants with their own identities. RDV Lounge is one of the established operations on the plaza, a bar and lounge concept that has built a following both within the community and among visitors from across the Dutch side.
The Residences
Units range from one to four bedrooms, finished to a high standard — gourmet kitchens, travertine-tiled bathrooms, private covered terraces, some with individual pools. The vacation rental program is active, making Porto Cupecoy a practical option for visitors who want apartment living with marina views, full services, and proximity to both the Dutch side's entertainment areas and the French border.
Cupecoy Beach is directly across the street — walkable in minutes. For visitors choosing Porto Cupecoy as a vacation rental base, this combination of marina living, plaza amenities, and immediate beach access makes it one of the more complete self-contained destinations on the Dutch side.
Services
Porto Cupecoy operates as a managed community with 24-hour security, on-site property management, covered parking, an emergency power generator, its own water plant with desalination backup, and a self-contained sewage facility. For buyers and long-term residents, the infrastructure independence matters — Porto Cupecoy does not depend on the island's sometimes unreliable utilities to the same degree that less self-sufficient developments do.
Getting There — by Car
Porto Cupecoy is located on the main road between Maho and the French border, approximately 10 minutes from the airport and 5 minutes from Maho Village. The Terres Basses beaches on the French side are a short drive further.
