I believe in helping local communities wherever I go. I also believe that each new culture I experience is giving me so much to learn and to enjoy, that the least I can do is to support them by buying some souvenirs that they have locally produced, especially if it comes from St. Maarten.
This island is a unique destination not only because of its location, culture and history but also because of everything you are able to find and buy here (and the best thing are definitely the prices!)
So, are you planning on visiting this island? Will you be shopping any of these souvenirs? Are you looking for something specific? Either way, I have you covered as I have listed all the main souvenirs you will be able to find in St. Maarten.
Are you ready to travel with me as well? Continue reading this gifts guide and find out what are the best souvenirs from St. Maarten to take home for your beloved ones.
1. Handmade Dutch porcelain
Whenever you go to St. Maarten make sure you buy some unique handmade porcelain. In traditional Dutch style, the porcelain pieces that you will find on this Caribbean island are usually made with blue and white colors.
As a matter of fact, this island is the only licensed place (outside of the Netherlands) where you will be able to buy hand-painted Dutch pieces, so don’t miss this opportunity. From windmills to tulips, there are many choices for you to have a look at.
2. Perfumes and Cosmetics
If you like to smell good and look even better then you will enjoy shopping in St. Maarten, as this island offers plenty of choices of stores for you to buy from. Here in St. Maarten you will also find all of the European and North American big brands with great deals that you won’t resist.
Another good thing is that you will be buying from official places, so you will not get counterfeited items or items that may look a little bit dodgy. Just make sure you don’t overbuy things as you will probably end up paying an extra fee for your heavy luggage! You have been warned!
3. Spicy, very spicy sauces
Everywhere you look you will find hot sauces. In every restaurant that is on this island, you will see that there are a grand variety of spicy sauces for you to try (and maybe even burn your tongue just a little bit!)
This is the perfect souvenir for any friend, family member or even coworker who enjoys some spicy condiment. And the best part of this is that they are locally produced in St. Maarten.
4. Wine
You are probably thinking, ‘’Did he really just typed wine?’’ and yes, I know this item may seem like a surprise to you, but you are able to purchase wine for a fraction of its original price whenever you are in St. Maarten.
Are you looking for French wine? Chilean wine? Or even Argentinian wine? The island has them all! Take advantage of the tax and duty-free status St. Maarten has and stock up on your wine bottles.
5. Liqueurs from St Maarten
But wait a minute, what is even better (and with more alcohol) than wine? That’s right, flavored liqueurs! And not only do they taste great but they usually also come in beautiful bottles that are sometimes hand-painted.
There are many family-own rum producers of rum (and some of the flavors they sell include banana, mint, vanilla and even passionfruit flavored rums).
They usually also sell this rum in plastic bottles in case you are afraid of taking a glass bottle back home. However, we need to take care of the environment, so I would definitely recommend you to get a beautifully decorated glass bottle and ask for the best way to store it in your suitcase.
6. Jewelry
There are many artisans in St. Maarten, and by many I mean hundreds. So I think you will definitely find a piece of jewelry that will remind you of your time on the island.
And if you are looking for something more, let’s say sophisticated, there are many stores for you to look around and see what type of jewelry you prefer. From golden rings to silver chains, you will surely find your perfect piece.
7. Guavaberry Products
Many people have no idea about what Guavaberry is all about. This is a plant that is originally found in many Caribbean islands, in particular in St. Maarten. In this plant, you will be able to see a fruit that is being used in order to produce the local berry rum.
But not only rum is made with this plant, as you will also find juices, liqueur, jams and even desserts as the Guavaberry fruit is truly delicious. Would you like to know an interesting fact? Guavaberry is not the same as the other fruit called Guava, in fact, they are not even fruits from the same family!
8. Designer clothing
There are hundreds of high-end shops in St. Maarten for you to have a look at and see if you would like to buy something made by a recognized designer. In fact, this island counts with many designer outlets and shops.
But guess what? You will also find designer shoes for half of the price you are used to paying. And even if you never buy anything made by a specific designer, perhaps this is your chance to find something you can afford.
9. Cheeses
Let’s talk about the variety of cheeses you will find in St. Maarten, shall we? It’s amazing how many types of cheeses you can get on this island, but what’s more incredible is the fact that they are usually 10 times cheaper than in the rest of the world.
Are you looking for a wheel of Gouda? Or blue cheese? Even mozzarella cheeses are delicious on this island! And you can take your friends some cheeses as a souvenir and they will absolutely adore you for it! (And if you combine this with the hot sauces you will be loved, even more, trust me).
And lastly…
Remember that St. Maarten is a tax-free island, so you are going to buy souvenirs that will be very cheap in comparison to other Caribbean islands.
This is why whenever I travel I make sure I visit the local markets even if it means that not many tourists will go to that place -ever! Because you see, if I’m buying something that has been made by an artisan then I know that person has invested his or her time into making something beautiful and unique.
And even if I’m buying something that has been reproduced thousands or millions of times, then the person who is selling it is still trying to make a living out of this. So, either way, I’m supporting someone else, even if I only buy something small.
What’s more, I love giving my friends and family a piece of my adventures. Not only they get to travel with me by looking at my photographs, or when they listen or read my stories, but they will also feel closer to my travels whenever I gift them a souvenir from those places.
