St. Maarten Cruise Port: Taxi Fares to Maho and Excursion Prices (2026)

Where these numbers come from

Ships at St. Maarten berth at the AC Wathey Cruise Port in Philipsburg, and the tourism board says no tender is needed. The walk to the town center takes about 10 minutes along the main road, by its count. Another guide measures 0.7 miles to Front Street, about 15 minutes. Plan on 10 to 15 minutes and check the walk against your own pace. Great Bay Beach is a 5 to 10 minute stroll.

Taxis follow a government tariff chart instead of meters. From the cruise port, one or two riders pay $20 to Maho Beach, $18 to Simpson Bay and $25 to the airport area. Orient Bay is $30 to $45. A third to fifth rider adds $9 for Maho, $7 for Simpson Bay and $10 for the airport, and a sixth adds slightly less. Fares rise 25 percent after 10 pm and double from midnight to 5 am. One bag per person is free, then $5.

Worked example, four adults to Maho Beach. The first two riders pay $20 and riders three and four add $9 each, so one way costs $20 + $18 = $38. Budget the same on the way back, for $76 round trip. That gives a beach-and-planes day for under $20 per person. A $7 water taxi pass or a $3 minibus ride covers shorter hops.

Paid excursions center on Rainforest Adventures. The Sky Explorer package, a two-lift chairlift and a museum visit, takes about 3 hours and costs $59 per adult or $44 for ages 3 to 12. The Flying Dutchman package adds a zipline that drops 1,050 feet over 2,800 feet of cable and costs $109 for adults, $94 for children and seniors. Local resident rates are lower, but cruise visitors pay the standard price.

Four adults on the Flying Dutchman pay 4 x $109 = $436. On the Sky Explorer they pay 4 x $59 = $236. Neither price includes the taxi from the pier, which the pages opened do not quote, so ask at the taxi stand. The park runs from 11 am to 4 pm, which suits a late-morning ship call but not an early departure.

US dollars are standard on the Dutch side, which also uses the guilder; the French side uses euros. For another flat-fare stop, see Aruba. To price your own plan, open the cruise excursion budget calculator.

Sources

• Visit St. Maarten: one day cruise visit
• Visit St. Maarten: taxi zone guide and rate overview
• Cruise Hive: St. Maarten cruise port
• Rainforest Adventures: Flying Dutchman package (operator)
• Rainforest Adventures: Sky Explorer package (operator)

Figures checked on September 30, 2026.

This page is general information, not legal, insurance or travel-agent advice. Fees, rules and limits change, so confirm the figures with the official sources listed above before you book or travel.