Santa Martha Bay

Santa Martha Bay is one of the larger natural inlets on the leeward side, a deep sheltered arm of water with a narrow mouth that keeps it flat in almost any conditions, used by small fishing boats and a marina at the inner end. The Landhuis Santa Martha stands on the hill above, an eighteenth-century plantation house now used by a care organisation. Kayaks are hired for paddling the mangrove-lined edges of the inner bay.

The landscape

• The sheltered inlet - a deep bay with a narrow mouth that stays flat.
• The fishing harbour - small boats and a marina at the inner end.
• The plantation house - the eighteenth-century landhuis on the hill above.
• The mangrove edges - the vegetated shore of the inner bay, paddled by kayak.

When to go

Year round; the bay is sheltered in almost any weather. Mornings are calmest for paddling. The landhuis is not generally open to visitors.

Practical notes

There is no real beach here and swimming is limited. The landhuis is a working institution rather than a museum and is not open. Facilities around the bay are minimal.

Nearby

Playa Santa Cruz is west, and Sint Willibrordus is southeast.