Pic Paradis

Pic Paradis rises to 424 metres in the middle of Saint Martin and is the highest point on the whole island, French and Dutch sides together, with the last substantial patch of forest on its slopes and trails running through it from Loterie Farm and from the road. From the top both coasts, the lagoon and several neighbouring islands are visible at once. Saint Martin is divided between France and the Netherlands, and from the summit the whole of both sides is visible at once.

History

In the 1700s the 135-acre Loterie Plantation was set up on the slopes and worked for sugar until slavery ended in the mid-1800s, then as a dairy farm until the 1960s; the land later became the eco-tourism site Loterie Farm, and in 2007 BirdLife International recognised 205 hectares from 300 m to the summit as an Important Bird Area (Wikipedia, Pic Paradis).

Highlights

• The summit - 424 metres, the highest point on the whole island.
• The forest - the last substantial woodland on Saint Martin.
• The two-coast view - both sides of the island from the top.
• The neighbouring islands - Anguilla, Saba and St Barth on clear days.

When to go

December to April is the dry season. Hurricane season runs June to November. Mornings are clearest and coolest.

Things to know

The road up is steep and rough in its last stretch. Forest cover has been badly reduced by hurricanes. Trails from Loterie Farm are charged.

Nearby

Loterie Farm is on the slope, and Marigot is west.

Key facts