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Palapa Marina sits in Simpson Bay Lagoon on the Dutch side of St. Maarten – a deep, sheltered harbor just off the Atlantic. A well-marked channel from the ocean leads into the lagoon, making Palapa an obvious first Caribbean stop for captains leaving Fort Lauderdale or the Bahamas. The marina offers 22 stern-to mega-yacht slips (65–250 ft LOA, up to 17 ft draft) with fuel and water at every berth. In short, Palapa provides a secure “home port” at the gateway of the Leewards where you can dock, refuel, and prepare for the season ahead.

Route Planning

The voyage south from Florida is usually broken into legs to avoid a very long open-water crossing. A common routing is: Florida → Abacos/Exumas (Bahamas) → Puerto Rico (or U.S. Virgin Islands) → St. Maarten. Each leg can be staged with an overnight stop. For example, after crossing to the Abacos you might overnight at Green Turtle Cay, then jump on to Puerto Rico (with possible stops in the Virgins) before finally making the Atlantic passage to St. Maarten. Splitting the trip this way makes passage safer and more fun.

• Florida to Bahamas: First leg (~50–150 nm) to the northern Bahamas (e.g. Abacos/Exumas). Break this into shorter hops if needed.
  
• Bahamas to Puerto Rico/USVI: Next, aim for the northeast Caribbean (St. Thomas or Tortola are good staging points).
  
• Puerto Rico to St. Maarten: The final hop (~300–400 nm) across the trades. Once you arrive on St. Maarten, Palapa Marina is an ideal first port-of-call. Its lagoon location means you can clear customs and fuel up in one place before heading further into the Caribbean.

Yacht Fuel Bunkering & Water in St Maarten

Palapa is fully equipped for bunkering – diesel and gasoline are available 24/7 at the marina. Fuel pumps are piped to every berth, and trucks can make dockside deliveries on short notice. Island suppliers in St. Maarten operate around the clock, so captains can top up their tanks at nearly any hour. A side benefit: fuel in St. Maarten tends to be more plentiful and competitively priced than on smaller, outlying islands. In short, filling up at Palapa saves you time and often money versus waiting until you reach a smaller fuel dock. Fresh potable water is also piped into the marina, so you can refill drinking-water tanks before heading south.

Customs & Clearance

Palapa makes entering the Dutch side of St. Maarten as easy as it gets. The marina’s yacht agents handle on-site customs and immigration clearance, so you can clear into St. Maarten in one stop without extra boat trips around the island. Once cleared, you’ll find that St. Maarten is duty-free, which is a big plus for provisioning, outfitting and fuel.

For example, duty-free shops near the marina offer a huge selection of wines, spirits, cigars, and more – with free delivery to any yacht in port. Beyond liquor, Sint Maarten’s modern supermarkets import fruits, meats, and specialty foods from around the world. The stores stock items from Holland, France, the USA, and beyond. So between the duty-free shops and well-stocked grocery chains, crews can easily provision their boats with everything from bottled water and snacks to fine wine before sailing on. 

After shopping, the customs clearance at Palapa is already done on-site. The marina’s team coordinates both Dutch and French side processing if needed, but for most purposes you simply visit the Palapa Marina office or have your agent meet you on the dock. This streamlined clearance means no extra stops: you land at Palapa and you’re officially in the Caribbean.

Marina Amenities

Palapa Marina provides full-service comforts for yachts and crews:

• Electricity & Utilities: Every slip has shore power and utilities. Palapa offers 220–440V power (single or three-phase) at the docks – in practice this covers the standard 30A, 50A, and even 100A shore-power circuits found on most yachts. Potable water is piped to each berth as well. High-speed Wi-Fi internet blankets the marina, so you can log on from your boat.
  
• Security & Staff: The facility is gated and monitored around the clock. Palapa employs 24-hour security patrols and surveillance cameras, and dockmasters are on duty day and night to assist with arrivals or any issues. Your yacht is never left unattended, and experienced staff are always on hand to help tie up or troubleshoot systems.
  
• The Palapa Center offers a complete marine facility designed for both guests and crew. You’ll find a well-stocked hardware store and a certified shipwright right on-site, along with a car rental desk and several restaurants suitable for both guests and crew. Don’t miss the world’s best crew bar, the legendary Soggy Dollar, just steps from your boat. With shore power, water, fuel, Wi-Fi, and 24-hour security already in place, life at the dock couldn’t be easier—or more enjoyable.
  

Together, these features make Palapa Marina an effortless gateway to the Caribbean. By combining easy access, on-site clearance, and robust amenities like fuel, water, power, and provisioning, Palapa lets you kick off your winter season right away – no tedious detours or last-minute runs. Palapa makes the perfect first base for your winter yacht chartering season.