Choosing Maho Beach private tours by road or water
Maho Beach private tours offer a choice between an island drive with a beach stop and a private motorboat outing with a captain. The practical difference starts with departure: the road options use the EDC parking lot, the cruise port or pickup under the selected option, while the boat leaves from Cul-de-Sac. Maho itself is the beach beside Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch side of the island.
A customised road route makes sense when Maho is one priority among your island stops. The motorboat suits a group whose main plan is time on the water, with beaches, a lagoon and Maho on the outing. For a visit centred on watching aircraft from the sand, read the plane-spotting guide as well. Private transport changes the organisation of the day; aircraft movements still follow airport operations.
The prices below are starting prices from November 2026. Two outings have a group rate with a stated capacity; the other two are priced per person. Keep those units separate when choosing. The shared island tours are also worth considering if their established route already covers the stops you want.
Private island and boat outings
For a customizable land route, compare the private island tours and confirm your Maho stop. The motorboat option suits a private group of up to seven.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of November 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Private motorboat outing with Maho stop
- Local professional captain
- Cooler box available
- Ice cubes
A private motorboat outing for up to seven people with a Maho stop. Food and drinks are separate.
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Private customizable island outing
- Customized itinerary
- Driver and guide
- Bottled water and sodas
This private outing is for up to eight people. Maho is a listed stop; confirm it before booking.
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Private island route with Maho stop
- Fresh Drink
- Wifi
- Towels
Maho is a listed 30-minute stop on this customizable private route. Confirm the stop before booking and check pickup details for your option.
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Private island sightseeing from the cruise port
- Local guide
- Air-conditioned vehicle
- Complimentary refreshments
This private island outing starts with Maho Beach; attraction entrance fees are extra. It is an excursion, not a direct transfer.
Check availability →Private island drives and a motorboat with a Maho stop
Compare the five-hour customised drive, two four-hour road options and a four-hour motorboat from Cul-de-Sac, with different meeting points and price units.
Private island tour: a customised five-hour drive
The five-hour private customised day tour starts at the EDC Parking Lot in Sint Maarten and costs from USD 439 per group of up to eight people. It includes a customised itinerary, a driver-guide and drinks: bottled water, soft drinks, beer, rum punch and guavaberry liqueur. Maho is a named stop on its adaptable route. This option suits a travelling group that wants to organise its island outing around several interests rather than join a fixed shared circuit.
The important distinction is between the whole excursion and the beach portion. Five hours describes the tour, rather than five hours at Maho. Treat the beach stop as part of the route alongside the driving and other sightseeing. This helps when deciding whether your priority is an island overview or a longer independent stay beside the airport. The group capacity also gives a clear boundary for a party travelling together.
Four hours with pickup and a short Maho stop
The customisable private island tour with pickup lasts four hours and starts from USD 189 per person. Pickup and drop-off, a fresh drink, Wi-Fi and towels are included. Its itinerary names a 30-minute Maho stop. The pickup location belongs to the selected booking option, so this is a useful choice when collection is part of your plan rather than meeting at the port or EDC parking lot.
A short beach visit works particularly well for someone who wants to see the airport setting within a broader drive. That 30-minute stop is a useful comparison point against arranging an independent beach visit. For accommodation planning, the areas near Maho guide explains the location choices without turning pickup into a promise for every address.
Four hours from the cruise port
The private island tour with drinks and a local guide starts at the Cruise Port, 79 Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard. It lasts four hours and starts from USD 73 per person. The private sightseeing tour, local guide, air-conditioned vehicle and refreshments are included. Maho is the first stop on the route. Meals and admission to attractions cost extra.
This is the straightforward road option to compare if your day begins at the cruise port and you want a guided island outing. It is a sightseeing circuit with a Maho visit. For the separate decision about travelling directly to the beach, use the getting-there guide. Cruise passengers should also allow a return buffer beyond the excursion itself, as explained on the shore-excursion page.
Private motorboat with a Maho stop
The four-hour private motorboat outing leaves from Cul-de-Sac on the French side of the island. The starting price is USD 814 per group of up to seven people. A semi-rigid motorboat, local professional captain, cooler box and ice cubes are included. The route combines beaches, a lagoon and a stop at Maho, making this the water-based alternative to the private drives.
Bring your own drinks, food, towels and personal accessories, including sun protection. The cooler and ice are useful for what you bring; drinks and food are separate from the included boat service. The departure in Cul-de-Sac belongs in the day's travel plan before the boat outing begins. Choose this option for the motorboat and coastal setting, rather than using a road-tour meeting point as your starting assumption.
Departure, pickup and agreeing the route
For the customisable drives, agree the Maho stop before booking and confirm the pickup zone of the pickup-based option at the same time. This single route decision connects your main interest with the correct starting arrangement. EDC parking, the cruise port and Cul-de-Sac are distinct departures, while the pickup tour uses its selected collection option.
Shared touring is a sensible alternative when you already like a published island route and do not need a private vehicle or boat. For a day organised around different beaches, the beach-hopping comparison is a more direct starting point. At Maho, stay on the beach side of the road, obey warning signs and never hold the airport fence. Jetblast can reach the beach too. The steep shore and sometimes strong surf also make swimming a separate decision from sightseeing.
Questions about private outings
Which drive has a group price?
The five-hour customised drive starts from USD 439 per group of up to eight. It leaves from EDC parking and includes a driver-guide and drinks.
How many people fit on the private motorboat?
The four-hour outing from Cul-de-Sac takes up to seven people, from USD 814 per group. The captain, cooler and ice are included; food, drinks and towels are separate.
Which tour includes pickup?
The four-hour customisable drive from USD 189 per person includes pickup and drop-off under the selected option, a drink, Wi-Fi and towels. Its route names a 30-minute Maho stop.
What does the private cruise-port tour include?
From USD 73 per person, the four-hour circuit includes a local guide, air-conditioned vehicle and refreshments. Maho is its first stop; meals and attraction admission are extra.
Does the tour price buy beach admission?
Maho is a publicly accessible beach with free access. The outing price pays for the tour's listed services. Beach furniture, food and other purchases are separate considerations.