The interior is hilly. The west side of the country is more water than land, dominated by the expansive Simpson Bay Lagoon, one of the largest landlocked bodies of water in the Caribbean. The terrain is largely green but dry, with more palms, hibiscus and cacti than ferns or forests, although there are a few thickly vegetated areas in the interior. Herons, egrets, stilts, pelicans, laughing gulls and other shorebirds are plentiful in the island's brackish ponds. Frigatebirds can be spotted along the coastline, hummingbirds and bright yellow-bellied bananaquits are common in gardens and there are colorful woodland birds in the hills.
Lizards are abundant and can be seen scurrying about on walkways and in other sunny areas.
Away Travelers from the US have the best air service to Sint Maarten. There are direct flights between Philipsburg and New York and Miami. Cruise ships land passengers in Philipsburg. Despite its dual nationality, the border crossings between the French and Dutch sides are marked only with inconspicuous signs and there are no stops or other formalities when crossing over. There are scores of agencies and your home driver's license is valid.