Maarten is just 5 minutes by plane or 15 minutes by ferryboat from Blowing Point ferryport in Anguilla. The island is quite different from Anguilla and the Dutch and French sides are culturally distinct from each other. The shops in Marigot, located around the Marina Port La Royale in the southwestern portion of the town, offer tropical and designer fashions and accessories at duty-free prices. As in Anguilla it displays artifacts such as jewellery, beautiful ceramics, rock carvings and even a recreation of a 1500 year old local burial site. It also has more recent historical displays.
Tour guides speak both english and french.
There is also a gift shop and art gallery upstairs. On the East of the French side near Galion Beach lies The Butterfly Farm and for nature lovers this is an unexpected treat. A micro-ecosystem has been created with beautiful landscaped gardens, a waterfall, ponds, japanese fish and peaceful music. Butterflies from all over the world populate this environment and go about their life-cycle from courtship dances, laying eggs, emerging from their chrysali to taking their first flight. There are informative guided tours plus a gift shop and a small refreshments bar.