Rates
St. Maarten Taxi Rates
Fares here are fixed by zone, not metered. The part that catches people out is that above two passengers the rate switches from per trip to per person.
These are the published government rates, not our prices. We keep the table accurate whether or not it flatters us, because a rate table that quietly goes stale is worse than not publishing one at all.
Tariff in effect since 3 July 2023.
From the airport (SXM)
| To | 1–2 passengers | 3–5, each | 6+, each |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maho | $8 | $4 | $4 |
| Mullet Bay | $12 | $6 | $6 |
| Cupecoy | $15 | $7 | $7 |
| Simpson Bay | $15 | $7 | $7 |
| Cole Bay | $15 | $7 | $7 |
| Little Bay | $20 | $9 | $8 |
| Philipsburg | $20 | $9 | $8 |
| Cruise Port | $25 | $10 | $9 |
| Marigot | €25 | €10 | €9 |
| Rambaud | €30 | €12 | €11 |
| Colombier | €30 | €12 | €11 |
| Friar's Bay / Cripple Gate | €30 | €12 | €11 |
| Concordia | €30 | €12 | €11 |
| Sandy Ground | €30 | €12 | €11 |
| Baie Nettle / Baie Rouge | €30 | €12 | €11 |
| Terres Basses | €30 | €10 | €9 |
| Grand Case | €35 | €14 | €12 |
| Dawn Beach / Oyster Pond | €40 | €16 | €14 |
| French Quarter | €40 | €16 | €14 |
| Orient Bay | €40 | €16 | €14 |
| French Cul de Sac / Pinel | €40 | €16 | €14 |
| Anse Marcel | €50 | €20 | €18 |
From the cruise port
| To | 1–2 passengers | 3–5, each | 6+, each |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Bay | $10 | $5 | $5 |
| Philipsburg | $10 | $4 | $3 |
| Cole Bay | $18 | $8 | $7 |
| Simpson Bay | $20 | $8 | $7 |
| Mullet Bay | $25 | $10 | $9 |
| Maho | $25 | $9 | $8 |
| Airport | $25 | $9 | $8 |
| Dawn Beach / Oyster Pond | €25 | €10 | €9 |
| Cupecoy | $30 | $12 | $11 |
| French Quarter | €30 | €12 | €11 |
| Marigot | €30 | €12 | €11 |
| Orient Bay | €35 | €14 | €12 |
| French Cul de Sac / Pinel | €35 | €14 | €12 |
| Grand Case | €35 | €14 | €12 |
| Rambaud | €35 | €14 | €12 |
| Colombier | €35 | €14 | €12 |
| Friar's Bay / Cripple Gate | €35 | €14 | €12 |
| Concordia | €35 | €14 | €12 |
| Sandy Ground | €35 | €14 | €12 |
| Baie Nettle / Baie Rouge | €40 | €16 | €14 |
| Anse Marcel | €45 | €18 | €16 |
| Terres Basses | €45 | €18 | €16 |
Fares in euros are French-side journeys, priced under the Saint-Martin tariff. Crossing the border costs nothing and there is no checkpoint, but the rate card changes when you do.
What a party of six actually pays
Cruise port to Maho is $25 for a couple. For six people it is $8 each, so $48 — and that is one way. The round trip is $96, and a metered fare does not include a driver waiting while you are on the beach.
This is not a criticism of the tariff, which is clear and fairly set. It is simply the arithmetic that most visitors do not do until they are standing at the rank with their family.
Surcharges
| Where | What | When | How much |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dutch side | Night fare | 22:00 to 06:00 | +25% |
| Dutch side | Public holiday | Whenever it applies | +25% |
| Dutch side | Extra bag | Whenever it applies | $5 each |
| Dutch side | Cooler box | Whenever it applies | $4 each |
| French side | Evening fare | 22:00 to 00:00 | +25% |
| French side | Late night fare | 00:00 to 07:00 | +50% |
| French side | Extra bag | Whenever it applies | €2 each |
| French side | Cooler box | Whenever it applies | €4 each |
The French late-night rate is the one worth planning around. Dinner in Grand Case that runs past midnight is charged at half as much again on the way home.
Before you get in
- Agree the fare first. There are no meters, so there is nothing to point at afterwards.
- Say how many of you there are. That is what decides which column applies.
- Ask about cards. A good many taxis are cash only, in US dollars.
- There is no Uber here, and no sign of it coming.
Questions people actually ask
Is the taxi fare per person or per taxi?
Both, depending on how many of you there are. One or two passengers pay a flat fare for the trip. Three or more pay per person, so the same journey in the same car costs a family of five more than twice what it costs a couple.
Are taxi fares in St. Maarten fixed?
Yes. There are no meters. The rates are set by zone and published by the government, and a driver quoting something different is not following the tariff.
Is there a night surcharge?
On the Dutch side, 25% between 10pm and 6am. On the French side it is 25% from 10pm to midnight and 50% from midnight to 7am, so a late crossing costs noticeably more than most people expect.
Do St. Maarten taxis take cards?
Many are cash only, in US dollars. Ask before you get in rather than at the end.
Is there Uber in St. Maarten?
No. Uber and Lyft do not operate here. The options are a taxi, a rental car, or a driver booked in advance.