Rhino Excursion:
The island of Sint Maarten boasts many activities and excursions. There are countless ways to fill your time. If you are looking for adventure and exploring, Rhino Safari is the way to go! Do not be misled by the term “rhino,” because they’re not actual rhinos! A rhino is a boat that is similar to a jet ski. The rhino is bright yellow. It is able to be driven with a steering wheel and an engine. Therefore, it is accessible to almost any person; regardless of age or experience. The instructors are well-trained and extremely helpful. They give the riders rules and instructions to follow for safety. You can choose to travel in a pair or be a solo rider. For the adventure itself, you travel 19 nautical miles up the coastline to Creole Rock. Along the way, you pass large yachts, multiple beaches, Grand Case, numerous waterfront businesses, and many more points of interest on the island. Creole Rock is small in size and somewhat isolated. But, it is so beautiful and such a great spot to snorkel or take a dip. The island is owned by the French. However, the most spectacular part of the island is not the island itself. The true beauty of the island is what surrounds the island. If you look closely into the water, you can spot many sea turtles, fish in a variety of sizes, and coral in the surrounding waters. The water has high visibility so you can see almost everything in it. The group snorkeled and relaxed in the water for about thirty minutes before heading back to shore. It was so fun to race other rhinos back to shore on the open waters. After you dock, there is a television inside the marina where you can look at all the pictures the photographer took while you were on the rhino. Overall, it was such a fun experience and a complete adrenaline rush. I definitely recommend it for families and couples looking for an exciting way to spend the afternoon.
My friend Alex and I on a rhino!
ELEV8 at Rainforest Adventures
ELEV8 is an outdoor rave-inspired party set atop the highest point in Saint Martin. The party is hosted at Rainforest Adventures which is a company that has numerous excursions. At Rainforest Adventures, you can go down a zipline, experience the Flying Dutchman, the Sky Explorer Experience, and explore an interactive museum. However, during ELEV8, this is closed and converted into a bar area and an elevated dance floor. It is a popular spot among many tourists. However, it is definitely catered toward young adults who are traveling with friends or locals looking for a fun weekend activity. The excitement of ELEV8 begins on the ground. One has to take two separate ski lifts to reach the party. Initially, this reality seemed scary. However, with a little liquid encouragement and a restraint in place for safety, it was such a smooth and safe ride. For many members of our group, this was the best part of the experience. You truly get 360-degree panoramic views of the island on your descent upwards. In front of your eyes laid large and steep mountains. Whereas, beneath your feet, there was luscious green grass and trees. It truly looked like a rainforest straight out of a movie. Once you reached the top of the mountain, you know you are in the correct place when you hear music pounding from loudspeakers located a short distance in front of you. To reach the party itself, you must walk down a small covered path that leads you along the side of the mountain. If you walk down a few steps, you are met with a decent size bar serving an array of custom cocktails, wines, and beers. Also, they sell chips as a snack in case you get hungry throughout the afternoon. After all, the party runs from 3 pm-8 pm. Therefore, the party runs through dinnertime. There is a quaint corner at the front side of the bar that overlooks multiple mountain ranges and trees. It truly was one of the most beautiful views I have seen in my entire life. It was such a perfect spot to take pictures for social media. After you grab a drink, or two, you can head up a flight of stairs to the main part of the party. You are greeted with a large dance floor with high-top tables spread throughout the sides. The main stage is lit by colorful lanterns that hang from a string that is tied together. If you like house and EDM music, ELEV8 has the ideal music for you. It truly is like a festival in the clouds. When the clock struck eight, three of us got into another ski lift and headed back to ground zero. By that time, only lights from below lit the sky, it looked like a scene from a movie. Overall, ELEV8 was such a unique and fun experience. You can party with your friends almost anywhere on Earth. However, there are only a few spots where you can do so elevated.
View from dance floor at ELEV8
Topper’s Rhum Distillery
Now, what would Saint Martin be without Rhum? One of the only things I knew about the island before my arrival was Topper’s Rhum Distillery. Upon arrival, you are greeted with an array of sights that catch one’s eye. To the right, is the factory where each bottle of Topper’s rhum is manufactured. The sides of the entrance are filled with boxes of rhum cake and different flavors of their signature rhum that are for sale. After you check in for the tour, your guide will lead you to a private tasting room where you learn the history of the creation of rhum. I learned more in those fifteen minutes than in some history classes. We also tasted three different and unique flavors. These included: white raspberry and creme brulee flavored rhum. Personally, I preferred creme brulee. The fun really began when we moved to the next room and incorporated food and rhum. We paired different flavors of rhum with crackers, chicken, and even ice cream. It was a great way to recognize the diversity of rhum flavors. However, the tour was not yet over. Next, we went to the manufacturing area where the bottles are created. We got to witness how the bottles are filled and the meticulous process of making sure each is filled equally. Now, if you thought the drinking was over, you would be wrong. The group heads to the main part of Topper’s and each person can try a (small) shot of eighty-proof rhum. That was an almost indescribable experience that I can only describe in two words: straight alcohol. We tried about seven more flavors and then the tour concluded. Overall, it was a very informative and fun experience. However, I would not recommend trying each shot, especially the eighty-proof one, unless you have a very strong stomach.
