Chase butterflies, find coffee’s roots and fly over green treetop

Be surrounded by butterflies early in the morning at the famous Butterfly Farm on the road to Le Galion, the best child-friendly beach on the island. The farm started as a way to get butterflies back on the island to pollinate flowers and encourage the hills to regain their velvety appeal after several storms.
The Butterfly Farm has become a must-see attraction while visiting the island. Visitors are encouraged by farm attendants to head over early in the morning, because this is when the butterflies are the most active in the warm sunlight, and to wear bright clothing and perfume for a truly unique experience. Attracted by the vibrant colors and the sweet smell of perfume, the winged creatures will quickly land on you for a closer inspection.
After playing with the butterflies, take a short trip down the road to Le Galion. The half-moon bay is safe for toddlers and little swimmers to frolic in and enjoy the deliciously cool ocean. On the left side of the bay, the beach slants to form a shallow lagoon rimmed by powdery white sands.
Adventure seekers are beckoned to the right shoulder of the bay to indulge in kite surfing, body boarding and other fun activities. The beach is part of the Reserve Naturelle (nature reserve) so no motorized equipment is allowed there.
Discover the reason St. Martin, like many other Caribbean islands, was so valuable in the past, at Mont-Vernon Plantation on the main road to Orient Bay. The two-acre 18th century plantation has been revived to give a sense of what life and the economy was like in those days, which were fueled by coffee, sugar cane and rum. Various aspects of plantation life are recreated to illustrate how islands generated vast wealth for planters through use of the rich soil. Visit the coffee and rum museum for a deeper appreciation for the energy drink of the world and the famous thirst quencher of the islands.
No trip to St. Martin is complete without a day at Loterie Farm. Perched on the slope of Pic Paradis, the highest point on the island, Loterie Farm was also an old plantation that has been given a new lease on life. A nature lover can hike to the source of a rushing stream or seek out natural pools created by rainfall and the lush semi-tropical rainforest. Adults and children can zip-line above the treetops at the Fly Zone. Get strapped in and enjoy a bird’s eye view of the plantation while experiencing an exhilarating rush. Round off the day with lunch in the tree-top restaurant, which offers a menu of nouveau Caribbean cuisine that tames and satisfies the famished explorer.