Terres Basses Villas, St Martin

Terres Basses, the "Lowlands", is the French side's most prestigious address: a private, low-density peninsula of grand villas between Simpson Bay Lagoon and the sea, with three of the island's most beautiful beaches and very little commercial development.

Terres Basses occupies the western peninsula of the French side, a hilly tongue of land separating Simpson Bay Lagoon from the open Caribbean. It has long been the island's premier enclave of private estates: large, architect-designed villas on generous plots, almost no shops, no through-traffic, and a quiet, exclusive feel that draws returning guests year after year.

Its great luxury is the beaches. Baie Longue (Long Bay) is the longest beach on the island, a kilometer-plus of pale sand, home to the legendary La Samanna resort, and a favorite for long walks and swims with almost no crowds. Baie aux Prunes (Plum Bay) is a crescent of golden sand prized by surfers and famous for its sunsets. Baie Rouge (Red Bay) has a faintly red-tinged sand, calm clear water, a natural rock arch at its western end and a couple of casual beach bars. Princess Juliana International Airport is about a 15-minute drive, Mullet Bay Beach around 11 minutes, and Marigot, the French capital, with its market, ferry to Anguilla and restaurants, is close by. Grand Case and its restaurant row are roughly 27 minutes north.

Terres Basses is for travelers who want the island's most private, spacious villas, a choice of beautiful uncrowded beaches on the doorstep, and a calm retreat that is still only fifteen minutes from the airport and the action. Explore the Terres Basses villas in the Coral Villas collection below.