SAINT MARTIN (ST. MARTIN / ST. MAARTEN)
Health / Safety

Probably the greatest danger to travelers to Saint Martin (St. Martin / St. Maarten) is overexposure to the sun. Remember to work on your tan gradually and use plenty of sunscreen. Of course, it's also a good idea to take along some mosquito repellent. In shallow water, watch out for sea urchins, sharp coral and jellyfish. Always wear fins (palmes) when snorkeling and ask the locals about swimming and diving conditions before you go in the water.

Outside of the rarely seen fer-de-lance snake on Martinique, there is not much in the way of really dangerous land critters in the French West Indies. However, the Manchineel tree (le Manceniller) puts out a highly toxic sap. You should never stand under one in the rain or taste its little green berries. These trees are usually marked with red paint by the locals. The tap water is drinkable in most places and excellent local bottled water is available in stores and restaurants.

For Saint Martin (St. Martin / St. Maarten) weather and tropical storm information: wunderground.com or weather.com

For US travel advisories and information: travel.state.gov

For Caribbean travel health advisories: cdc.gov

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