The open sandy beaches and the endless roar of the sea turn Saint Martin into a realm of blue. Nature has generously spread its beauty here.Known as the ‘Southern Heaven’, this island features rows of coconut trees and flocks of flying seagulls. Sitting on the beach, feeling the gentle breeze, and the enchanting calmness of screw pine and sea vines quickly soothes the mind. Nandita, a shining star of Bengali literature, Humayun Ahmed, had placed this stunningly beautiful island at the top of his vacation spots list.
To the travel enthusiasts of the country, Saint Martin Island is a highly cherished tourist destination. The island’s ecosystem primarily revolves around corals. Most creatures and plants of the sea, both vertebrates and invertebrates, are nurtured by these coral-rich islands.
The artistic coral walls that emerge during low tide, flying seagulls, the breathtaking beauty of the sunset from the west beach, the cool breeze, and the clear blue shallow waters tempt thousands of tourists to visit the island every tourist season.
Saint Martin Island is located at the southernmost point of Bangladesh’s map, offering a captivating tourist spot. Located 9 kilometers south of Teknaf upazila of Cox’s Bazar, this small island is situated 8 kilometers west of the northwest coast of Myanmar, near the mouth of the Naf River. Locals know it as ‘Coconut Jinjira’. The size of Saint Martin Island is about 8 square kilometers, and it stretches approximately 5.63 kilometers from north to south. The width of the island varies, being 700 meters at some points and 200 meters at others.
To the east, south, and west of the island, there are countless rocky stacks far into the sea. Saint Martin Island is flat and is situated about 3.6 meters above the average sea level. The channel, which is 9.66 kilometers wide between the mainland and the island, is much shallower compared to the open sea to the southwest. Here, to the west-northwest, lies a 10-15 kilometer coral wall. Besides the main island, there are several small islands, ranging from 100 to 500 square meters, locally known as Chheradia or Siradia (meaning torn island), which are the southernmost points of Bangladesh’s map. After these, there is no other land of Bangladesh to the south.
The connecting point between the main island and Chhera Island (locally known as Galachipa) is somewhat low, so it submerges during high tide. Thus, while it is possible to walk to Chhera Island during low tide, one needs to take a boat during high tide. It is best to walk the entire path from the northern end along the west beach. This secluded path is incredibly beautiful.
The terrain of Saint Martin Island is primarily flat, although some sandy stretches are visible. The combined flora and fauna of the island and its adjacent sea are quite diverse.
Seaweed potential on the coral island includes ‘marine seaweed’, a significant aquatic resource. A type of seaweed locally known as ‘Pezala’ is abundantly found in Saint Martin.
On Saint Martin coral island, there are about 66 species of coral, 187 species of shells, 153 species of marine algae, 157 species of cryptogamic plants, 240 species of marine fish, 4 species of amphibians, and 120 species of birds. Additionally, there are 19 species of mammals.
Among invertebrates, there are sponges, shell crabs, hermit crabs, lobsters, etc. Among the fish, there are fairy fish, butterfly fish, bold coral, Ranga Koi, Rupchanda, Sui fish, red fish, flying fish, etc. Marine turtles like the green sea turtle and olive ridley sea turtle lay their eggs here.
Among the sands of the island, one can see the funnel-shaped white-purple flowers of the Ipomoea vine, a plant that initiates life in adverse environments. Other plants include screw pine, mangrove, vine, and keya tree. Coconut is one of the prominent trees here, along with others like silk cotton, mango, areca nut, babla, and korai. The keya tree is a traditional plant of Saint Martin Island. Apart from the keya forest, there is no natural forest on the island as understood typically. During low tide, keya trees among the rocky corals come alive. However, to the south of the island, plenty of keya bushes along with some mangrove trees are visible. The edges of the beach are lined with casuarina trees.
The island’s population is about 12,000. Their livelihoods depend on fishing, drying fish, some agriculture, and tourism services. The island becomes bustling during the tourist season (from October to March). The simplicity and warm hospitality of the people of Saint Martin Island are major attractions for tourists.
How to get there
To reach Saint Martin, one must first travel to Cox’s Bazar from anywhere in Bangladesh. Direct buses from Dhaka to Teknaf are available from Fakirapul and Sayedabad. Various transportation services provide these buses, and the journey typically takes 10-12 hours, with fares ranging from 900 to 2,000 Taka. Alternatively, one can travel to Cox’s Bazar first, then proceed to Teknaf from there. Additionally, direct flights from Dhaka to Cox’s Bazar are available. Alternatively, the Cox’s Bazar Express and the Tourist Express trains from Dhaka provide direct connections to Cox’s Bazar.
From Cox’s Bazar, local buses, CNG or rented microbuses/jeeps can be taken to Teknaf. Depending on the condition, the journey from Cox’s Bazar to Teknaf takes about 1-2 hours, with fares ranging from 150 to 300 Taka depending on the vehicle type.
Saint Martin’s Resorts and Hotels
Saint Martin offers a variety of resorts, hotels, and cottages for overnight stays. If visiting during holidays, it’s advisable to book in advance. However, you can also select a resort upon arrival. Some popular resorts in Saint Martin include:
Blue Marine Resort: Located very close to the Saint Martin Island ferry pier. The rent for an AC double bedroom is 15,000 Taka, for a non-AC room is 5,000 Taka, for a triple bedroom is 3,000 Taka, for a six-person bedroom is 4,000 Taka, and for a ten-person bedroom is 5,000 Taka.
Praasad Paradise Resort: Moving north from the Blue Marine Resort through Saint Martin Bazar, one reaches the attractive Praasad Paradise. Renting one of the 16 different types of rooms will cost between 2,000 and 5,000 Taka.
Neel Digante Resort: Located at the southern beach corner of Saint Martin Island, a fair distance from the jetty. Staying in various cottage-type rooms in Neel Digante Resort will cost between 1,500 and 5,000 Taka.
Prince Heaven Resort: Located on the north beach, adjacent to Praasad Paradise, Prince Heaven Resort has a total of 24 rooms and a restaurant. The room rent ranges from 1,500 to 3,500 Taka.
The Atlantic Resort: Situated on the west beach, The Atlantic Resort offers 43 rooms for overnight stays, with costs ranging from 3,500 to 12,000 Taka.
Dream Night Resort: Located at the far end of the west beach, Dream Night Resort offers accommodation for 2 to 4 people per room, with prices ranging from 1,500 to 3,500 Taka.
Sayari Eco Resort: Located at Nazrul Para on the south beach, Sayari Eco Resort offers a unique charm. There are 18 rooms in various categories available for 1,500 to 3,000 Taka.
There are also other options like Coral Blue, Mermaid, Deepantar, Panna Resort, Sea Coral, Sea Inn, Hotel Sagar Paar, Riad Guest House, Hotel Swapna Prabal, Shravan Vilas, Sunset View, etc.
Where to eat in Saint Martin
Most resorts provide food arrangements. Check if the resort you are staying at has food arrangements. There is usually an arrangement of Bengali food with various seafood dishes at most places. Resorts often have barbecue facilities. There are several food hotels near Saint Martin Bazar. You can also eat from these if you plan to return the same day without staying overnight. If staying overnight is not planned, food is available at the hotels in the bazaar.
Some hotels and restaurants where you can dine include Keyari Marjan Restaurant, Beach Point, Hotel Allar Dan, Bazar Beach, Assam Hotel, Sea Beach, Saint Martin, Comilla Restaurant, Real Restaurant, Haji Selim Park, Saint Martin Tourist Park, Hotel Sadek, etc. However, always check the food quality and prices before dining.
