Philipsburg best: Excellent
Cruise-port capital with a boardwalk and shops.
The capital of the Dutch side. This is where most cruise ships dock.
Vitamin D in Sint Maarten: best months for sun and a travel guide
The best months for vitamin D in Sint Maarten are October, December to June. In March, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 6 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.4 usable sun hours a day. For a beach stay it is rainy or stormy from July to September and in November.
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Sint Maarten month by month
Sint Maarten is rated at its median coastal place, for skin type III at age 30. Click a month for the details.
| Month | Rating | Sun window | Peak UV | Full dose, age 30 | Full dose, age 65 | Afternoon high | Rainy days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Excellent | 7.0 h | 6.8 | 8 min | 15 min | 27°C | 11/30 |
| February | Excellent | 7.3 h | 7.5 | 7 min | 13 min | 26°C | 10/30 |
| March | Excellent | 8.4 h | 8.8 | 6 min | 11 min | 27°C | 7/30 |
| April | Excellent | 8.8 h | 9.1 | 6 min | 11 min | 27°C | 14/30 |
| May | Excellent | 8.9 h | 8.9 | 6 min | 11 min | 28°C | 12/30 |
| June | Excellent | 8.9 h | 8.4 | 6 min | 12 min | 29°C | 14/30 |
| July | Bad weather | 8.9 h | 8.6 | 6 min | 12 min | 29°C | 18/30 |
| August | Bad weather | 8.7 h | 8.8 | 6 min | 11 min | 29°C | 20/30 |
| September | Bad weather | 8.4 h | 8.5 | 6 min | 12 min | 30°C | 18/30 |
| October | Excellent | 7.7 h | 7.6 | 7 min | 13 min | 30°C | 9/30 |
| November | Bad weather | 6.3 h | 6.2 | 9 min | 16 min | 29°C | 23/30 |
| December | Good | 6.8 h | 6.2 | 9 min | 16 min | 28°C | 14/30 |
Sun window is the number of hours a day with UV Index 2.5 or higher. Full dose is the minutes at midday for about 1,000 IU of vitamin D with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III. Rainy days are days with at least 1 mm out of 30.
Travel guide: why go to Sint Maarten
Why go
The Dutch half of St. Martin has casinos, duty-free shopping, big beach bars and the famous airplane beach.
Best for
Groups, shoppers, plane spotters and families.
What to expect
A dry season from December to April and hurricane risk from June to November. Most visitors arrive by plane or cruise ship. Cruise days are crowded.
Places in Sint Maarten
Each place has its own climate, so its best months can differ from the country as a whole.
Maho Beach best: Excellent
Beach where jets land just above your head.
Simpson Bay best: Excellent
Lagoon-side dining, marinas and nightlife.
Mullet Bay best: Excellent
Wide golden beach popular for bodyboarding.
Cupecoy best: Excellent
Cliff-framed beach coves with upscale condos.
Some short descriptions come from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Questions about vitamin D in Sint Maarten
When is the best time to visit Sint Maarten for vitamin D?
The best months for vitamin D in Sint Maarten are October, December to June. In March, a full dose of about 1,000 IU takes around 6 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 8.4 usable sun hours a day.
Can you get vitamin D from the sun in Sint Maarten in November?
Yes, but slowly. In November a full dose takes about 9 minutes at midday for skin type III at age 30, with 6.3 usable hours a day.
How long do I need in the sun in Sint Maarten?
In March, the best month, about 6 minutes at midday with a quarter of the body bare, for skin type III at age 30; about 11 minutes at age 65. Darker skin needs longer and fair skin burns sooner, so keep sessions short. This is an estimate for planning, not medical advice.
Which months should I avoid in Sint Maarten?
For a beach stay, avoid the months when it is rainy or stormy from July to September and in November.
What is the best place in Sint Maarten for vitamin D?
In March the strongest sun of the places we rate is around Philipsburg. Each place has its own rating, so open the place list to compare them.
Plan by month
- Jan Excellent
- Feb Excellent
- Mar Excellent
- Apr Excellent
- May Excellent
- Jun Excellent
- Jul Bad weather
- Aug Bad weather
- Sep Bad weather
- Oct Excellent
- Nov Bad weather
- Dec Good