Maho Beach is the most famous strip of sand in the Caribbean and one of the most unusual spectator experiences on earth. The beach sits at the end of the main runway of Princess Juliana International Airport, and incoming jets clear the beach fence by what appears to be an impossibly small margin — close enough that you can read the markings on the undercarriage. Wide-body aircraft on the Miami, New York, and Amsterdam routes provide the most dramatic approaches.
The beach itself is pleasant — a sheltered bay with calm, clear water — though it can get crowded with people who have come entirely for the planes. The bar at the Sunset Beach Hotel on the beach lists the expected flight times and is a sociable place to wait. Departures are louder and more dangerous than arrivals: the jet blast from a departing 747 has knocked people off their feet, and standing behind the fence during a departure is not recommended despite what you might see others doing.