Located along the northwestern coast of St Martin, Terres Basses is a gated residential community known for privacy, low-density estates, and some of the island’s most sought-after beaches. Terres Basses villas range from expansive beachfront homes to elevated estates with wide Caribbean views.
Many of the largest Saint Martin villa rentals are found here, particularly around Baie Longue, Baie Rouge, and Plum Bay. Depending on the property, you can expect private pools, gyms, tennis courts, home cinemas, game rooms, chef service, and generous indoor-outdoor living spaces designed for families and groups.
Terres Basses works especially well for travelers who want the villa itself to be a major part of the trip. Days can revolve around quiet beach access, private pool time, long lunches at home, and evenings arranged around chef service or dining elsewhere on the island.
Booking a Terres Basses villa with Rental Escapes starts with your travel dates, group size, and preferred setting. Your Villa Specialist can help compare beachfront and hillside options, while your Concierge can arrange transportation, private chefs, boat charters, excursions, and other details around your stay.
Terres Basses is one of the French side’s most exclusive villa enclaves, with gated access, low-density development, and large private estates spread across the peninsula. The setting is built around privacy, space, and easy access to some of Saint Martin’s best-known beaches.
Compared with Orient Bay villas, Terres Basses offers a quieter and more residential atmosphere. Compared with Anse Marcel villas, the area is more closely associated with estate-scale homes and open stretches of coastline.
If you are still comparing areas, our guide to where to stay in Saint Martin breaks down the main French-side villa neighborhoods and what each is best suited for.
Terres Basses villas are especially well suited to families, multigenerational groups, and travelers who value space, privacy, and resort-style amenities in a private-home setting. Large pools, broad terraces, multiple bedroom suites, and private dining setups make it easy to spend long stretches of the day at home between beach outings and island excursions.
Rental Escapes guest reviews frequently highlight the setting of Terres Basses villas, particularly the wide ocean views, quiet surroundings, and sense of privacy. Guests often mention spending much of their time outdoors around the pool, terraces, and gardens, with beachfront access and elevated coastal views both appearing regularly in the feedback.
Space is another recurring theme. Families and larger groups appreciate villas with multiple bedroom suites, generous common areas, and enough indoor and outdoor space for everyone to spend time together or spread out. Several guests specifically mention Terres Basses as a strong fit for multi-generational stays, birthdays, and group trips.
Service also stands out in the reviews. Guests praise villa staff, Villa Specialists, and Concierge support for helping with transportation, grocery pre-stocking, private chefs, boat charters, dining reservations, and other details around the stay. Many reviews describe the combination of a private villa and attentive service as one of the main reasons they would return.
Les Terres Basses is a gated peninsula on Saint Martin’s French side where large private estates are spread across beachfront parcels, elevated lots, and quiet residential roads. The community is built around space and privacy, with many of the island’s best-known villas concentrated around Baie Longue, Baie Rouge, and Plum Bay.
Beachfront homes offer direct access to the sand, while hillside properties trade immediate beach access for broader Caribbean views and more elevation. Across the area, Terres Basses villas tend to emphasize expansive outdoor living, large pools, multiple bedroom suites, and layouts designed for extended stays and larger groups.
The three main beach areas each have a slightly different feel, which makes location an important part of choosing the right villa.
Set along the northern edge of Terres Basses near Trou de David, also known as David’s Hole, Baie Rouge is known for a broad stretch of sand, dramatic coastal scenery, and some of the area’s most substantial private estates. Baie Rouge villas range from beachfront homes with direct access to the water to elevated properties overlooking the bay.
Le Rêve: A seven-bedroom beachfront estate on Baie Rouge with six ocean-view suites in the main house and an additional bedroom in a separate wing. The property includes a heated pool, Jacuzzi, private tennis court, spa, gym, billiard room, media room, and included chef service.
L’Oasis: A six-bedroom beachfront villa designed around wide ocean views and expansive outdoor living. Two pools face the water, while the property also includes a private spa, gym, and a full staff that includes chef service.
Mes Amis: A 13-bedroom cliffside estate set across five acres, with sweeping sunset and ocean views from multiple terraces. Two heated pools, a cliff-top Jacuzzi, fitness room, and a separate three-bedroom guest villa give large families and groups plenty of room to spread out.
The largest beach in Terres Basses, Baie Longue is known for its long stretch of open sand, wide Caribbean views, and naturally quiet setting. Villas are positioned directly along the shoreline and on gentle rises just above the beach, giving the area a mix of immediate sand access and elevated sea views.
Turtle Nest: A four-bedroom villa set on a gentle rise at the edge of Baie Longue, with direct access to the beach below. The villa takes its name from the sea turtles that return to nest on the sand directly in front of the property, while all four bedrooms face the water and the infinity pool and beachfront gazebo are positioned around uninterrupted Caribbean views.
La Josephine: A five-bedroom Caribbean-style villa overlooking Baie Longue, with separate buildings connected by terraces and tropical gardens. An infinity-edge pool wraps around the center of the property, creating a natural gathering point for families and groups, while the layout still gives each part of the villa a sense of privacy.
Casa de la Playa: A five-bedroom beachfront villa designed around open Caribbean views and indoor-outdoor living. All five bedrooms face the ocean, while the great room and gourmet kitchen open toward the infinity pool and covered dining terrace; chef service is also included for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with food and beverages additional.
Often even quieter than Baie Longue, Plum Bay, also known as Baie aux Prunes, is known for its broad beach, low-density setting, and some of the largest private estates in Terres Basses. Villas here range from beachfront compounds to expansive homes set just behind the sand, with many designed for larger families and groups.
Sandyline: A seven-bedroom estate spread across two hectares, with panoramic views, two heated pools, a lit tennis court, and a fully equipped gym. The scale of the grounds and the mix of indoor and outdoor gathering spaces make it especially well suited to larger groups that want plenty of room to spread out.
Les Palmiers Bleus: A five-bedroom contemporary villa surrounded by tropical gardens just steps from Baie aux Prunes Beach. A private gate leads to the beach path, while the property also features a large overflow pool, rooftop terrace for sunset views, private tennis court, and an independent studio suite with its own kitchenette and terrace.
Château des Palmiers: A fully staffed beachfront estate set directly on Plum Bay, available in six- or ten-bedroom configurations. The property is divided between oceanfront and garden-side accommodations and includes a tennis court, gym, media room, chef’s kitchen, and extensive staff with chef, butler, housekeeping, and on-site caretaker service.
Terres Basses is especially well suited to travelers who want to spend more of the trip at the villa while still having easy access to beaches, dining, and boating around Saint Martin. Your Rental Escapes Concierge can help shape the stay around that rhythm, from provisioning and private dining to transportation and days on the water.
Private chef dinners: Many Terres Basses villas are designed for long evenings at home, with large dining terraces, outdoor kitchens, and sunset views. Your Concierge can arrange private chef service, custom menus, grocery pre-stocking, and special dinners around your group.
Boat days from Simpson Bay: Private charters can be arranged for snorkeling, coastal cruising, or day trips to Anguilla, St Barts, Pinel Island, and Tintamarre, with transportation coordinated from your villa.
Beach days at Baie Longue, Baie Rouge, and Plum Bay: Depending on your villa, you may have direct beach access or be just a short drive from the sand. Your Concierge can help with beach plans, drivers, picnic provisions, and other details around the day.
Evenings in Grand Case: For nights away from the villa, your Concierge can arrange restaurant reservations and private transportation to Grand Case, allowing you to enjoy the French side’s dining scene without worrying about the drive back.
Entry requirements for Saint Martin depend on your nationality and how you enter the island. Travelers should carry a valid passport and confirm any applicable visa requirements before departure. Many guests staying in Terres Basses arrive through Princess Juliana International Airport on the Dutch side, so they should also check the current entry requirements for Sint Maarten before traveling.
Most visitors fly into Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on the Dutch side of St Martin. Terres Basses is typically around a 15-minute drive from the airport, depending on traffic and your villa’s location within the community. Your Rental Escapes Concierge can arrange a private airport transfer or rental car.
A rental car is useful because Terres Basses is a low-density residential community and restaurants, shops, and many beaches elsewhere on the island are not within walking distance. Private drivers are a good alternative, particularly for dinners in Grand Case or evenings elsewhere on Saint Martin. Your Concierge can arrange either option.
Yes. Terres Basses is a private, gated residential community with controlled access. Large estates are spread across quiet roads, beachfront parcels, and elevated lots, giving the area its low-density feel and strong sense of privacy.
Yes. Some of the most sought-after Terres Basses villas are positioned directly along Baie Longue, Baie Rouge, and Plum Bay. Options range from estates with direct access to the sand to elevated homes just above the coastline with panoramic Caribbean views.
Baie Longue, Baie Rouge, and Plum Bay each offer a different setting. Baie Longue has the longest stretch of open sand, Baie Rouge is known for dramatic scenery near Trou de David, and Plum Bay, also known as Baie aux Prunes, has a particularly quiet residential feel. The best choice depends on your preferred villa and whether direct beach access, views, or seclusion matters most.
Terres Basses is quieter and more private than Orient Bay villas. Orient Bay puts restaurants, beach clubs, and water sports closer at hand, while Terres Basses is built around gated estates, lower-density surroundings, and a more villa-focused experience.
Anse Marcel villas sit around a protected bay and marina on the northern side of Saint Martin, with calm water and a compact harbor setting. Terres Basses is more expansive and estate-driven, with larger properties spread around Baie Longue, Baie Rouge, and Plum Bay.
December through April is the most popular period for a Terres Basses villa stay, with warm temperatures and generally drier conditions. May and June can offer a quieter shoulder season, while summer and fall tend to be warmer and wetter and overlap with Atlantic hurricane season.
Yes. Terres Basses is particularly well suited to families, multigenerational groups, and celebrations because many estates offer multiple bedroom suites, large pools, expansive terraces, and separate indoor and outdoor gathering spaces. Several properties also offer flexible multi-building layouts for larger groups.
Staffing varies by villa. Many Terres Basses properties include housekeeping, while larger estates may include chefs, butlers, caretakers, or more extensive staff teams. Your Villa Specialist can confirm exactly what is included with each property, and your Concierge can arrange additional services where available.
Grand Case is typically around a 20 to 25-minute drive from Terres Basses, depending on traffic. Many guests spend the day at their villa or nearby beaches before heading to Grand Case for dinner, with private transportation arranged for the evening.
Popular ways to spend a Terres Basses stay include beach days at Baie Longue, Baie Rouge, and Plum Bay, private chef meals at your villa, boat charters around St Martin or to nearby islands, and evenings dining in Grand Case. Marigot, Simpson Bay, and other parts of both the French and Dutch sides are also within easy reach by car.
From beachfront estates along Baie Longue and Baie Rouge to expansive homes overlooking Plum Bay, Terres Basses villas offer some of the most private and distinctive stays within the broader Saint Martin villa rentals collection.
Your Villa Specialist can help you compare beachfront access, views, bedroom layouts, staffing, and amenities across the area’s estates. Once your villa is secured, your Concierge can arrange airport transfers, rental cars, private chefs, boat charters, restaurant reservations, and other details around your stay.
Speak with a Villa Specialist to start planning your Terres Basses villa stay.
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