Pelican Key, Sint Maarten
Pelican Key is the hillside above Simpson Bay: a sunset-facing headland on the south coast of the Dutch side, where Billy Folly Road climbs from the beach bars at the bottom to villas and view condos near the top — about a hundred metres above the sea. It is one of the island's established premium neighbourhoods, and its appeal is a simple equation: quiet residential streets, big ocean views, and the restaurants and nightlife of Simpson Bay a few minutes below.
Under Construction Concord Residence
Two-bedroom suites under construction high on the Pelican Key hillside, with a 180-degree view of the Caribbean Sea.
From$640,000 View the development →How the neighbourhood is built
The lower section, where the road meets Simpson Bay, belongs to the resorts — a handful of established timeshare and beach resorts, plus a casino and restaurants at the entrance. Beyond them the hill turns purely residential: standalone villas on gemstone-named streets, townhouses, and a newer generation of gated condo developments climbing toward the top, Concord Residence among them. The neighbourhood itself is open — the road is public — while the individual developments run their own gates and security.
From the upper slopes the view runs across Simpson Bay and the lagoon, and on clear days to Saba and St. Eustatius on the horizon.
Beaches and daily life
Pelican Key has its own beach: a calm, gently-sloping stretch of about 500 metres between the resorts, with showers, loungers and changing facilities — easy swimming rather than surf. At the base of the hill sits Kim Sha Beach with its beach bars, and the full Simpson Bay strip — supermarkets, marinas, some of the island's best restaurants — is a few minutes' drive. One honest note: marketing likes to call the area walkable, and the lower part is; but the hill is steep and winding, so plan on a car.
Who Pelican Key suits
Buyers who want the Simpson Bay lifestyle without living on the strip itself; villa owners who value an established neighbourhood over a new masterplan; and rental investors — a recurring Pelican Key pattern is the villa with a separate lower apartment that rents out, and the newer condo developments are built with lock-and-leave ownership in mind. If you want everything at the door on flat ground, look at Simpson Bay below.
Prices at Pelican Key
As a rough orientation from what local brokers currently list: condos from around $350,000 for new-development studios and suites, through the $600,000s–$900,000s for two- and three-bedrooms with ocean views, up to about $1.35 million at the top of the condo market. Villas mostly run from about $1.65 million to $3.3 million, with exceptional properties beyond that — and buildable land still surfaces on the hill from time to time.
Frequently asked
Is Pelican Key a gated community?
The neighbourhood itself is open — the road is public. Individual developments within it, including several of the newer condo projects, are gated with their own security.
Do you need a car in Pelican Key?
Realistically yes. The lower part is walkable to beaches, restaurants and the casino, but the hill is steep and winding — most owners drive.
Does Pelican Key have a beach?
Yes — Pelican Key Beach, calm and gently sloping with full facilities, plus Kim Sha Beach at the base of the hill. Both face the sunset.
Can foreigners buy property in Pelican Key?
Yes — there are no restrictions on foreign buyers on the Dutch side; the transfer runs through a notary. See our buying guide.