Airport Taxi Association (ATA) — SXM's Official Ride
The licensed, fixed-rate taxi co-op that meets your plane at Princess Juliana.
Why Go
Step out of the SXM arrivals hall and the first thing you'll see is a long queue of white taxis with red-and-blue livery — that's the Airport Taxi Association, the government-sanctioned co-op that has held the concession at Princess Juliana International since the airport's early days. Every driver is islander-owned, yearly-inspected, fully insured, and operates on fixed rates set by the 2020 national taxi decree, which means no meter surprises after a long-haul flight.
The Experience
The ATA stand sits directly in front of the terminal exit, just past the porters. A dispatcher in a reflective vest waves you into the next available van or sedan and hands the driver a paper trip slip with your destination and the posted fare. Most cars are air-conditioned minivans that comfortably swallow two big suitcases per passenger; larger family groups get bumped up to a shared 8-seater at the same per-person supplement. Drivers double as unofficial concierges — they'll tell you which side of Simpson Bay has the calmer water that week, whether the causeway drawbridge is up, and which lolo in Grand Case is worth Saturday night. Pay in USD or EUR (small bills appreciated); credit cards are hit-or-miss, so grab cash at the terminal ATM before you queue.
What to Try
Beyond the transfer, ATA drivers run some of the best half-day and full-day island tours on SXM — a typical loop hits Maho for the plane-landing photo, Marigot Market for French-side pastries, Grand Case for a lolo lunch stop, Orient Bay for a swim, and back over the border via Oyster Pond. Book it from the same stand or by phone the night before; rates are per taxi (up to about 4 people) rather than per head, which makes it a bargain for couples or families vs. a bus tour. Also ask about the sunset-at-Maho airport-beach drop-and-collect — a favorite for cruise passengers with a late all-aboard.
Insider Tip
Fares are posted per taxi for 1–2 passengers with a per-person supplement from the third rider up, and they climb 25% between 10 p.m. and midnight and 50% from midnight to 6 a.m. — so a red-eye arrival to Philipsburg that would normally be $20 can hit $30. If you're landing after 10 p.m., pool with strangers on your flight heading to the same resort strip (Simpson Bay, Maho, or Cupecoy are common); the driver will happily split the fare and the per-person supplements still come in cheaper than solo. Also: ask for the driver's cell number when you're dropped off — ATA drivers do private return runs to the airport at the same fixed rate, which beats calling a random hotel taxi at 4 a.m.
The Practical Stuff
Location: taxi stand directly in front of the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) arrivals terminal in Maho, Dutch side. Reservations & dispatch: +1-721-542-1680, 542-1681, or 542-1682; email info@sxmairporttaxis.com. President: Andrew Royer. Hours: staffed for every scheduled arrival, roughly 6 a.m. to the last inbound flight; night surcharges apply 10 p.m.–6 a.m. Payment: USD preferred, EUR accepted, cash strongly recommended. Sample fixed fares from SXM: Maho $10, Simpson Bay $10–15 (before/after the bridge), Cole Bay $15, Philipsburg $20; add per-person supplement from the 3rd passenger and for each large bag beyond the first two. Licensed, inspected annually, and fully insured under the SXM government taxi decree.
Pair It With
- Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) / Maho Beach — The ATA stand is literally at the terminal door, and Maho's plane-spotting beach bars are a 5-minute, $10 ride away — perfect for a first-day landing photo before you even check in.
- Front Street, Philipsburg — The classic $20 fixed-rate run from SXM: duty-free shopping, the boardwalk, and the cruise terminal in one drop — ask the driver to point out the best jewelry stores that actually give locals-rate discounts.
- Grand Case lolos — Book an ATA driver for a French-side dinner run; they'll wait or come back for a fixed round-trip fare so you can enjoy the wine list without worrying about the drive back over the border.
- Marigot Market Guide — A natural mid-tour stop on the ATA island loop — the driver knows which mornings (Wednesday and Saturday) the open-air stalls are in full swing.
