By the Caribbean Journal staff

It was always a bucket-list destination: Pinel Island, the sandy oasis a short ferry ride off the coast of Cul de Sac on the French side of St Martin.

Pinel Island.

And now, the legendary island is open again — and so are both of its legendary beach bars.

The Karibuni beach bar and lounge.

In a huge step for the island’s post-Hurricane Irma tourism recovery, both the Karibuni and Yellow Beach beach bars have relaunched operations.

That means beach lovers can return to the pair of Cote D’Azur-style beach destinations, replete with freshly-made cocktails, classic French Caribbean food and some spectacular scenery.

Karibuni.

And as always, it means two beach bars for the price of one, and the perfect place to spend an entire day (or more), with lounge chairs, cocktails and calm waves.

The menus have returned, too, with everything from tuna tartare to fresh-cooked marlin.

It all adds up to what is still a must for any lover of Caribbean travel, and a reason in itself to return to St Maarten, where more and more flights are relaunching every day.

As for Karibuni’s namesake hotel, the plans are to return in the first quarter of 2019, according to a spokesperson.

— CJ