If Chera Dip is the reason you're going, stay at the southern end of the island. Here's what that's like, what to ask any resort that says it's near Chera Dip, and what a stay with us looks like.
Chera Dip is a cluster of small islets just off the southern tip of Saint Martin's Island, and the southernmost point of Bangladesh. When people search for a "Chera Dip resort", they usually mean somewhere to stay at the southern end of Saint Martin's, close enough to walk out to Chera Dip early in the morning. That's where El Marena Eco Resort is. Here's what staying down here is like, and what to check before you book anywhere.
Overnight stays depend on the season's rules. Last season (2025–26) they were allowed in December and January, but not in November. When we wrote this (October 2026), the 2026–27 rules hadn't been published.
Why stay near Chera Dip
- The early walk. At low tide you can walk to Chera Dip from the south over sand and rocks. From here you can set off at first light, before the ships bring the day-trippers around midday.
- Quiet. The busy part of the island is the north, around the jetty. The south has fewer people and no crowd after 3 pm.
- Dark nights. Very few lights means a sky full of stars.
- Sunsets over the rocks, with the tide pools turning gold.
The walk itself is in our Chera Dip guide, and the north-versus-south choice in where to stay in Saint Martin.
What to ask before you book
- How close is it really? Ask how far it is to the beach and to the point where people cross to Chera Dip. "Near Chera Dip" means different things to different places.
- How do I get there from the jetty? There are no cars on the island. Ask how long the ride is, what it costs, and whether they can arrange it.
- Is the price for the room or per person? And is it different on Friday and Saturday?
- Is the bathroom attached or shared?
- Is breakfast included?
- What are the check-in and check-out times? The ship arrives around midday and leaves at about 3 to 3:30 pm.
Our article on booking a hotel in Saint Martin covers the rest, step by step.
El Marena, near Chera Dip beach
We're near Chera Dip beach at the quiet southern end of the island. From the jetty it takes about 25 minutes by local van, rickshaw or bike, and we can arrange a bike or auto for our guests (paid), so someone is waiting when you arrive. Check-in is from 1:00 pm and check-out by 12:00 pm (noon).
Cottages and tents
- Duplex cottage, up to 4 guests, ৳4,000–৳6,000: a two-storey wooden cottage on stilts with a double bed, a sleeping loft, an attached bathroom, a balcony, a personal hammock and a lookout tower on top. Complimentary breakfast included. See the duplex cottage.
- Single cottage, up to 2 guests, ৳2,000–৳3,000: a simple room with a double bed, a wardrobe and a fan, and a common bathroom. See the single cottage.
- Tent, 2 guests, ৳1,000–৳1,500: near the beach, with a floor mattress, pillows and bedding, and a common bathroom. See the tent.
Prices are for the whole cottage or tent, not per person, and Sunday to Thursday is the cheapest. When four friends share a duplex midweek, it comes to ৳1,000 each.
What's free, and what's extra
- Free: a complimentary drink, mineral water and 24-hour room service, plus the football ground and the children's playground.
- Free with a duplex: breakfast.
- Paid: meals at our open-air restaurant (breakfast, lunch and dinner), fish or chicken at our barbecue spot (you pay only for the food), a candlelight dinner on the beach, and help with ship tickets and local transport.
A day at the southern tip
- Early morning: the sunrise, then the low-tide walk to Chera Dip if the tide suits.
- Morning: breakfast, and a slow hour in the hammock or on the balcony.
- Afternoon: the rocky shore, football, or nothing at all, once the day-trippers have gone.
- Evening: the sunset over the rocks and dinner from the day's catch.
- Night: the stars. Our quiet hours run from 11:00 pm to 7:00 am.
More ideas in things to do on Saint Martin.
Staying lightly
Solar panels on site help power the resort, with a generator as backup, so we don't call ourselves 100% solar. We keep the lights and noise down at night, and we ask guests to follow the island's rules: no polythene, no lights or loud music on the beach at night, and nothing taken from the shore. More in what makes an eco resort.
Booking
Send us your dates and how many of you are coming on WhatsApp. We'll confirm your cottage or tent, and can book your ship seats in the same chat. Book the ship early: last season every ticket came with a travel pass with a QR code, and no more than 2,000 people could visit a day.
