St Barth's Beaches
St Barts has 20 beaches, each with their own character: from Saline to Corossol, Shell Beach to Toiny, each beach is different and spectacular in its own way.
Grand Saline, on the south side of the island, is a pristine beach with no development. On the west side of the island is Colombier beach, accessible only via boat or a hike. St. Jean, Flammands and Grand-Cul-de-Sac beaches are popular and attractive beaches where various hotels and other establishments are located, while Shell Beach is popular for families as it has almost no surf but many appealing tide pools.
 St. Barts has a tidal difference of only 8–15 cm. The beaches vary according to ocean currents — the weather travels onto the island following the sun from the East. Scuba diving and snorkeling are a great way to see the nurse sharks, lobsters, conch and green sea turtles that abound in the waters surrounding the little island.
The beach of Grand Cul-de-Sac is the easiest beach in the Caribbean for learning to sail, windsurf or kitesurf thanks to a reef that closes off the entire bay. The current that passes outside the reef carries migrating whales and dolphins.
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
Some of the best places to snorkel include:
• Lorient beach - the best place to see sea turtles.
• Colombier beach - approximately a 15 minute hike from Flammands.
• Petit de Anse - near Flamands - a great spot to see turtles and parrotfish.
• Forchue Island and other dive boat destinations - the best snorkeling is actually not on the island, so why not venture further out to sea? Boatbookings.com can arrange a half or full day boat trip with one of the island's dive companies to an underwater nature reserve where you can experience the very best snorkeling the island has to offer.
Scuba Diving - Excellent dives can be taken around St. Barts, but not from shore – you'll need to book with one of the island's dive companies. You might be lucky enough to see sea turtles, barracudas, angel fish, eels, countless varieties of fish, spiny lobsters, and kaleidoscopic displays of colourful coral. Boatbookings.com can arrange a guided dive with a dive professional which is a fantastic experience even for those who have never dived before!
Shopping
St. Barth’s is a duty free, shopper’s paradise with shops selling clothes, jewelry, watches and shoes some of the best-known Italian and French designers in Gustavia and St Jean. The fashion style of the island is “casual chic”, but shops sell a full range of clothing and accessories. You'll find all the major fashion brands on St Barth's, plus many local boutiques selling their own designs.
Spa Treatments
For pampering and spa services, visitors can unwind at the Guanhani Spa. This spectacular Clarins spa opened at the Guanhani Hotel in 2004. It offers pure elegance and complete relaxation. Some of the open air treatment rooms overlook the sea.
Getting There
The preferred methods of arriving on St Barth's are by private jet or yacht. But if you have to fly commercial, the principal gateway to St. Barth's (SBH) is through Juliana Airport in nearby Dutch St. Maarten, where flights arrive daily from both the USA and Europe. From St. Maarten several airlines make the ten minute shuttle flights to St. Barth's.
St Barth's can also be reached from Guadeloupe on a 45 minute flight. Locally based charter flights are also available from San Juan and Antigua.
Be aware, the airstrip in St. Barth's is small, and pilots are required to have special training to land. On a windy day the landing can be an adventure in itself.
Climate and Weather
The climate is ideal, with temperatures generally ranging from 76 to 82 degrees Fahrenheit, and the sparkling blue waters have an average temperature of 75 degrees Fahrenheit –making it the perfect destination for yacht charters all year round.
St Barth's Restaurants and Bars
Restaurants
The island offers excellent cuisine generally derived from its French roots. Many guests find that they while away their days at the beach, and spend their evenings at local restaurants. There is a wide range of choice from hip brasseries in the Port of Gustavia, to local beach restaurants serving Creole food, and sophisticated French gourmet restaurants overlooking the sea. A sampling includes:
La Vela in Gustavia. La Vela (“the sail” in Italian) is a fine Italian restaurant overlooking Gustavia harbor with homemade pastas and an upbeat atmosphere.
The Eden Rock Restaurants at the beach in St Jean. Two restaurants, The Sand Bar and On the Rocks, both offer style and fine dining.
Le Gaiac at Toiny. Le Gaiac is a classic, gourmet French restaurant in a spectacular Caribbean setting.
Le Bartolomeo at Grande Cul de Sac. A true French gastronomic restaurant, Le Bartolomeo features gourmet French dishes and fine wines as well as a piano bar. The chef is a native of southern France.
Hip Bars
La Bete à Z’Ailes in Gustavia. This lively bar and sushi/sashimi restaurant is in the center of Gustavia Harbor. Its name means “the flying beast” and it is named for the airplanes which occasionally pass overhead on their way to the airport on the other side of the island. It is a major spot to see and be seen while listening to good music and enjoying the view of the harbor.
Le Ti in Pointe Milou. A fun night spot where you may find yourself dancing on the tables after dinner until the wee hours of the morning.
St. Barth’s also hosts cultural events such as the annual Classical Music Festival which now has been expanded to include jazz and ballet.
Our Charter Yachts
St Barth's is truly is one of the world's best charter destinations. Boatbookings.com knows the region and boats, and can find you the ideal charter yacht, be it Super or Mega Yacht, crewed, sail, motor or catamaran. Click here to see our St Barth's Charter Yachts or simply contact us and we'll recommend the best boat for you.
 
Other Charter Destinations: the Caribbean | Leeward Islands | British Virgin Islands (BVI) | St Vincent and the Grenadines | The Bahamas | Turks and Caicos | About Super Yachts
Map courtesy of Google Maps
|
