The Best St. Barths Yacht Charter Guide for 2024 and 2025
Charter a crewed motor yacht, crewed catamaran, or bareboat sailboat in St. Barths for an epic Caribbean vacation
St. Barths Crewed Motor Yachts | St. Barths Crewed Sailing Yachts | St. Barths Crewed Catamarans
St. Barths Bareboats | St. Barth's Beaches | Snorkeling | Scuba Diving | Shopping | Spa Treatments
Getting There | Climate | St. Barth's Cuisine | Our Charter Yachts
A St. Barths yacht charter is the only way to experience everything this magical Caribbean island has to offer. It is no wonder that the powdery white beaches, incredible scenery, and buzzing towns of St. Barth's continue to attract the rich and famous every year as they congregate for their Caribbean yacht charter holidays. St. Barths is also known by several other names, including Saint Barthélemy, St. Barts, or St.Barth, although it is officially known as the Collectivity of Saint Barthélemy, an overseas territory of France.
The collectivity is one of four French territories in the Leeward Islands, along with Guadeloupe, Martinique, and St. Martin, making up the French West Indies of the Caribbean. This small, free-spirited island is more rugged and less lush than many other Caribbean islands, but it makes up for that with culture, shopping, and all the amenities you could dream of. As you sail these waters, expect to find some of the best beaches in the Leeward Islands, and chic towns like Gustavia with fine-dining restaurants, and fashionable shopping hotspots. With so much to offer, this island is a must-see on any Caribbean yacht charter vacation.
St. Barths Charter Types
St. Barths Crewed Motor Yachts
Chartering a crewed motor yacht in St. Barts is the best way to explore all of the Leeward Islands. Most charters in the islands embark from St. Martin, given the presence of Princess Juliana International Airport. From there You will head straight for the best anchorages around St. Martin and neighboring Anguilla before moving on to St. Barth's.
Crewed motor yachts in the Caribbean have every amenity a 5-star hotel offers for your private enjoyment. Whether you want to relax onboard or explore the water on your Stand-Up Paddleboards, and Jet Skis while discovering local marine life with your Seabobs. When you reach St. Barths, you will find a plethora of restaurants to try. Some of our favorites include La Guérite and Bagatelle in Gustavia, as well as Shellona and Nikki Beach St. Barths. However you look at it, there is no better way to experience St. Barths in style than by renting a luxury motor yacht for your next vacation.
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St. Barths Crewed Sailing Yachts
Sailing Yachts are the traditional option, providing a throwback to the sailing history of this culturally diverse area. They provide expansive deck space for sunbathing in the Caribbean heat when you're not enjoying some of your crew's amazing food!
Cut through the water under sail, and enjoy living in eye-catching style. A crewed sailing yacht charter comes with all the comfort of a motor yacht, and just a little more class. There is no better way to show off in St. Barths than to charter a luxury crewed sailing yacht.
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St. Barths Crewed Catamarans
The Leeward Islands remain some of the most popular crewed catamaran destinations in the Caribbean. You will find a full selection of skippered and permanently crewed catamarans from 42-80ft available for charter. Allow your expert crew to show you the amazing anchorages of St. Martin, Anguilla, and St. Barths.
Catamarans provide twice the amount of volume compared to same-length monohulls and consequently offer greater comfort and stability during your charter. Their shallow drafts allow you to creep up extremely close to fascinating shorelines, making it easier for you to get your feet on the soft white beaches that make the Caribbean so special!
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St. Barths Bareboats
Bareboats offer you full control of the adventure. Pilot the boat yourself as your children have endless fun pretending they are Caribbean pirates. A bareboat charter is your opportunity to steer your friends and family around the endless coves, beaches, and towns of St. Barts and the Leeward Islands.
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St. Barths Beaches
Choose from the 20 stunning beaches St. Barths has to offer. Cruise to the south of the island to find Grand Saline, a pristine beach with little 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 where various hotels and other establishments are located, while Shell Beach is popular for families with many attractive tide pools for children to play in.
With varying ocean currents, the beaches differ — 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 in the Caribbean for learning to sail, windsurf, or kitesurf due to the reef that closes off the entire bay. The current that passes outside the reef carries migrating whales and dolphins.
Snorkeling and Scuba Diving
St. Barths has some of the world's most spectacular snorkeling with colorful reefs and fish everywhere. During our tenure in the leeward islands, Boatbookings has found some of the best places to snorkel around the island:
Lorient Beach - A long stretch of beach with something for everyone, from killer curls for the surfers, to swim areas, and shallower sheltered pools favored by families. The reefs here are teeming with life and it is rumored to be the best place on the island to see sea turtles.
Colombier Beach - Tucked into the Northwestern tip of the island this strip of sand is a little more off the beaten path. Only accessible by boat or an approximately 15-minute hike from Flammands, this beach offers a chance to escape.
Petit de Anse - Just off the road near Flamands, this is a great spot to see turtles and parrotfish.
Forchue Island - Unfortunately, some of the other best snorkeling spots like this are not on the island. You can however take your own charter or hire a diveboat to help you find them!
Scuba Diving
The crystal clear waters around St. Barts offer a slew of excellent dives. If you are an expereinced diver, why not hire a charter for yourself and your dive buddies, or if you have less experience, we can help arrange a trip with professional divers. Getting in the water and scuba diving is a fantastic experience, especially for those who have never dived before! While you are exploring below the surface, you might catch sight of sea turtles, barracudas, angelfish, eels, countless varieties of fish, spiny lobsters, and kaleidoscopic displays of colorful coral!
Shopping
St. Barths is a duty-free, shopper’s paradise with boutiques selling clothing, jewelry, watches, and shoes designed by some of the best-known Italian and French designers. Gustavia and St. Jean are the heart of fashion and style on the island, setting a "casual chic” atmosphere. Despite the island's laid-back lifestyle, you will still find a full range of clothing and accessories as you shop all the major fashion brands and explore the local boutiques.
Spa Treatments
For pampering and spa services, visitors can unwind at the Guanhani Spa. Hidden amongst exotic tropical gardens, St. Bart's "most irresistible private enclave" has boasted an unforgettably relaxing atmosphere since its opening in 2004. This spectacular Clarins spa offers pure elegance and complete relaxation. Expect to de-stress like never before in some of the open-air treatment rooms that overlook the sea.
Getting There
The principal gateway to St. Barts (SBH) is through Princess Juliana International Airport on nearby Dutch St. Maarten. Flights arrive daily from both the USA and Europe and from St. Maarten, several airlines offer a ten-minute shuttle flight to St. Barts. The island can also be reached from Guadeloupe on a 45-minute flight, or a locally based charter flight available from San Juan or Antigua. St. Barts is also reachable by boat from any of the neighboring islands.
Climate and Weather
The climate is ideal, with temperatures generally ranging from 76 to 82°F. The sparkling blue waters have an average temperature of 75°F –making it the perfect destination for yacht charters. Like the rest of the region, the year is split into the dry season from December to May and the rainy season from June to November, but most storms blow over quickly and there is sunshine almost 365 days a year in St. Barths.
St. Barths Restaurants and Bars
Restaurants
St. Barths offers excellent cuisine that stems from its French roots. Many guests find that after they while away their days at the beach, they want to enjoy their evenings at local restaurants. There is a wide range of choices from hip brasseries in the Port of Gustavia, to local beach restaurants serving Creole food, and sophisticated French gourmet restaurants overlooking the sea.
Our restaurant recommendations:
La Vela in Gustavia. La Vela ('the sail” in Italian) is a fine Italian restaurant overlooking Gustavia harbor with homemade pasta and an upbeat atmosphere.
The Eden Rock Restaurants at the beach in St. Jean. These two restaurants, The Sand Bar and On the Rocks, 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 nightspot where you may find yourself dancing on the tables after dinner until the wee hours of the morning. St. Barts 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 Barts is truly one of the world's best charter destinations. Boatbookings knows the region and boats and can find you the ideal charter yacht, be it Super or Mega Yacht, crewed, sail, motor, or catamaran. Our Charter Experts can help you plan the perfect getaway.
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