The Windward Islands are taller, greener and wilder than the Virgin Islands. St Lucia’s twin Pitons rise straight out of the sea, rainforest spills down to black- and gold-sand beaches, and twenty miles to the north lies Martinique, as French as anywhere in Provence but with rum distilleries and Creole cooking. A charter between the two combines dramatic scenery with some of the best food in the Caribbean.
Why charter here
Scenery you won’t forget. Spending a night at anchor between the Pitons, with the peaks lit by the setting sun, is one of the great Caribbean experiences.
Easy from the UK. British Airways and Virgin Atlantic fly direct from London to St Lucia’s Hewanorra airport in the south of the island, in around nine hours.
Two cultures. English-speaking St Lucia and French Martinique are a day’s sail apart, but feel like different worlds.
St Lucia
Rodney Bay and Pigeon Island
In the north, Rodney Bay has a large marina and is the most common place to join a yacht. Pigeon Island, now joined to the mainland, is a national landmark with the ruins of a British fort and views across to Martinique.
Marigot Bay
A small, beautiful inlet ringed by palms and mangroves, often called one of the prettiest bays in the Caribbean. It’s sheltered, with a marina and restaurants, and makes a good first or last night.
Soufrière and the Pitons
The heart of any St Lucia charter. Yachts take moorings in the marine reserve below Petit Piton and Gros Piton, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ashore, the town of Soufrière leads to the Sulphur Springs (often called the world’s only drive-in volcano), waterfalls and botanical gardens. Just north, Anse Chastanet has some of the island’s best snorkelling, with a reef close to the beach.
Petit Piton from the sea. Photo: Eskil Bjerkestrand on Pexels.
Martinique
Martinique is part of France, and so of the European Union, with euros, baguettes and a superb choice of restaurants.
Sainte-Anne and Le Marin
In the south, Le Marin is one of the largest yacht harbours in the Caribbean and a major charter base. Nearby Sainte-Anne has a pretty village, a long beach and a calm anchorage, with the white sand of Les Salines a short trip away.
Anses d’Arlet and Diamond Rock
On the south-west coast, Grande Anse d’Arlet and Petite Anse d’Arlet are fishing villages with turtles grazing in the bays. Offshore, Diamond Rock is famous in naval history: in 1804 the Royal Navy fortified it and commissioned it as a ship, “HMS Diamond Rock”, to harass French shipping.
Saint-Pierre
Once called the Paris of the Caribbean, Saint-Pierre was destroyed in 1902 when Mount Pelée erupted, killing almost all of its inhabitants. Today it’s a small, atmospheric town with ruins, a museum and wrecks in the bay, below the volcano that destroyed it.
Rum
Martinique’s rhum agricole is made from fresh sugar-cane juice rather than molasses, and has its own French appellation. A distillery visit, such as the gardens at Habitation Clément, is a highlight for many guests.
A sample week
- Day 1: Board at Rodney Bay and swim off Pigeon Island.
- Day 2: South along the coast to Marigot Bay for lunch and a quiet night.
- Day 3: On to the Pitons: snorkel at Anse Chastanet and spend the night on a mooring beneath the peaks.
- Day 4: A morning ashore at Soufrière, then back north.
- Day 5: Cross the St Lucia Channel to Martinique (an open-water passage that can be lively) and anchor at Sainte-Anne.
- Day 6: The Anses d’Arlet and Diamond Rock; dinner in a beach restaurant.
- Day 7: A rum distillery visit and back to St Lucia, or finish the charter in Le Marin.
When to go
December to May brings the driest weather. The Windwards are greener than the Virgin Islands because they get more rain, often as short showers that clear quickly. The St Lucia Jazz Festival (in May) and Martinique’s Carnival (before Lent) are lively times to visit. The hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November.
Good to know
- Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollars in St Lucia (US dollars widely accepted) and euros in Martinique.
- Flights: direct from London to St Lucia; Martinique is usually reached via Paris. Always check current schedules.
- Passages: the channels between the islands are open water with stronger wind and swell. Guests prone to seasickness should mention it; your captain will pick the best day.
- Marine reserves: the Soufrière area has protected zones and mooring fees; follow the rangers’ guidance.
Planning a Windward Islands charter
Combine St Lucia and Martinique, or carry on south to the Grenadines on a longer charter. Tell us your dates and we’ll suggest the right yacht and route.
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