Few places pack so much variety into so little sea. Within a few hours’ sail you have St Martin, an island shared by France and the Netherlands; St Barths, the chic little French island that draws the world’s superyachts at New Year; and Anguilla, British, low-lying and ringed by some of the finest beaches in the Caribbean. A week here is about food, beaches and contrasts, with easy passages in between.

Why charter here

Three countries in one week. French, Dutch and British islands, each with its own food, pace and personality, all within sight of one another.

Some of the best food in the Caribbean. Grand Case on the French side of St Martin is known as the Caribbean’s culinary capital, and St Barths has restaurants to match the Riviera. Your chef will want to show off too.

Beaches that are hard to beat. Anguilla’s Shoal Bay, St Barths’ Colombier and the islets off St Martin are as pretty as anywhere in the region.

The islands

St Martin / Sint Maarten

The southern, Dutch side is home to Princess Juliana Airport, famous for jets passing low over Maho Beach, and to Simpson Bay Lagoon, a huge sheltered harbour reached through opening bridges. The northern, French side is quieter: Marigot has a French market and waterfront cafés, Grand Case is lined with restaurants and beach bars, and in the north-east Pinel and Tintamarre are small islands with clear water, good snorkelling and (on Tintamarre) a beach you might have to yourselves.

St Barths

Around fifteen miles south-east of St Martin, St Barths is small, hilly and very French. Gustavia, its harbour town, is a few streets of boutiques, bars and restaurants around a sheltered port lined with yachts. A short sail away, Anse de Colombier can only be reached by boat or on foot. It lies within the island’s marine reserve, so yachts pick up moorings rather than anchor, and turtles graze in the bay. Shell Beach, a walk from Gustavia, is the place for a long lunch.

Busy weeks: New Year’s Eve (when the harbour fills with superyachts and fireworks), the St Barths Bucket regatta in March and Les Voiles de St Barth in April.

A green turtle swimming in deep blue water off St Barths Turtles graze in St Barths’ sheltered bays. Photo: Rémi Metin on Unsplash.

Anguilla

A British Overseas Territory just north of St Martin, Anguilla is flat, quiet and known for its beaches. Road Bay at Sandy Ground is the port of entry and a lively anchorage with beach bars and a salt pond behind. Shoal Bay East is regularly named one of the best beaches in the world, and offshore, Sandy Island and the Prickly Pear Cays are tiny, sandy and perfect for a day of swimming and snorkelling. Anguilla charges cruising permits for visiting yachts, and some areas are restricted, so your captain will plan the visit carefully.

A sample week

  1. Day 1: Board in Simpson Bay or Marigot and sail round to Grand Case for dinner ashore.
  2. Day 2: Pinel and Tintamarre for swimming and snorkelling, then anchor off Orient Bay or back in Grand Case.
  3. Day 3: Across to Anguilla: clear in at Road Bay, then an afternoon at Sandy Island.
  4. Day 4: Prickly Pear Cays for the day; back to Road Bay for sunset.
  5. Day 5: A longer sail south to St Barths. Pick up a mooring in Colombier and swim with the turtles.
  6. Day 6: Into Gustavia for shopping and lunch at Shell Beach, then a quiet night back in Colombier.
  7. Day 7: Return to St Martin, perhaps by way of the beaches at Anse Marcel.

The passage between St Martin and St Barths can be lively against the trade winds; your captain will choose the day.

When to go

December to April is the main season, with Christmas and New Year the busiest and most expensive weeks of the year, especially in St Barths. March and April bring the big regattas. May and June are quieter and good value. The hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November.

Good to know

  • Currency: euros on the French islands, US dollars widely used everywhere, and the Dutch side has its own currency.
  • Getting there: fly to St Martin’s Princess Juliana Airport, usually via Paris, Amsterdam, the United States or a regional connection. St Barths has a tiny airstrip served from St Martin and Antigua.
  • Clearing in and out: moving between the French, Dutch and British islands means customs formalities; your crew will handle them, but keep passports handy.
  • Fees: Anguilla’s cruising permits and St Barths’ moorings and port fees can be significant; we’ll make sure you know what’s included.

Planning a charter here

From a family week of beaches to a New Year in Gustavia, tell us what you have in mind and we’ll find the right yacht and crew. Celebrating something? We have ideas for celebrations on board.

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