St Barts Itineraries: Day Charters and Multi-Day Routes

St Barts rewards both the single-day outing and the extended voyage. The itineraries below are designed to be combined: a guest looking at the 3-day and 4-day routes can stitch them together into a full 7-day Leeward Islands circuit without repeating a single stop. Every itinerary is fully customisable – your Boatcrowd charter specialist and onboard captain will tailor stops, pacing and activities to your group’s interests and the conditions on the day.

Day Charter Routes

Colombier Bay and Île Fourchue

Depart Gustavia mid-morning and cruise north-west to Colombier Bay – roughly 3 nautical miles, a relaxed 15-minute run. Pick up a mooring in 8–12 metres over sand and spend the morning snorkelling the rocky edges, where hawksbill turtles, spotted eagle rays and clouds of blue tang are common. Your chef lays out lunch on the aft deck: grilled mahi-mahi, tropical salad and a chilled Sancerre. After lunch, cruise a further 2 nautical miles to Île Fourchue, the uninhabited volcanic island where boulder formations create underwater swim-throughs and overhangs alive with parrotfish, angelfish and the occasional barracuda. Return to Gustavia in the golden late-afternoon light for sundowners on the quay.

South Coast: Gouverneur and Saline

Head south from Gustavia to Anse de Gouverneur – barely 2 nautical miles, sheltered from the prevailing trade winds by steep hillsides on either side. The water is deep turquoise over clean sand, and the beach is entirely undeveloped. Snorkel the rocky edges, swim from the yacht, and let your crew set up a picnic on the sand. In the afternoon, cruise east past the dramatic headland to Grande Saline – a long, wild beach backed by the island’s historic salt ponds. Anchor offshore for a late swim, then return to Gustavia via Shell Beach for a sundowner cocktail at Shellona.

St Jean Beach and Grand Cul-de-Sac Lagoon

Cruise east around Gustavia’s headland to St Jean – 3 nautical miles of sparkling coastline. Anchor off the beach for a morning at Nikki Beach (white daybeds, rosé magnums, the planes roaring overhead on their approach to Gustaf III Airport). After lunch, continue to Grand Cul-de-Sac Lagoon on the north-east coast – a shallow, reef-protected bay that’s the island’s watersports hub. Try kiteboarding, paddleboarding or a gentle snorkel over the seagrass beds, where juvenile green turtles and stingrays glide through the shallows. Return to Gustavia by late afternoon.

Multi-Day Itineraries

3-Day St Barts Yacht Charter Itinerary: St Barts and Île Fourchue

Day 1: Gustavia, Shell Beach and Colombier Bay

Board your yacht in Gustavia harbour by mid-morning. After a welcome briefing and a champagne toast on the flybridge, take a short tender ride to Shell Beach for a swim among the distinctive shell-sand shallows – Shellona restaurant is right there if you fancy a late-morning cocktail. Cruise north-west to Colombier Bay (3 nautical miles, 15 minutes) for an afternoon of snorkelling, paddleboarding and pure Caribbean relaxation. Your chef prepares dinner on the aft deck as the hillside turns pink in the fading light – fresh lobster, local provisions and a bottle from La Cave du Port Franc’s curated cellar.

Day 2: Île Fourchue and Anse de Gouverneur

Depart Colombier early and cruise 2 nautical miles to Île Fourchue. Spend the morning exploring this volcanic island’s underwater world – the snorkelling here is some of the best in the Leeward Islands, with swim-throughs between boulders, green turtles cruising overhead and parrotfish grazing on the reef. Your crew lays out a gourmet lunch as frigate birds soar above the rocky pinnacles. In the afternoon, cruise south to Anse de Gouverneur (about 6 nautical miles), anchoring in the calm, trade-wind-sheltered bay for a sunset swim. The beach is entirely undeveloped – just sand, sea grape and the sound of small waves. Dinner aboard beneath the stars.

Day 3: Grande Saline, St Jean and Return to Gustavia

Rise early for a swim at Gouverneur, then cruise east to Grande Saline – one of St Barts’ longest and wildest beaches, backed by the island’s historic salt ponds. The morning light here is spectacular. Continue to St Jean beach for a late-morning stop at Nikki Beach (or anchor offshore and enjoy the view of planes skimming the beach on their approach). Your chef prepares a farewell lunch on the aft deck as the yacht returns to Gustavia by early afternoon – time for a final stroll through the duty-free boutiques and a sundowner at one of the harbour-side bars.

4-Day St Barts Yacht Charter Itinerary: St Martin and the Northern Leewards

Day 1: Gustavia to St Martin – Grand Case

Depart St Barts mid-morning and set course north-west for St Martin – 12 nautical miles, roughly 45 minutes at cruising speed. Anchor off Grand Case on St Martin’s north coast, the self-proclaimed “Gourmet Capital of the Caribbean.” Spend the afternoon exploring this charming French village – colourful Creole houses, art galleries and more than 80 restaurants packed into a single beachfront strip. Snorkel Créole Rock, a submerged rock formation just offshore with excellent fish life and the occasional sea turtle. In the evening, tender ashore for dinner at Le Pressoir – consistently ranked among the Caribbean’s finest restaurants, with classical French cuisine in a restored Creole house.

Day 2: Tintamarre Island and Orient Bay

Cruise east to Tintamarre – an uninhabited island roughly 3 nautical miles off St Martin’s north-east coast. This protected nature reserve offers exceptional snorkelling over seagrass beds where green turtles, spotted eagle rays and southern stingrays are common. The old airstrip (abandoned since the 1950s) makes a fascinating shoreline walk. After lunch on the aft deck, cruise south to Orient Bay – St Martin’s liveliest beach, with a string of beach bars and water-sports operators. Anchor overnight in the calm, reef-protected bay.

Day 3: Simpson Bay Lagoon and Maho Beach

Cruise around St Martin’s south coast to Simpson Bay Lagoon – one of the Caribbean’s largest enclosed waterways, accessed through a drawbridge that opens on a published schedule (Dutch-side bridge openings include 8:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.). Inside the lagoon, berth at one of the full-service marinas for fuel, provisions and shore time. Visit Maho Beach to watch commercial jets pass barely 30 metres overhead on their approach to Princess Juliana Airport – one of the Caribbean’s most extraordinary spectacles. Spend the afternoon exploring Philipsburg’s duty-free shopping strip on the Dutch side, or head to Marigot on the French side for the open-air market and a stroll beneath Fort Louis. Dinner aboard or ashore at one of Simpson Bay’s waterfront restaurants.

Day 4: Anguilla’s South Coast and Return to St Barts

Depart St Martin early and cruise north to Anguilla – roughly 10 nautical miles to Rendezvous Bay, under an hour. This 2-mile sweep of powdery white sand faces St Martin across the strait, with views stretching back to the green mountains you left that morning. Swim, paddleboard and let your crew set up a beach picnic. After lunch, cruise east along Anguilla’s south coast to Maundays Bay (home to the Belmond Cap Juluca resort – your crew can arrange a beachside lunch if you prefer shore dining). In the mid-afternoon, set course south-east for St Barts – roughly 20 nautical miles, arriving in Gustavia by early evening for a farewell dinner at Bonito overlooking the harbour.

Guests looking for a longer voyage can combine the 3-day St Barts route with the 4-day St Martin–Anguilla route for a comprehensive 7-day Leeward Islands charter covering three islands, dozens of world-class anchorages and three entirely different cultures – French, Dutch and British – without repeating a single stop.