Boat Trips and Day Charters in St Barts

Seeing St Barts from the water is the thing most people wish they had done sooner. The island is small and ringed with coves, and a boat reaches the parts of it that a car never will. This guide covers boat trips in St Barts: where to go, what a boat day involves, how to choose between a private charter and a shared trip, and how island hopping to the islands nearby works.

Why a boat day belongs on the list

The coast is the best thing about St Barts, and from the land you only ever see part of it. A boat changes that. The water is calmer in the lee of the island, the colours are better than any photograph manages, and a few of the finest spots have no road to them at all.

A day on the water is also just a good day. You swim where you like, you snorkel off the back of the boat, you have lunch at anchor, and the island slides past while someone else drives. For a lot of visitors it ends up being the highlight of the trip.

Where to go: Colombier by boat

If you take one boat trip in St Barts, point it at Colombier. Colombier beach sits at the north-west tip of the island with no road to it. You can walk in, which is a fine hike in itself, but arriving by boat is the easy and the better way. You drop anchor in the bay, swim ashore or off the boat, and snorkel some of the clearest water on the island.

Because it takes effort to reach, Colombier stays calm even when the road beaches are busy. A morning at anchor here is close to the picture people have of St Barts before they arrive.

Île Fourchue and the coves around the island

Beyond Colombier, the pleasure of a boat day is following the coast and the islets around it. Île Fourchue is the classic destination, an uninhabited island off the north of St Barts with a sheltered horseshoe bay. Boats anchor inside it for a swim and some of the better snorkeling in the area, and for a lot of full-day trips it is the turning point.

Closer to home, St Jean’s long bay looks completely different from the water, and Gouverneur, on the south coast, is a beautiful anchorage and a quieter swim than its small car park usually allows. Between them are coves and rock formations you would never find by car. A good skipper reads the wind and the swell on the day and picks the calmest, clearest stops, and that local judgement is a real part of what you are paying for.

What a boat day involves

Most boat days follow a similar shape. You leave from Gustavia in the morning, run to a first anchorage for a swim and a snorkel, move on to a second, and have lunch on board at anchor. Snorkel gear is usually provided, and shared trips often include lunch and drinks, though it is always worth checking what is and is not in the price.

Many boats also carry toys, from paddleboards to a seabob, which turn the stops into more than just a swim. Bring a hat, sun protection, a light layer for the run home, and a dry bag for anything that should not get wet. The sun on the water is stronger than it feels on the beach.

Private charter or shared trip?

There are two ways to do a boat day. A private charter is your own boat and crew for the day or half day, with the route shaped around what you want. It costs more, and it is worth it for a family or a group, or for anyone who wants to set their own pace. A shared trip puts you on a set itinerary with other guests. It costs less and takes the planning off your hands, and for a couple or a solo traveller it is often the sensible choice.

On price, expect a boat day to sit among the larger costs of a trip here, and expect it to climb in the peak weeks around Christmas and New Year. Half-day trips suit a relaxed schedule, while a full day gives you the range to reach Colombier or Île Fourchue and still have time to linger.

Island hopping: St Martin and Anguilla

St Barts sits within easy reach of other islands, and a boat opens them up. St Martin is the close neighbour and the usual connection point for flights and ferries. Anguilla, a little further, has some of the most famous beaches in the Caribbean. Both make a strong day trip by boat.

Island hopping is its own kind of trip, with customs and timing to think about. Operators such as 3 Island Hopping run dedicated excursions across St Martin, Anguilla and St Barts and handle the logistics for you.

Booking a boat

In the high season the good boats and skippers book up well ahead, so this is not something to leave until you land. Decide early whether you want a private charter or a shared trip, and reserve before you arrive.

A boat day pairs well with the rest of the island. See our guide to things to do in St Barts for the wider picture, and the main beaches guide for what to reach on foot.