St. Barthelemy

St. Barts, as it is commonly called, might be the Caribbean's answer to a rainy day on continental Europe. St. Barts has the charm of Paris, the ambience of the French Riviera, and the culture of a French/Swedish population PLUS 300 days of sun a year. If it sounds too good to be true, rest assured that it exists but that it comes at a price. St. Barts is where the rich and famous come to enjoy the best French cuisine, the best views, and the best service. Anyone lucky enough to experience St. Barts should be sure to hit the beaches, check out the wildlife, and appreciate the small island's rather large calendar of events.

Beaches

St. Barts is an island surrounded by shallow reefs that thrive in the turquoise waters and serve as protection for the perfect sandy beaches. St. Barts has a couple of swimsuit-optional beaches and several others that are merely topless-friendly. Anse de Grande Saline Beach is a wonderfully undeveloped and isolated spot that doesn't offer any shade. Like Saline Beach, Gouverneur Beach is also on the south coast. It is surrounded by dramatic cliffs and is a great area for snorkeling. St. Jean Beach, which is extremely popular, is split by Eden Rock. There are hotels here that provide water sports, food, and proximity to shopping. Flamands Beach has rough surf in the winter, allows for some shade, and is less crowded than the aforementioned. Colombier (a.k.a. Rockefeller's Beach) is accessible only by boat or by walking a rugged trail, which means it's secluded and you must bring your own food and beverages. Lorient Beach is found on the north shore, and Grand Cul-de-Sac Beach is a windy location perfect for kite surfing and sailing.

Nature

St. Barts owes its beauty to the beaches, coves, cliffs, savannas, and salt flats that make it so special. However, the lack of rivers on St. Barts means that rainwater is a commodity. Both the abundance and the dearth of certain resources have affected the way locals treat the wildlife on St. Barts. The handling of household trash disposal, beach maintenance, and trail clearing are all examples of St. Barts inherent responsibility to the environment because inhabitants want to help the tropical flora, iguanas, and turtles survive on the island. In 1996 a Marine Park was established to protect underwater zones. The population of St. Barts, having descended from Norman and Breton fishermen, historically enjoyed a diet of fresh fish from the sea (Red Tuna, Mahi Mahi, and Wahoo), fruits and vegetables from small gardens, and salt collected from the salt flats. Locals' close relationship to the land of St. Barts means that visitors too are meant to observe (and not disturb) the island's aquatic and terrestrial plants: water lily, water hyacinth, coromandel, night bloom cereus, lobster claw slipper plant, and many orchid varietals.

Calendar of events

St. Barts maintains a full schedule of cultural and competitive community-based things to do. A mini calendar of events is listed below, in the basic order they take place throughout the year. You will note the French influence as well as the water's effect on what is popular in St. Barts.

• St. Bart Bucket Regatta
• St. Bart Music Festival
• Les Voiles de St. Bart, a 6 day event with the world's fanciest yachts
• St. Bart Film Fest
• West Indies Regatta, an event celebrating traditional Caribbean (wooden) boat building
• St. Bart Theatre Festival
• Bastille Day
• St. Bart Saint's Day
• Miss Caraib Hibiscus
• New Year's Eve Regatta

St. Bart's appeal is obvious; it has beauty, culture, and relaxation all within the confines of an eco-conscious, celebrity-worthy island. Once you make it here, you will enjoy meals prepared by Parisian chefs while taking in stunning views of St. Barts' varied landscape. Do not miss Gustavia, the island's capital, which is St. Barts only town and seaport. It is too small for cruise ships and absolutely perfect for some of the world's most expensive yachts.

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St. Barts yacht charter

Neighboring islands in the Leewards islands

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Not sure what you can do on land on different islands? we can help! Click one of the following links to read more; Antigua & Barbuda, Anguilla, Nevis & St. Kitts, St. Martin, St. Maarten, St. Barts.