| There is a good variety of yacht charter in the island | | | | island. |
| including; bareboat yacht charter, luxury crewed | | | | French is the official language of St Barts although |
| yacht charter, skippered yacht charter, monohull and | | | | English is widely spoken. |
| catamaran charter and both sail and motor yacht | | | | The island has a reputation for sophistication and is |
| charter. | | | | often referred to as the St Tropez of the Caribbean. |
| The weather of St Barts is tropical, meaning it's hot | | | | Gustavia, on the west coast, will make you feel as |
| and sunny year-round with very little temperature | | | | though you stepped into provincial France. St Barts is |
| variation between seasons. Expect an average of | | | | a natural marine reserve and is an attractive |
| 30°C during the summer, with a drop of only a | | | | destination for those who enjoy scuba diving. The |
| few degrees for the winter season. The weather | | | | oldest settlement on the island is the village of |
| turns wetter in the autumn but the showers are | | | | Lorient |
| generally brief if. The island catches the trade winds | | | | Ile Fourche is a good overnight yacht anchorage. |
| off the Atlantic Ocean all year round but especially in | | | | Saline Beach is very popular with those who enjoy |
| the winter. Winter sees winds in excess of 20 knots | | | | the local sport of people watching. |
| making for a great yacht charter. Summer months | | | | Of the 20 beaches on St Barts, several are |
| see winds anywhere from 10 to 20 knots. | | | | considered especially inviting. In the south Saline and |
| Summer is the least expensive time to charter with | | | | Governor beaches are kept in pristine condition with |
| many yacht charter companies offering significant | | | | no development on them. On the western coast of |
| discounts. | | | | St Barts is Colombier beach, reachable only by boat |
| France first claimed St Barts in 1648. It was sold to | | | | or substantial hike. St Jean, Flammands and |
| Sweden in 1784, which sold it back to France in 1878. | | | | Grand-Cul-de-Sac beaches are also, attractive. The |
| The Swedish period left its mark in the names of | | | | beach of Grand Cul-de-Sac is perhaps the easiest |
| many of the streets and Gustavia, the main town, | | | | beach in the Caribbean for learning to sail, windsurf or |
| which was named after King Gustav III of Sweden. | | | | kite surf because it has a reef that closes off the |
| The island has a small airport that is served by small | | | | entire bay. The current that passes outside the reef |
| regional commercial aircraft and charters. The short | | | | here also carries migrating whales and dolphins. Shell |
| airstrip is at the base of a steep hill ending directly on | | | | Beach is popular for families with kids as it has little |
| the beach. The arrival descent is extremely steep | | | | surf, and lots of tide pools. Toiny is one of the main |
| over the hilltop traffic circle and departing planes fly | | | | surfing, while Grand Fond is one of the island's only |
| right over the heads of sunbathers. The nearest large | | | | non-swimming beaches. Scuba and snorkelling are a |
| commercial airport is on the neighbouring island of | | | | great way to see the nurse sharks, lobsters, conch |
| Saint Martin. Ferries that run between St Barts and St | | | | and green sea turtles that abound in the waters |
| Martin are the only other real option for reaching the | | | | surrounding St Barts. |