St Barths Day Trip from St Maarten

For a private experience, the Charter from St Martin to St Barths departing from Anse Marcel is our top pick — flexible itinerary, up to 8 guests, booked on average 32 days in advance. If you want to combine the crossing with a iconic beach club experience, the Nikki Beach Private Charter is the most glamorous option on the island. Both are private charters — because in St Barths, how you arrive matters.

Private boat charters — the best way to experience St Barths — start from $1,600 per group. The Nikki Beach charter starts at $2,120, and the full-day options go up to $3,800 for an overnight catamaran experience. These are per-group prices, not per person — split between 6 to 8 people, it becomes much more reasonable. Ferry-style options exist from around $100 per person, but for St Barths specifically, the private arrival makes a real difference.

Yes — and it's one of the best things you can do from St Martin. The crossing takes 30 to 45 minutes by speedboat. Private charters depart from Anse Marcel on the French side or Porto Cupecoy on the Dutch side. St Barths is a completely different island — more exclusive, more polished, worth every minute of the crossing.

Between 30 and 45 minutes by speedboat, depending on sea conditions and your departure point. Anse Marcel on the French side is the closest — about 30 minutes. Porto Cupecoy on the Dutch side adds a few minutes. On choppy days, allow 45 to 50 minutes. The crossing can be rough — if you're prone to seasickness, sit at the back and keep your eyes on the horizon.

Yes — there are ferry options, but schedules are limited and change seasonally. The Voyager Ferry departs from Marigot on the French side, and The Edge runs from Philipsburg on the Dutch side. That said, for a destination like St Barths, a private charter is the better experience. Sailing into Gustavia harbor on your own boat is a different arrival entirely — and in St Barths, the entrance is part of the experience.

Start at Colombier in the morning — no road access, just the beach and some of the clearest water you'll ever swim in. Move to Gouverneur mid-morning — wild, wide, completely uncommercial. Lunch in Gustavia — the harbor, a good restaurant, the superyachts. Afternoon at Shell Beach or St Jean. One day is enough to understand why people come back every winter. Don't try to do everything — pick two or three spots and actually enjoy them.

Yes — but it's not for everyone. St Barths is more expensive, more exclusive, and a bit more effort to reach than Anguilla. But if you want a day that genuinely feels special — Gustavia harbor, Colombier beach, that particular French Caribbean atmosphere — it delivers every time. We've watched hundreds of visitors come back from that crossing. The ones who splurged on the private charter never complained about the price. The ones who hesitated and didn't go always asked about it on their last day.

For St Barths specifically — private boat. The ferry gets you there, but arriving in Gustavia on a private charter with your own group, at your own pace, is a fundamentally different experience. St Barths is a place where how you arrive sets the tone for the whole day. If budget is the main concern, the ferry works — but if you're already investing in a St Barths day trip, the private crossing is worth the extra cost.

Yes — St Barths is a French collectivity, separate from both St Martin and St Maarten. A valid passport is required for all travelers, including French nationals. Your charter operator will check it at departure. Don't forget it — there are no exceptions.