Know the month you would like to travel? Then our charter experts can give you some incredible options on destinations and the right yachts to take you there.Edmiston creates a bespoke itinerary to meet your needs.
Caribbean yacht charters are simply idyllic – if Heaven was a place on earth it would surely be here amid the colourful reefs, sugar-white sands and palm-fringed islands that freckle the Caribbean Sea under cloudless skies like nature’s own beauty spots.
There is a lot of culture and heritage to experience too, not to mention thrilling adventures to be had, whether you want to explore vibrant underwater worlds or trek amid unspoiled rainforest. On your private yacht charter in the Caribbean you can do as little or as much as you like.
If you like exotic food, you’ve come to the right place. The Caribbean’s history as a place of migration and enforced slavery means today it’s a fusion of different cultures and cuisines – menus feature everything, from African to Cajun, Indian and Latin American influences, and many in between. Choose from the refined elegance of places like St Maarten’s Le Pressoir, where you can dine on contemporary French cooking in an old colonial house, and more casual scenes such as the one at Basil’s Bar on the isle of Mustique where you can pull up the tender for a dinner of grilled lobster.
Of course, for many, it’s after the sun goes down that the Caribbean really comes into its own and there is lots of choice for those who like to dance ‘til dawn.
At Daddy D’s in the Bahamas things don’t even really get going until midnight, while St Barts has long been known as the Caribbean capital of cool and you haven’t lived if you’ve never visited the secret back room of Le Ti St-Barth.
With the chance to swim with pigs in The Exumas, horses in Jamaica and manta rays in The Bahamas, Caribbean yacht charters offer endless edge-of-your-seat activities. Thrill-seekers might like to try night kayaking in transparent boats or even take a night-time scuba dive when the marine world becomes even more colourful.
There are plenty of adventure to enjoy on land too – you can zip wire through the rainforest on St Lucia or take a vintage car ride in Havana. Alternatively, simply chill out in some of the most amazing spas of anywhere in the world, such as the private isle spa of Jumby Bay just off the coast of Antigua.
If you’ve come to the Caribbean to be seen and to spend then St Barts, a sort of St Tropez meets Caribbean chic is the place to be, while resorts don’t come much more perfectly plush than Belmond Cap Juluca in Anguilla.
With steady trade winds, protected bays and no shortage of beach-side bars where you can pull up for lunch, the British Virgin Islands (BVIs) is a popular destination for Caribbean yacht charters.
On the largest isle of Tortola, the beach is the star attraction. These powdery white sands are the best in the BVIs, and some of the best in the entire Caribbean. Smuggler’s Cove is difficult to get to – round the westernmost point of the island with a tender for the best route in, keeping an eye out for sea turtles.
Meanwhile, Virgin Gorda is a heady mix of sea, sun and wild nature. The main attraction is The Baths National Park, where massive granite boulders join together to form natural pools of clear seawater on the contours of the shoreline – perfect for floating and catching a few rays. Nearby is Devil’s Bay Beach, a secluded spot where you can daydream, nap or dive – if you can bring yourself to move from the idyllic white sand beach that is.
St Vincent and the Grenadines are 32 magical islands and cays, strung out in the southern Caribbean. St Vincent itself is one of the region’s least touristy islands – it’s an unpretentious and relatively quiet place that’s perfect for active, eco -friendly holidays.
Here you can hike jungle trails, glimpse rare parrots, trek to spectacular waterfalls – even climb an active volcano. Beneath the surface, the snorkelling and scuba landscapes are similarly intriguing. The Grenadines’ fine, white-sand beaches, calm waters and get-away-from-it-all atmosphere are ideal for a Caribbean yachting holiday. The best known of the islands – Bequia, Mustique and Canouan – have an exclusive feel to them for guests looking for a little more privacy.
These islands, which take their name from the prevailing winds that blow north, offer vast aquamarine waters, dazzling reefs, safe harbours, azure lagoons and virgin white-sand beaches. With a myriad of activities, from beachcombing and snorkelling to fine dining and shopping, it’s the perfect place to spend lazy days exploring by yacht.
The race set head to Antigua, while on St Maarten you’ll find a spicy marriage of European and Caribbean cultures and some of the best restaurants in the Caribbean.
Visit the tiny port of Gustavia, on the ultra-chic French Caribbean island of St Barthélemy (St Barts) where the local beach bars sell a dozen types of champagne and serve up fine French cuisine or splash out at the designer boutiques.
The Windward Islands – made up of Dominica, Martinique, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada – are some of the loveliest islands on earth.
With their deep blue waters, quiet coves and tropical islands dotted with powdery beaches, emerald mountain peaks, forests sprinkled with jasmine and wild orchids, endless white beaches and star-studded skies – not to mention a slew of activities on offer – these islands will seduce you with their bounty. The only trouble you’ll have is deciding which piece of paradise to head to first.
Whether you yearn for the rugged beauty of St Lucia with its dramatic twin coastal peaks, or Dominica, which is blanketed by untamed forest, or to experience the vibrant culture of Antigua, home to rainbow-coloured villages and smiling locals, you’ll find much to enjoy on a Caribbean charter in the Windward Islands.
With year-round sunshine, Caribbean yacht charters are very popular. There is a tropical maritime climate in the Caribbean, with temperatures ranging from 24°C (75°F) to around 32°C (90°F).
Wet season runs from May to October, making November through to May the preferable time for Caribbean charters. Spending Christmas in the Caribbean or ringing in the new year on a private island or at an exclusive beach resort here has almost become a rite of passage for the jet set.
If you’re cruising the Bahamas on Boxing Day, Junkanoo is a festival of colourful parades and parties that fizz with the energy of the Rio Carnival and New Orleans’ Mardi Gras – you can join in the fun or just soak up the energy as you sip rum cocktails in your sundeck’s hot tub.
What is the currency in the Caribbean? There are 13 different currencies currently in use in the Caribbean but the East Caribbean dollar, the US dollar and the euro most widely used. Ensure you have a good amount of US dollars in your wallet on your Caribbean yacht charter and you’ll be fine.
Language spoken in the Caribbean Though there is a wide variety of Creole languages, as well as Spanish, Dutch and French, English is first or second language on most islands and all tourism providers speak it.
Time zone in the Caribbean Most Caribbean islands use one of two time zones. In the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Haiti and the Bahamas they observe Eastern Standard Time (Greenwich Mean Time -5 hours). Confusingly, on the other side of Hispaniola, in the Dominican Republic, they observe the Atlantic Standard Time Zone (Greenwich Mean Time -4 hours), as do all the islands of the Lesser Antilles. However, as some islands observe Daylight Saving Time and some don’t, this does mean local time is not always the same between the islands.
Yachts to charter in the Caribbean There are so many Caribbean yacht charters available it can be hard to know where to begin, which is where we come in. Let our brokers guide you to find the perfect boat for your private yacht charter in the Caribbean.
Know the month you would like to travel? Then our charter experts can give you some incredible options on destinations and the right yachts to take you there.Edmiston creates a bespoke itinerary to meet your needs.
