St. Barthélemy

St. Barthélemy, a volcanic island fully encircled by shallow reefs, in northeast Caribbean. It lies about 15 miles southeast of the island of St. Martin – a perfect day-sail distance. It is the only Caribbean island which was a Swedish colony for any significant length of time, and is part of the newly crowned Renaissance Islands which includes St Martin. More recently the island is known for entertaining the rich and famous – complete with exquisite beach villas, massive motor yachts docked in port, and chic fashion everywhere from the beach to the fine dining spots. Be on the lookout for celebrities – they’re usually around especially in the Christmas and New Years time.

Wikipedia
Area: 9.5 mi² (25 km²)
Population: 35,906
Island groups: Antilles, Lesser Antilles, Leeward Antilles, Leeward Islands

The eastern side is wetter than the western. Though an arid terrain, the rainfall still averages 1000 mm but varies very widely. Summer is from May to November which is also the rainy season. Winter from December to April is the dry season. Sunshine is very prominent almost all through the year and even during the rainy season. Humidity, however, is not very high because of the winds. It has an average temperature of 25 °C with day temperatures rising to 32 °C. The average high and low temperatures in January are 28 °C and 22 °C while in July they are 30 °C and 24 °C. The lowest night temperature recorded is 13 °C – although that is rare, so you can leave your parkas at home. The Caribbean sea waters in the vicinity generally maintain a temperature of about 27 °C.

Gustavia is the Caribbean’s playground for the rich and famous. The red-roofed capital, is a small harbor town lined with chic boutiques, duty free shops, gourmet restaurants, and galleries. Explore this magnificent island with beautiful sightseeing views – such as from Fort Gustav – or set yourself on a nice terrace and have lunch while you people watch. Like any capital town, it is thrives on tourism, and can be busy with more hustle-and-bustle than many other locations on the island. Shoppers will love the open-air market, Le Ti-Marché, where brightly dressed women sell arts, crafts, and fresh produce, plus locally made cosmetics.

Baie de St Jean is a tiny village and likely the most popular tourist area outside of Gustavia – complete with fabulous restaurants, shopping plazas, and boutiques. Another beach complete with white sand, St Jean boasts great swimming and a natural coral reef. Shared by locals and day-trippers from St Maarten, it’s an ideal location for parents with children. Visitors will find several water sports shoppes renting snorkel gear, surfboards, windsurfers, and other beach toys. Luxury villas peak out from tropical foliage on the hillsides and the island’s only airport is nearby. Only small aircraft are accommodated here, and only during daylight hours, so if you’re looking for some aviation fill, we suggest Maho Beach on St Maarten where you’ll see some of the largest aircraft in the world land.

Anse du Colombier (or Colombier Beach) in the northwest corner of the island is a magnificent place to search for sea turtles and rays while relaxing on-board. Accessible only by boat or 30 minute goat-path hike, the beach is totally unspoiled. There are great hikes you can take through the tropical vegetation to the north side of the cove, or even just wander the beach and take a beach nap. The area has a stunning and secluded beach, clear water for swimming, and fantastic snorkeling all under the watch of the historic Rockefeller Estate. The sunsets from this vantage point are absolutely amazing.

Governeur Beach (or Governor’s Beach) is a beautiful little beach on the island’s south shore. Usually protected and calm, the secluded exceptionally soft white sand beach is backed by green hills. The water here is stunningly turquoise and photos here will be the envy of your friends. It can be busy as there is easy car access and is sometimes best seen from boat rather than beach.

Saline Beach along the island’s southern coast is one of St Barth’s most beautiful stretches of sand and sea. Backed by a natural hill, this cove is also protected by sand dunes. In front of the sand dunes, the water beckons in shades of turquoise, teal, and cobalt blue. The sweep of sand is great for sunbathing and relaxation. When the wind is up, body surfers will enjoy the waves and we may skip the stop. Nudism, though officially forbidden here, is common at the extreme ends of the beach. After a morning of beach basking, clients can enjoy lunch at one of the two restaurants nearby if they desire, or simply hop back aboard and enjoy a prepared meal.

Île Fourche is a quick stop that shouldn’t be missed – typically en route back to St Maarten. The small islet lies about 2 miles northwest of the main island of St Barths. An afternoon anchor in the marine park to snorkel, swim, and hike the mountains is unforgettable.