Yacht Charter Itinerary
Popular Activities
Food & Drink
Yacht Charter FAQ
Explore the Virgin Islands by Superyacht
The Virgin Islands are a scatter of dozens of islands and cays, from the green hills of St John to the flat coral of Anegada. Short sails between them leave room for quiet anchorages, lively harbours and long days in the water.
Virgin Islands 7-Day Itinerary
St Thomas
Day 1: Your charter begins at St Thomas, where you board before the first evening. If you arrive early, Charlotte Amalie is worth a morning visit, with its Danish colonial buildings and craft markets. Magens Bay, on the north coast, is a calm place for a first swim, and the skyride to Paradise Point looks over the harbour at sunset.
St John
Day 2: Much of St John is national park, which is why its bays stay so green and unbuilt. Take the tender through the mangroves of Hurricane Hole, then snorkel the underwater trail at Trunk Bay, where reef fish and the occasional turtle stay close to the shore. Every cove has its own character, and the day can be as active or as slow as you like.
Tortola and Norman Island
Day 3: Tortola is the main harbour of the British Virgin Islands and the usual place to clear in. From there it is a short sail to Norman Island, said to have inspired Treasure Island, where the sea caves known as The Caves are good for snorkelling and swimming.
Peter Island and Cooper Island
Day 4: Peter Island has quiet beaches and sheltered anchorages, and Deadman’s Bay is the best known as where Blackbeard is said to have marooned fifteen pirates with a bottle of rum. Sail on to Cooper Island, an eco-minded island with solar-powered accommodation, and spend the afternoon on its quiet beach.
Virgin Gorda
Day 5: Virgin Gorda is known for The Baths, where giant granite boulders form pools and grottoes you can swim and scramble through. Go early, before the day boats arrive. The walk up Gorda Peak looks across the islands, and Little Dix Bay is a calm curve of white sand to end the day.
Anegada
Day 6: Anegada lies apart from the other islands, flat and made of coral, a sail across open water from Virgin Gorda. The reef around it is demanding, so we plan this day around the yacht’s draft and the weather. It rewards the effort with long, empty beaches, a re-established flock of flamingos in the salt ponds, and lobster grilled on the beach in the evening.
Jost Van Dyke, and back to St Thomas
Day 7: The longest sail of the week takes you west to Jost Van Dyke, a small island with a large reputation. White Bay is home to the Soggy Dollar Bar, where the Painkiller was first made, and Bubbly Pool, a rock pool that foams when the swell is up, is a walk from Great Harbour. Dinner is ashore, with live music if the evening suits. The next morning a short sail of about 16 nautical miles returns you to St Thomas, where you disembark.
Popular Virgin Islands Activities
From quiet coves to a calendar of local festivals, each island has its own character.
Festivals and Island Music
St John’s Festival, in Cruz Bay around the Fourth of July, fills the streets with steel pan and calypso. In late November, the Anegada Lobster Festival brings the island’s restaurants together for three days of grilled and curried spiny lobster, with live music.
Wellness and Rejuvenation
Yoga on deck at sunrise, a swim before breakfast and the natural rock pools at The Baths give the days a quiet rhythm. Some yachts also offer massage and spa treatments on board, which we can arrange when the yacht has them.
Virgin Islands Food and Drink
Tamarind-Glazed Snapper
The skin of this seared snapper is caramelised with a glaze of tamarind and citrus, releasing a sweet and tangy aroma.
Callaloo & Saltfish
Callaloo is a Caribbean staple, a stew of leafy greens, onion and pepper, here paired with tender salt cod.
The Painkiller
The Painkiller was created in the 1970s at the Soggy Dollar Bar on Jost Van Dyke: rum, pineapple, orange juice, and cream of coconut, with nutmeg grated over the top. It is best at White Bay, where guests have long swum ashore to pay with wet dollars.
Yacht Charter Virgin Islands Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the British Virgin Islands and the US Virgin Islands?
The British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the US Virgin Islands (USVI) are neighbouring island groups with different governments and entry rules: the BVI are a British Overseas Territory, and the USVI are part of the United States. The BVI include Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada, and the USVI include St Thomas and St John. Both use the US dollar. A charter that crosses between them involves clearing customs and immigration, which your captain arranges, and the yacht’s base and licence affect where it can start and which waters it can enter, so we check both before proposing a route.
What type of yacht is best for exploring the Virgin Islands?
There is no single best yacht, and in the Virgin Islands the choice is less about speed than about space and how you like to spend your days, as the sails between islands are short. Motor yachts offer generous accommodation and onboard amenities, sailing yachts suit guests who enjoy being under sail, and catamarans combine deck space and stability at anchor with a shallow draft, which helps in places such as Anegada. We help you choose according to your guests, the kind of week you want and the itinerary.
What should you consider when planning a Virgin Islands yacht charter during hurricane season?
The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June to November, with the highest risk between August and October. The main charter season in the Virgin Islands runs from December to June. If you are considering a week outside it, we suggest talking to us about flexible dates, cancellation terms and travel insurance before you book. Your captain follows the forecasts throughout the charter and will change the itinerary if needed, with your safety first.
How far in advance should you book a Virgin Islands yacht charter?
We recommend starting nine months ahead for the winter and spring seasons, or earlier if you have specific dates or a particular yacht in mind. The more time we have, the more yachts we can compare with you, and the easier it is to arrange international flights and shape the itinerary around your guests’ preferences.
