The Best Places for Sailing in the Caribbean
Sailing in the Caribbean is a sailor’s paradise, where you are guaranteed to create memories that will last a lifetime. Just imagine exploring over 5,000 islands, reefs, and cays and enjoying a combination of line-of-sight sailing and blue water stretches in your monohull or catamaran charter. Not forgetting the chance to discover an array of white-sand beaches, colourful coral reefs, picturesque harbours, and laid-back island culture.
From exploring uninhabited islands in Antigua to relaxing on stunning beaches in the BVI and scuba diving in Belize, sailing in the Caribbean is full of wonders.
Does the Caribbean sound like your perfect getaway? As you prepare to book your next idyllic bareboat or skippered charter, you might be wondering about the best places to sail in the
Caribbean to make your holiday an experience like no other. Read on to find out everything you need to know about sailing in the Caribbean for families, couples, adventurers and everyone in between.
The best places to sail in the Caribbean for families
There’s no doubt about it, the Caribbean is a brilliant family holiday destination. With countless opportunities to explore, relax and immerse yourself in local cultures, there’s something for everyone when sailing in the Caribbean.
If you’re planning to take the helm on a fun-filled family adventure, you might be wondering, where are the best places to sail in the Caribbean for you and your crew? We think the BVI and St Martin offer some of the best sailing experiences for families.
Why is the BVI one of the best places to sail in the Caribbean for families?
- Over 50 islands, islets and cays make up the British Virgin Islands. With so many wonders to explore, there’s something for all the family to enjoy, whether you prefer a relaxing or action-packed holiday.
- With clean, calm and warm waters, all the family will enjoy sailing and swimming in the BVI. Take a look at our BVI sailing itineraries to find out some of our favourite beaches and sailing hotspots.
- The BVI is also renowned for its incredible snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities, ideal for older children. Will you uncover the treasures of the RMS Rhone or Angelfish Reef? Learn more about the best scuba diving spots in the BVI.
Can’t wait to show your family the natural beauty of the BVI? Find out the best time to sail in the BVI, build a quote and book your yacht charter today.
Why is St Martin one of the best places to sail in the Caribbean for families?
- St Martin is a cultural wonderland, divided into French and Dutch territories. You and your family can immerse yourselves in the different cultures and embrace island living as you enjoy the unique cuisines, attractions and communities.
- The beaches in St Martin are immaculate and perfect for sunbathing, building sandcastles and playing beach games. Whether you’re setting sail with young children or teenagers, you’ll create lifelong memories on the beautiful beaches of St Martin.
- Much like the BVI, St Martin is renowned for its astonishing natural beauty, including breathtaking coral reefs. There’s no better place to explore life under the water than in St Martin. Find out more about the best scuba diving spots in St Martin that all the family will love.
Ready for your exciting family holiday in one of the best places to sail in the Caribbean? Build a quote and book your St Martin yacht charter today.
Sailing in the Caribbean as a couple
Whether you’re planning a honeymoon, celebrating an anniversary or simply looking for an escape from reality, you’ll love sailing in the Caribbean with your partner. The crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea open up endless opportunities to create magical memories that last a lifetime. The only question left to ask is, where are the best places to sail in the Caribbean as a couple?
Beautiful and romantic, St Lucia and the Bahamas take sailing in the Caribbean as a couple to the next level.
Why is St Lucia one of the best places to sail in the Caribbean as a couple?
- St Lucia is often considered one of the world’s most popular honeymoon destinations because of its enchanting, picturesque setting.
- Home to some of the most stunning, palm tree-lined beaches in the world, will you sunbathe on the golden sands or enjoy a romantic stroll along the seafront?
- We offer skippered charters in St Lucia, which are ideal for sailing in the Caribbean as a couple because you can relax on the deck of your yacht and enjoy delicious cocktails while your experienced skipper navigates the turquoise waters of St Lucia for you.
Why is the Bahamas the ultimate destination for sailing in the Caribbean as a couple?
- Much like St Lucia, the Bahamas is also an extremely popular honeymoon destination.
- With quiet, secluded beaches perfect for switching off and unwinding together to the laid-back island atmosphere, we can see why couples choose the Bahamas time and time again when sailing in the Caribbean.
- If you’re looking to try something new as a couple and want to embark on a sailing adventure together, the Bahamas is home to some of the best snorkelling, scuba diving and swimming spots in the world. Whether you explore the depths of Rose Island Reef or Runway Wall, we know you’ll make memories for life. Learn more about the best scuba diving spots in the Bahamas.
Find out more about the best time to sail the Bahamas and check out our Bahamas sailing itineraries for inspiration on what to do during your romantic yacht charter holiday.
Sailing in the Caribbean for Adventurers
Are you searching for the adventure sailing holiday of a lifetime? Sailing in the Caribbean offers some of the most incredible opportunities for thrill seekers looking for an adrenaline rush.
From isolated beaches only accessible by boat to underwater caves just waiting to be discovered, the Caribbean isn’t short of things to do for adventurers, particularly in Belize and Antigua.
Why is Belize one of the best places to sail in the Caribbean for adventurers?
- Considered one of our level 3 sailing destinations, Belize is ideal for more advanced sailors looking for an exciting challenge out on the open waters. Learn more about the qualifications to sail a yacht.
- Belize is home to the world’s second-largest barrier reef, a true paradise for adventurous sailors wanting to explore the depths of the crystal clear waters.
- It comes as no surprise that Belize is also renowned worldwide as the best scuba diving spot in the Caribbean and even the world. Will you uncover the treasures of the Great Blue Hole or admire the beauty of Ambergris Caye? Find out more about the best scuba diving spots in Belize.
Why is Antigua one of the best places to sail in the Caribbean for adventurers?
- Do you want to take part in fiercely fun sailing races and show off your impeccable sailing skills? Antigua is renowned for its races and regattas, including Antigua Sailing Week.
- Are you setting sail around the Caribbean for the first time and want to challenge yourself? Antigua is one of our level 2 sailing destinations, making it the perfect location for beginner sailors to enjoy a thrilling sailing experience.
- Antigua is known for its brilliant snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities, particularly The Andes shipwreck where you can expect to find beautiful stingrays among the wreck.
Best places to sail in the Caribbean for the first time
Are you looking at trying something new and are thinking about sailing in the Caribbean for the first time? With its beautiful temperatures, calm cruising conditions and crystal clear waters, the Caribbean is ideal for anyone who’s new to sailing.
However, there are some sailing destinations that take beginner sailing to the next level, such as the British Virgin Islands and Martinique.
Why is the BVI an ideal destination for sailing in the Caribbean for the first time?
- With line-of-sight navigation and crystal clear waters, the BVI is renowned as one of the best places to sail in the Caribbean for first-time sailors due to its brilliant sailing conditions.
- Sailing in the Caribbean has never been as smooth as in the BVI because the beautiful islands form natural protection and shelter against strong currents.
- Much like Antigua, the BVI hosts sailing regattas and events throughout the year, most notably the BVI Spring Regatta. There’s no better feeling than spectating and immersing yourself in sailing culture for the first time.
- The BVI offers the ultimate Caribbean experience, from uninhabited islands and secluded beaches to incredible snorkelling spots and delicious cuisine.
Take a look at our BVI sailing holidays and learn more about why it’s one of the best places to sail in the Caribbean for first-time sailors. As this is your first time exploring these sensational islands, use our BVI sailing itineraries as inspiration when planning your bareboat or skippered charter.
Why is Martinique one of the best places to sail in the Caribbean for beginners?
- Similarly to the BVI, Martinique is one of the best places to sail in the Caribbean for the first time because of the fantastic cruising conditions. From line-of-sight navigation to consistent trade winds and average temperatures of 23-30 degrees Celsius, Martinique is a sailing paradise.
- Martinique is considered one of our level 1 sailing destinations, meaning it’s ideal if you’re a beginner sailor looking to hone your skills. Find out more about the requirements for chartering a yacht.
- If you’re sailing in the Caribbean for the first time, you’ll want to discover the natural beauty of this breathtaking region in all its glory. Whether you relax and unwind on the island’s black sand beaches or moor up and spend the day hiking around one of the luscious mountains, we know you’ll fall in love with Martinique.
Want to learn more about this sensational sailing spot? Take a look at our Martinique sailing itineraries and start planning your first Caribbean sailing adventure. You can also read our blog on the best scuba diving spots in Martinique.
Sailing in the Caribbean for the first time? Learn to sail in the Caribbean smoothly and in style by reading our guide. You can also find out more about learning to sail at one of our sailing schools.
What size of boat do you need to sail the Caribbean?
So there you have it, some of the best places to sail in the Caribbean for families, couples, adventurers and novice sailors. As you imagine yourself sailing in the Caribbean, you might be wondering, what size yacht is best for your idyllic holiday?
When choosing your perfect yacht, think about what you want from your Caribbean sailing holiday. If you are interested in performance sailing and having optimal control in all conditions, then the classic single-hulled monohull would be ideal. On the other hand, if you would rather have space, comfort, and manoeuvrability, then a catamaran would be best suited.
Most of the Caribbean destinations such as Antigua, BVI, Grenada, St. Lucia and St Martin offer monohulls and catamarans. However, Belize and Bahamas only offer catamarans and Martinique offers monohulls.
In the Caribbean, the monohull yachts vary in size from 35 – 45 feet and the size will depend on how many cabins and berths are included. The same goes for catamarans, however, these yachts are designed with space in mind and range from 40 – 50 feet. You can also select the age of your yacht charter, whether that’s 0-1 years old, 1-3 years old or 3+ years old.
With a great selection of yachts, you can choose what size, age and type would suit you best. This is the same for all our sailing destinations in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, South Pacific, United Kingdom, Southeast Asia and Indian Ocean.
We can’t wait to welcome you aboard one of our state-of-the-art yachts for a week or two of sailing in the Caribbean. All that’s left to do is find out the best time to sail in the Caribbean, book your sailing holiday and start planning your dream Caribbean sailing itinerary.
If you have any questions about the best places to sail in the Caribbean, please get in touch with us today. For other key questions about sailing in the Caribbean, check out our FAQs where we answer everything from how long it takes to sail the Caribbean, to what the sailing conditions are like.
Contributor
Caroline Barbour
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