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Day yacht charter from St. Barts: neighboring islands and coves

Colombier, Fourchue, Tintamarre, Pinel, Anguilla: what to know before a day yacht charter from St. Barts, from reserve rules to entry formalities.

By Sun Beach House

Charter yacht à la journée depuis Saint-Barth : îles voisines et anses

On September 19, 2025, staff from the Territorial Environment Agency (ATE) installed thirty connected mooring buoys in Colombier Bay. They report in real time when a boat picks up a buoy, how long it stays and whether a buoy comes loose[6]. The detail says a great deal about the sea around St. Barts: you can sail freely, but within a precise framework, and the boats are counted.

A day yacht charter from St. Barts is one of the finest ways to see the island. You leave in the morning, anchor in a cove no road reaches, swim above the seagrass beds, then choose: stay in the lee of St. Barts, or set a course for Saint-Martin or Anguilla. Each option has its own rules, formalities and weather constraints.

This guide sets out, with sources, what a day at sea involves, the coves of the nature reserve, the protected islets of Saint-Martin and what to plan for Anguilla.

Day yacht charter in St. Barts: what the formula covers

On the island, the offer comes in several formats. The local directory Access.sb lists operators offering full-day, half-day or sunset trips, most often with a crew or skipper, on motor boats as well as catamarans[13]. Only one of the listings consulted mentions a boat available without a skipper[13]. The same directory cites Gustavia and Grand Cul-de-Sac as departure points[13].

Two points shape the day before you even choose a boat:

  • Authorization in the reserve. All commercial activities in the Saint-Barthélemy nature reserve require prior authorization[1]. An operator taking you to Colombier or Fourchue must therefore be compliant: ask the question when you book.
  • Boat size. Vessels over 25 meters are not authorized in the Colombier and Fourchue bays[2]. A large yacht may suit Saint-Martin or Anguilla, but not these two coves.

Our concierge service lists, among its nautical services, yacht and catamaran rental with crew and day excursions to Anguilla and Saint-Martin[14].

St. Barts coves by sea: Colombier and Fourchue

Colombier

Colombier Beach can be reached by a hiking trail or by sea[4]. The tourism board describes clear water suited to snorkeling and swimming, along with Petite Anse, a more intimate neighboring cove[4]. Le Journal de Saint-Barth notes a geographic particularity: backed by a cliff, it is the only beach of its kind on the island, with dynamics that differ from those of Saint-Jean or Flamands[8].

The bay is part of the nature reserve, created in 1996, which covers 12 km² of marine area divided into five zones[1]. It is busy: an ATE newsletter reported by Le Journal de Saint-Barth mentioned up to 42 boats in high season, and Colombier accounted for 65% of recorded violations[7]. The thirty connected buoys installed in 2025 are designed precisely to manage these moorings better[6].

Fourchue

Like Colombier, Fourchue is classified as a simple protection zone of the reserve[2]. The ATE provides visitors with 40 ecological moorings in the Colombier and Fourchue bays, to protect the seagrass beds from anchoring[1]. Anchoring is allowed only inside these two bays, outside the buoy areas, and the boat must not extend beyond the authorized zone[1].

For other coves reached on foot or by boat, see our guide to secret beaches in St. Barts.

Rules on board in the nature reserve

Your captain knows them, but they shape the program of the day. Here are the essentials, according to the ATE:

Rule Detail
Speed 5 knots maximum in the channel, harbor and anchorages, within 300 m of the coast, in the reserve's bays and within 100 m of the islets[3]
Banned equipment Jet skis, seabobs, electric surfboards and towed sports, in the simple protection zone[2]
Buoys and anchoring 20 tonnes and 25 meters maximum, 96 consecutive hours at most, in Colombier and Fourchue[2]
Anchoring prohibited Throughout the reserve outside the Colombier and Fourchue areas, at Petits Saints and in Pointe Milou bay[3]
Weather Moorings banned above 55 km/h of wind or 0.5 m of swell[5][1]
Insurance "Removal and destruction" clause mandatory for moored boats[2][1]
Marine mammals No approach within 300 m, 100 m for professionals trained by the Agoa sanctuary[3]

Two practical consequences. First, the jet skis and electric toys often offered on board cannot be used in these bays[2]. Second, the 55 km/h wind and 0.5 m swell rule can cancel a planned stop: the captain remains fully responsible for picking up a buoy[5]. For other bays, the ATE points to the DONIA app, which shows the type of seabed between 0 and 18 meters[3].

Heading for Saint-Martin: Tintamarre, Pinel and Creole Rock

Saint-Martin has its own national nature reserve, created in 1998[9]. Several of its islets feature in day itineraries, each with its own rules:

  • Tintamarre: 17 permanent yellow buoys for boats up to 50 feet or 15 tonnes; boats under 33 feet may anchor, on sandy bottoms only. The islet is the only nesting site of the brown noddy, hence the request to respect its tranquility[9].
  • Pinel: 15 buoys for boats up to 40 feet or 10 tonnes, anchoring on sand for boats under 33 feet, jet skis and fishing prohibited; access is through the passage between Green Cay and Pinel[9].
  • Green Cay: the mooring becomes unusable in northern swells, and fishing is prohibited near the snorkeling site[9].
  • Creole Rock: engines banned within 30 meters of the beach, landing and climbing the rock prohibited, as boobies and tropicbirds nest there[9].

Formalities on the French side

Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin are not part of the Schengen area: Schengen visas issued by states other than France are not valid there[10]. When a visa is required, it must be applied for online before departure; no tourist visa is issued on arrival[10]. The prefecture also points out that travelers entering through Princess Juliana airport must comply with the entry rules of the Dutch side[10]. If your itinerary includes a stop on the Dutch side, ask the operator what this means for your documents.

Anguilla: a day with a British neighbor

Anguilla, which our concierge service offers, like Saint-Martin, as a day excursion[14], is a British Overseas Territory[11][12]. It is therefore a separate jurisdiction, with its own entry formalities.

  • Passport: it must be valid for the whole duration of your stay, and entry can be refused with an invalid document or one reported lost or stolen[11].
  • Visa: the rules depend on nationality; the UK government states, for example, that British citizens may stay without a visa for up to 90 days[11]. Other travelers should check their situation before departure.

Anguilla's customs and immigration fees are specific to the island and vary between the operators who quote them: have the amount and method of payment confirmed in writing before departure.

Preparing your day at sea: the checklist

When you book, these questions avoid most unpleasant surprises:

  1. Is the boat authorized in the reserve? Prior authorization applies to any commercial activity[1].
  2. Is it under 25 meters? Above that, Colombier and Fourchue are excluded[2].
  3. Which stops are planned, and in which country? Saint-Martin and Anguilla do not apply the same formalities[10][11].
  4. What happens if the wind or swell picks up? The 55 km/h and 0.5 m thresholds apply to the reserve's moorings[5].
  5. What is on board? Jet skis, seabobs and electric devices are banned in the simple protection zone[2] and at Pinel[9].
  6. Is everyone's passport valid? Essential for Anguilla[11].

For concierge services, a boat charter is billed separately, with a quote sent before you commit, and 2-3 weeks' notice secures the best availability for a yacht[14]. In high season, book early: our guide to the 2026-2027 high season details the calendar, and our article on water sports in St. Barts rounds out the day at sea with diving, paddleboarding and kitesurfing.

Frequently asked questions

Can you go to Colombier by yacht? Yes, if the boat is 25 meters or less and the operator holds the authorization required for commercial activities in the reserve[2][1]. Buoys are limited to 20 tonnes and 96 consecutive hours[2].

Do you need a passport for a day in Anguilla? Yes. Anguilla is a British Overseas Territory, and your passport must be valid for the whole stay[11].

Can you ride a jet ski in Colombier or Fourchue? No. Jet skis, seabobs, electric surfboards and towed sports are banned in the simple protection zone, which includes both bays[2].

What happens in rough seas? The Colombier and Fourchue moorings must not be used above 55 km/h of wind or 0.5 m of swell[5]. The captain then decides how to adapt the itinerary.

How far ahead should you book? For a yacht booked through our concierge service, 2-3 weeks' notice secures the best availability[14].

Our recommendation

A successful day at sea depends less on the size of the boat than on the fit between the boat, the itinerary and the day's weather. For a first time, Colombier and Fourchue are enough to fill a day without leaving St. Barts waters; Saint-Martin and Anguilla call for more preparation and valid passports. If you are staying in one of our villas for rent in St. Barts, our concierge service can put you in touch with a crew and plan the day with you. For a specific request, write to us from the contact page.

  1. Territorial Environment Agency of Saint-Barthélemy (ATE) — "Réserve naturelle de Saint-Barthélemy – Nicole Aussedat" (2023 brochure) — https://www.agencedelenvironnement.fr/upload/Depliant-RN-2023-FR-US-68409571444b2.pdf — undated — accessed 10/21/2026 ↩
  2. Territorial Environment Agency of Saint-Barthélemy (ATE) — "Regulatory zones" — https://www.agencedelenvironnement.fr/en/page/regulatory-zones — undated page — accessed 10/21/2026 ↩
  3. Territorial Environment Agency of Saint-Barthélemy (ATE) — "On the water" — https://www.agencedelenvironnement.fr/en/page/on-the-water — undated page — accessed 10/21/2026 ↩
  4. Saint-Barthélemy Tourism Board — "Colombier" — https://www.saintbarth-tourisme.com/fr/locations/colombier — undated page — accessed 10/21/2026 ↩
  5. Le Journal de Saint-Barth — "Tempête Tammy - L'ATE rappelle la réglementation dans la Réserve naturelle" — https://www.journaldesaintbarth.com/fr/actualites/meteo/tempete-tammy-late-rappelle-la-reglementation-dans-la-reserve-naturelle-202310201546.html — published 10/20/2023 — accessed 10/21/2026 ↩
  6. Le Journal de Saint-Barth — "Environnement - Des hydrophones à l'écoute de la faune des récifs" — https://www.journaldesaintbarth.com/actualites/environnement/environnement-des-hydrophones-a-lecoute-de-la-faune-des-recifs-202509251724.html — published 09/27/2025 — accessed 10/21/2026 ↩
  7. Le Journal de Saint-Barth — "Tortues, étude des roches, défrichement… le riche menu de la lettre d'info de l'ATE" — https://www.journaldesaintbarth.com/fr/actualites/environnement/tortues-etude-des-roches-defrichement-le-riche-menu-de-la-lettre-dinfo-de-late-202302021828.html — published 02/06/2023 — accessed 10/21/2026 ↩
  8. Le Journal de Saint-Barth — "A la découverte de Colombier, la plage « adossée » de l'île", T.F. — https://www.journaldesaintbarth.com/fr/actualites/environnement/a-la-decouverte-de-colombier-la-plage-adossee-de-lile-202602051944.html — published 02/07/2026 — accessed 10/21/2026 ↩
  9. Saint-Martin National Nature Reserve — "Ecologically fragile sites to discover" — https://reservenaturelle-saint-martin.com/en/taxonomy/term/133 — undated page — accessed 10/21/2026 ↩
  10. Prefecture of Saint-Barthélemy and Saint-Martin — "Rappel sur les formalités d'entrée des touristes étrangers à Saint-Barthélemy et à Saint-Martin" (press release) — https://www.saint-barth-saint-martin.gouv.fr/contenu/telechargement/2446/16926/file/CP-formalités_touristes_étrangers-12-10-23.pdf — published 10/12/2023 — accessed 10/21/2026 ↩
  11. GOV.UK (UK government) — "Anguilla travel advice: Entry requirements" — https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/anguilla/entry-requirements — undated page — accessed 10/21/2026 ↩
  12. Wikipedia — "Anguilla" (cross-reference only) — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anguilla — accessed 10/21/2026 ↩
  13. Access.sb (local directory) — "Location de bateau" section — https://www.access.sb/fr/st-barth/loisirs/location-de-bateau/ — undated page — accessed 10/21/2026 ↩
  14. Sun Beach House — "Concierge" (services and frequently asked questions) — https://www.sun-beach-house.com/en/conciergerie — accessed 10/21/2026 ↩