St Barts

The island

Description of the island

In St Barts, the sun is always shining although it can sometimes give way to sudden showers or storms.

St Barts is the jewel of the French West Indies. Like a jewel lost in the Caribbean, the island of St Barts is as small as it is grandiose. 24 km of paradise, between fine sandy beaches, luxury hotels and restaurants, local charm and the “French touch”, the experience is inevitably unique.

The gentle way of life is just like the climate: warm, tropical and sunny all year round!
Sometimes, a shower, a “squall” as we say here, comes to refresh the atmosphere for a few minutes, then the sun reappears at once. The climate is tropical, hot all year round, with temperatures hovering around 30°C. From December to April, the air is relatively cool and becomes more humid from May to November.

On the island, French and English are spoken fluently. The euro is the official currency but dollars are accepted in almost all hotels, restaurants and shops.

One foot on land and the magic happens. Welcome to St Barts.

Description of the island

History of St Barts

Discovered by Christopher Columbus at the end of the 15th century, St Bart’s original Caribbean name was “Ouanalao”. 

Over the centuries, the island has been successively ceded between Sweden and France. Many plaques still bear inscriptions in Swedish on the streets of Gustavia, the only settlement on the island. 

In 1946, an airplane landed for the first time in St Barts. A few years later, in 1957, David Rockefeller had a villa built. At the same time, the community decided to prohibit the construction of high-rise buildings to avoid mass tourism.

Since the 1960s, the island has become a luxury tourist destination, offering a perfect balance between nature, comfort and tranquility.

History of St Barts

Stay

How to get there?

There is only one airstrip in St Barts and its configuration allows only small planes to land. You will have to make a short stopover on a neighboring island before reaching your paradise.

Formalities

During the Covid period for all travelers:

Passage through St.Maarten requires that you complete the EHAS form , which is a provisional document attesting to your immunization schedule and/or recovery. It is usually obtained within 24 hours and requires a test result. The form is available at this link: https://stmaartenehas.com/appl...

The information below is mandatory for travel through St.Maarten.

For the French travelers:

Sint Maarten is an island where one half is Dutch and the other half is French. A French identity card is not sufficient to reach the Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on the Dutch side, even for a simple transit: a passport with a validity period of more than three months will be required. To reach the regional airport of Grand-Case l’Espérance (SFG) from the mainland, usually after a stopover in Fort-de-France or Pointe-à-Pitre, a French identity card may suffice.
If you are traveling with your children, you should know that minors, regardless of age, must now also have an individual passport. French law stipulates that minors traveling with both parents, or only one of them, do not need to be in possession of an authorization to leave the country. On the other hand, this document is mandatory (since January 15, 2017) if this accompanying condition is not met. In the latter case, the child will need to present a: passport (or identity card, depending on the requirements of the destination country),the authorization to leave the territory form, signed by one of the parents holding parental authority (the authorization to leave the territory form can be accessed at www.service-public.fr); a photocopy of the identity document of the signing parent.
When a minor travels with one of his or her parents whose name he or she does not bear, it is strongly recommended either to be able to prove filiation (https://www.service-public.fr/...), or to present an authorization to leave the territory (Cerfa form n° 15646*01) duly completed and signed by the other parent with a copy of his or her identity card. This authorization does not exempt minors from fulfilling any other specific formality for the destination.

For European Union citizens and Swiss nationals

Although half Dutch and half French, Sint Maarten is not part of the Schengen area. An identity card from a European Union country is therefore not sufficient to reach the island. A passport with a return or onward ticket is required and allows you to stay for up to 60 days. An immigration card, usually given on the plane, must also be filled in with the address of the place of stay.

For citizens of other countries

For citizens of Canada and the United States, you must have a valid passport (valid for more than 6 months at the time of entry) and a return ticket. A visa is not required if the duration
of the stay is less than or equal to 30 days. New security measures have been implemented in airports: electronic devices (smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.) must be charged and in working order for all flights to or through the United States. Screening officers must be able to turn them on. As a precaution, have your charger handy. If your device is discharged or defective, it may be confiscated. As this measure may be extended to other airports, we recommend that you charge your electronic devices before your flight, regardless of your destination.

Stay

St Barts offers the unique opportunity to choose between spectacular villas, charming hotels, residences and cottages.The mountainous island offers a subtle blend of French elegance.Enjoy the charm of luxurious bungalows, the tranquility of sumptuous springs or opt for the chic of a 5-star hotel.: Whether your stay lasts a few days or several weeks, you will find in St Barts the establishment that will make your dreams come true.
Don’t hesitate to ask us for advice.

Enjoy

On the island, about sixty restaurants combine authentic Creole food with the best dishes from cuisines around the world.

  • Beach restaurants:

    Beach restaurants:

    • Nikki Beach – Saint Jean Bay
    • Gyp Sea – Saint Jean Bay
    • Sand Bar – Saint Jean Bay
    • Nao Beach - Saint Jean Bay
    • Pearl Beach – Saint Jean Bay
    • Shellona – Shell Beach
    • Beach Club au Toiny – Anse de Toiny
    • Le Rivage - Grand Cul-de-Sac
    • Amis Plage - Le BarthĂ©lemy Hotel - Petit Cul-de-Sac
    • La Cabane - Hotel Cheval Blanc - Flamands
  • Gastronomic restaurants, trendy, world cuisine:

    Gastronomic restaurants, trendy, world cuisine:

    • Le Bonito – Gustavia
    • La GuĂ©rite – Gustavia
    • L’Isola – Gustavia
    • Black Ginger - Gustavia
    • Kinugawa – Gustavia
    • L’Esprit – Salines
    • Le Tamarin – Salines
    • Le Ti St Barth – Pointe Milou
    • Zion - Saint Jean
    • La Petite Plage - Gustavia
    • And many others.

Activities

St Barts is an island with a strong relief where the natural environment is very present, especially through strong vegetation despite a very dry environment. In the sea, a national aquatic nature reserve was created in 1996. Contrary to other islands in the West Indies, the original fauna is intact and extinctions have been minimal up to now. The underwater environment is a natural richness of the island, with notably its corals (51 species, and 31 different genera).

  • Hiking

    Hiking

    The most beautiful hike on the island is the one that leads you to the breathtakingly beautiful Colombier beach, accessible by the Colombier hill path by foot. The 20 minute hike is a walk down to the beach. This beach is theoretically accessible only by boat. At Grand-Fond and Petit Cul-de-Sac, discover the beautiful natural pools... but beware of sea urchins that can complicate your outing if you jump in! Count 30 to 45 minutes depending on your pace and the weather. For all hikes, it is recommended to wear sneakers and to keep in mind that the sun sets early on the island. There is no shortage of activities and there is something for everyone.

  • Beaches and water activities

    Beaches and water activities

    If you are looking for a picturesque stay in a postcard setting, you will not be disappointed. About fifteen beaches are offered to you throughout the island with: fine sand, pebbles and shells.... If you like diving, the warm waters of the Caribbean are an opportunity to explore beautiful coral reefs with magnificent colors. A first dive or private outings can be easily organized from the port of Gustavia. On the water, surfing, windsurfing, paddling, kayaking, kite-surfing, jet-skiing or seabobbing are all activities that will give you the feeling of being alone in the world for a moment of gliding and escape. You can also escape for a few hours by renting a motorboat or a sailboat with or without a skipper: tour of the island, sunset, half day or full day, possible visit to neighboring islands... Big game fishing is also a must for fish lovers!

  • Other sport activities

    Other sport activities

    Because vacations also rhyme with sports, you will find on the island all the facilities for fun activities: tennis, soccer, archery, basketball, etc. Sports coaches or fitness classes can also be booked very easily, in the gym or at your place of residence.

  • Visit

    Visit

    Gustavia, the "capital" of the island, offers a beautiful history and many places to visit: its Anglican church, its Catholic church, the Retrocession Square, the Anchor, the Wall House Museum at the Maison de la Collectivité, Fort Karl, Fort Gustav, the Arawak or the Swedish Bell Tower. The opportunity for a stroll easily achievable on foot.

  • Wellness

    Wellness

    St Barts is also known as the "island of well-being": what could be better than spending a day taking care of yourself? On the island, take advantage of the various spas offered by each luxury hotel, or even yoga (or hot yoga) sessions. Beauticians, hairdressers and beauty salons are also there to offer you moments of well-being.

  • Shopping

    Shopping

    The stores in St Barts are varied and luxurious. You will find the most famous brands located in Gustavia. There are also boutiques located in St Jean, near Baie de Saint Jean.

Events

St Barts is more busy during the high season, when Christmas and New Year’s Eve, Carnival and the Bucket Regatta take place.

  • Christmas & New Year Eve

    Christmas & New Year Eve

    For the festive season, the greatest yachts from all over the world gather in the port of Gustavia. On the evening of the 31st, the whole island celebrates, and at midnight fireworks are set off and ship's sirens wail in unison.

  • Regattas

    Regattas

    Saint-Barth Cata Cup
    (November 15-19 November)
    Bucket Regatta
    (March 21-24 March)
    West Indies Regatta
    (April 26 to 28 April)
    Regatta Island Tour
    (April 30 to May 1)

  • Festivals

    Festivals

    Carnival / Mardi Gras (February 13)

    National Holiday (July 14)

    Neighborhood Festival (August 1-15)

  • Leisures

    Leisures

    Christmas Village (December 1 to 17)

    Saint-Barth Livre & Jazz Festival (March 26 to April 09)

    Music Festival (June 21)

    Saint-Barth Gourmet Festival (November 07 to 12)

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