St Barth Excursions Yacht Charter
Captain Renaud's catamarans slip out of Gustavia for the kind of day you tell people about all winter.
Why Go
Wayayaï's twin hulls are still tied up at the ferry dock when the espressos come out, so by the time the other tenders are jockeying for a mooring in Colombier, you're already in the water with a paddleboard.
The Experience
This isn't a group-tour operation with a clipboard and matching visors. St Barth Excursions is a small, family-run charter (Renaud Nicot at the helm) that runs two well-kept catamarans out of Quai de la République in Gustavia: the 45-foot Wayayaï and the 46-foot Rendez-vous. Both are set up like a private beach club that happens to move — teak sunbeds forward, a Bluetooth rig you'll actually want to hijack, a proper galley, and kayaks, paddleboards, snorkel kits and floating toys stashed for the anchor stops. A typical full day traces the leeward coast to Colombier, ducks into the marine reserve at Pain de Sucre and Gros Îlets to snorkel over the reef, then finishes at Île Fourchue for a swim before the run back into Gustavia. Half-days and sunset cruises are on the menu too, but the full day is where the boat gets to breathe.
What to Try
Book the full-day with the on-board lunch package (around €70/pp — grilled fish, salads, cold rosé, served at anchor) rather than a picnic stop ashore; it's what everyone regulars order for a reason. Ask Renaud to drop the hook at Pain de Sucre before Colombier — the visibility is better mid-morning and the turtles show up more reliably than they do in the guidebooks. If it's flat, request a lap out to Île Fourchue; if there's swell, the crew will reroute to Anse du Gouverneur on the south side, which is arguably even better.
Insider Tip
Private charters are per boat, not per person, so a group of six pays roughly the same €1,400–€1,500 as a couple — the math tips hard in your favor once you're four or more. Villa concierges quietly quote the same rate, so book direct through stbarthexcursions.com and bank the commission on champagne. In high season (Christmas–New Year, February) the boat books out weeks ahead; shoulder weeks in May and November are the sweet spot for both weather and availability.
The Practical Stuff
Meet at the ferry dock on Quai de la République in Gustavia (97133) — there's paid parking along the quai but it fills by 9am, so tender in from your villa or grab a taxi. Departures are usually 9:30am for full days, 2pm for half-days, and around 4:30pm for sunset cruises; cash or card both fine, prices in euros. Bring reef-safe sunscreen (the marine reserve is strict), a light layer for the ride home, and dramamine if you're at all prone — the crossing back into Gustavia can bounce in the afternoon trades.
Pair It With
- 1493 Lodges St Barth Guide — Stay up in Colombier and you're waking up above the same bay where the catamaran drops anchor for lunch — a natural bookend to the day.
- 6e SENS Massage Wellness Beauty Saint Barth Guide — A next-morning massage sorts out the sun-and-salt hangover that always follows a full day on deck.
- Abyss Restaurant Guide — Come off the boat, rinse the salt off, and walk to Abyss for a seafood dinner that keeps the day's theme going without the effort.
- Absolute Hot Yoga Guide — An early Gustavia class before an afternoon sunset cruise is the classic 'earn the rosé' St Barth double.
