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Rates are for one week for the number of guests shown and include: Friendly, professional crew, three freshly prepared gourmet meals per day and daily running expenses*. Prices are subject to change without notice. Many yachts have a surcharge over Christmas and New Years. See our Windward Islands Itinerary.
Windward Island Yachts for Charter
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The WINDWARD ISLANDS are the southern islands of the Lesser Antilles, a long chain of islands wrapped around the eastern end of the Caribbean Sea on the boundary of the Atlantic Ocean.
They include the island of Martinique and extend southward to Grenada. They are the last links before Trinidad and South America. They are called “Windward” because they were more windward to sailing ships arriving in the New World than the Leeward Islands.
This chain of islands lies almost across the easterly trade winds, therefore, whether you are sailing on a catamaran or monohull, or cruising in a large motor yacht, it is relatively easy to make a north or south passage. The islands are just far enough apart to allow for fun, open sea time on your sailing vacation or yacht charter, but close enough together to enjoy plenty of shore excursions. |
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The four main islands of the Windwards (Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and Grenada) tend to be lush with vegetation and high mountains. The interior tropical rainforests are ideal for those that like to explore nature. The smaller and drier islands of the Grenadines vary from either hilly to mere reef-enclosed sand cays.
Regardless of which island in the Windwards you explore, you will find warm waters in every conceivable shade of blue, endless variations of tropical flowers and brightly colored birds, air that is balmy and perfumed with the scent of sensual spices and sweet tropical fruits. Enjoy the perfect white or black sandy beaches, colorful reefs with some of the world’s best snorkeling and diving, and a rainbow of rich cultures and histories.
This unimaginably perfect paradise can be yours when you book your sailing vacation or yacht charter!
The Windward Islands include the following:
MARTINIQUE
Martinique was originally called Modinina, “Isle of Flowers” by the Caribs. Columbus lauded the island,"the most charming country there is in the world.”
At 417 square miles, this island is indeed beautiful. Martinique is a piece of France transported to the tropics. It is a breathtaking mix of towering mountains, lush rainforests, exotic flowers and lovely black and white sandy beaches. |
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If you are looking for seclusion, it is hard to find since rapid development has made this a resort destination.
Unlike many islands in the Caribbean that have gained their independence, Martinique has remained a department of France. Amid the palm-lined beaches, banana and pineapple plantations, and volcanic mountains, French culture can be found in the sidewalk cafes, boulangeries, moped-filled streets, noisy markets, and Parisian shops.
The bustling capital of Fort-de-France is situated on Baie des Flamands, a superb yacht-filled harbor. Colorful townhouses with wrought iron balconies line narrow streets. Chic shops and boutiques offer fashions from Paris. |
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The landmark of the city is La Savane, a 12 acre park of lawn and palms. On the edge of the park is Schoelcher Library, named after Victor Schoelcher, a national hero and abolitionist. Nearby is the large crafts market. Also not to be missed is the Marche aux Poissons – a scene of constant activity as fishermen unload their catch.
The countryside reveals vast banana, cinnamon, coffee, pineapple and sugarcane plantations, as well as fields of guava, mango and papaya.
The northern part of the island, with its rugged volcanic mountains, deep gorges and thick tropical rainforests is in sharp contrast to the southern resort towns. It is here on May 8, 1902, that Mt. Pelee, a now dormant volcano, destroyed the former capital city of St. Pierre.
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Although the town has never recovered, its ruins and museums are some of Martinique’s most popular tourist spots. Numerous hiking trails (some accessible only with a guide) offer a great sense of adventure through the rainforest, including the Gorges de La Falaise – a series of impressive canyons and dramatic waterfalls.
The beaches in the north are black sand. Anse Couleuvre is the most secluded beach, while Anse Turin appeared in some of Paul Gauguin’s works.
The southern part of the country contains the island’s only white sandy beaches, including Anses d’Arlets, Le Diamant, Ste Anne, and Les Salines. Like most French beaches, sunbathing is often topless |
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There are many sightseeing opportunities throughout the island including: La Pagerie – the birthplace of Napoleon’s beloved Josephine with its gardens and small museum, Le Carbet, where Columbus landed and where Gauguin lived and painted for four months, and Diamond Rock, a 575 ft. pinnacle in the sea fortified by the British in 1804 to harass French shipping.
If hiking, sightseeing, sunbathing or shopping is not your thing, there is an 18-hole Robert Trent Jones golf course near Pointe du Bout. If you are not exhausted from your day time activities, you will find gambling casinos, supper clubs and performances by the internationally acclaimed ballet troupes of Martinique to entertain you at night.
ST. LUCIA
St. Lucia is the stereotypic Caribbean paradise! With its wonderful mix of golden and black sandy beaches, crystal clear blue warm waters, sheltering reefs swarming with tropical fish, lush interior rainforests, and a thriving culture that encompasses literature and theater as well as dance and music, it is easy to see why sailors have been falling in love with St. Lucia for centuries.
With its excellent marina facilities, it has become the hub of some of the best yachting adventures in the world. The capital, Castries, is a busy port and commercial center.
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The Saturday morning market is especially colorful and lively with local vendors hawking fish, mangos, breadfruit, papayas and plantains.
To the north, the St. Lucia Regatta is held every January in Rodney Bay. It attracts yachts and participants from all over the globe with its combination of exciting races and wild parties.
Reduit Beach is St. Lucia’s most popular beach with its mile long swath of golden sand and calm surf.
If you are looking for a place to soak up some local flavor, the small fishing village of Gros Islet is the place.
Although quiet during the day, the entire village is overtaken each Friday night for a wild "Jump Up" when the streets are blocked off and revelers pour in for a rowdy night of roadside food, music, and drink!
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Nearby, Pigeon Island National Park (fortified by the British in 1778) is a frequently visited recreational park with restored military buildings, a string of beaches and walking trails.
The beautiful west coast of St. Lucia is notable for its rich and varied attractions and pretty beaches. Palm-lined Marigot Bay and Marina is where the British hid their ships from the French by disguising the masts as palm trees.
The 1966 movie, Dr. Doolittle, had many scenes filmed in this exquisite oasis of mangroves and palm trees. The island’s dramatic scenery is highlighted by the majestic Pitons – two half mile tall volcanic peaks that have become Caribbean landmarks. These volcanic cones rise out of the sea just south of Soufriere.
Nearby, is the “drive in volcano”, La Soufriere (now dormant) and the French built Diamond Baths –steaming sulfur springs used to cure minor ailments. The road between Soufriere and Fond St. Jacques provides spectacular mountain vistas of the St. Lucian rainforest, home of the rare green parrot.
For those not interested in lazing on the beach all day long, St. Lucia offers excellent hiking, jeep safaris, bird watching, and horseback riding adventures. In addition, whale and turtle watching offer a fascinating thrill. Over 20 species of whales are regularly spotted throughout the year, including humpbacks, pilot and sperm whales.
Although some of the WINDWARD ISLANDS farther south have even better diving and snorkeling opportunities, St. Lucia is still a diving paradise. As mountainous below sea level as it is above, divers will enjoy huge black coral trees, gigantic barrel sponges, purple vase sponges, and lace coral. Turtles, nurse sharks, golden spotted eels, sting rays, sea horses and myriads of schooling fish are also there to be seen.
Ranging from easy to challenging some of the sites include: The Key Hole Pinnacles, four coral and gorgonian encrusted seamounts which rise from the ocean depths, which was voted one of the “10 Best Dive Sites” by Caribbean Travel and Life, The Coral Gardens, located at the base of Gros Piton, offers breathtaking scenery as five coral fingers rise from a depth of 15-50 ft, Anse Chastanet, a dramatic reef that falls away from 20-140 feet in a unique coral wall that continues from the Bay and in towards Soufriere. In addition, there are a number of shipwrecks which provide adventure and exploration for divers.
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
Nestled between St. Lucia to the north and Grenada to the south, the string of 32 islands and cays known collectively as St. Vincent and the Grenadines, are considered by many, to be the most beautiful and pristine islands in the Caribbean. Although physically close together, they vary enormously in character, terrain and appeal.
ST. VINCENT
St. Vincent is the northernmost and main island of this chain. With its strong British heritage, it is lush and volcanic with steep mountain ridges, valleys and waterfalls.
Although there are some golden beaches, St. Vincent is famous for its black stretches of volcanic sand that dots the entire coastline. The Leeward, which is the western side of the island, is characterized by secluded coastal valleys, fishing villages, and well-protected anchorages such as Chateaubetair, Troumaca Bay and Wallilabou (famous for being transformed into the set of Port Royal for the movie, Pirates of the Caribbean!)
All three anchorages offer excellent snorkeling and the cliffs around Buccament Bay feature St. Vincent’s ancient petroglyphs.
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The dramatic Windward, which is the eastern side, is lined with windswept black beaches like Argyle, Black Point and Brighton Beach, which get pounded by the Atlantic Ocean.
In the fertile valley of Mesopotamia, bananas, breadfruit, cocoa, coconuts and nutmeg all grow in abundance.
Inside the mountainous interior, the active volcano, La Soufriere, which last erupted in 1979, rises 4,048 feet.
A network of tranquil hiking trails, rich in wildlife, run through the region, so the best way to explore this area is on an organized tour. An organized tour will also take you to the breathtaking 60 foot tall "Falls of Baleine," where a swim in the huge rock-lined pool is unforgettable! |
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In the colorful Montreal Gardens, the views of the river valleys and ocean are hard to match anywhere in the Caribbean. The tidal pools of Owia Salt Pond are sheltered from the rolling Atlantic by a huge wall of rock and the cool clear salt waters are used by both locals and visitors.
The commercial center of St. Vincent is Kingstown. Here you will find the lively two-story market crammed with stalls selling everything from fresh produce and local arts, to souvenirs. Just as busy is the fish market on the waterfront.
Two sites noteworthy for their architecture are St. George’s Anglican Cathedral and St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral.
For nature lovers, the oldest Botanic Gardens in the Western Hemisphere (1765) occupy 20 acres north of Kingstown. Due to its volcanic origins and with a tremendous selection of wall diving sites, the underwater topography of St. Vincent is breathtaking. The corals are nearly pristine, and the area is nicknamed, “Critter Country,” for its abundance of fish life.
There is no shortage of dive operators on St. Vincent to help you explore!
BEQUIA
Laying just 9 miles to the south of St. Vincent, and accessible only by boat, Bequia (Bek-way) is the largest of the Grenadine Islands at 7 sq. miles. With its relaxed pace and tranquility, it feels light years away from the frantic Kingstown. This island retains many of the older traditions of boat building, whaling and fishing.
The main town of Port Elizabeth is nestled deeply inside Admiralty Bay which is a natural harbor and favorite spot for yachter’s from around the world. This relaxed town is full of Caribbean character and is a pleasant distraction from Bequia’s main attraction – its fabulous beaches. |
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Many of the beaches are rocky headlands where dense palm woodlands extend to the edge of the beaches. The best beach is Princess Margaret, where the waves froth on golden sand framed by shady palm fronds and stark rocky outcrops. Swimming, sunbathing and snorkeling are excellent in this large horseshoe-shaped bay!
On the southeastern side of the island is another beautiful beach – Friendship Bay. This picture perfect beach is ideal for swimming, diving, snorkeling, and a climb up the steep hillside behind it may afford a glimpse of a breaching whale. |
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Whaling was once big business in Bequia. Today, whalers are allowed to kill up to 2 animals per year. The traditional methods are still practiced including hand-held harpoons and 25 ft. wooden boats. The Athreal Petit Museum is a shrine-like collection of whaling artifacts.
Another place to visit is the Old Hegg Turtle Sanctuary. Here, over 200 endangered Hawksbill turtles are nurtured until they can fend for themselves.
Diving in the pristine waters around Bequia is excellent. Most sites are in the leeward side of the island and include everything from colorful reefs to dramatic walls. For a small island, Bequia also has plenty of night life with live music on alternate nights.
MUSTIQUE
Situated just 7 miles southeast of Bequia, the 3 mile long and 1.5 mile wide island of Mustique is a fantasy island for the ultra-rich. Originally a sugar plantation, the 1,400 acre island was purchased in 1959 by a Scottish millionaire and transformed into a holiday hotspot for the rich and famous. |
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Today, the island is a haven for Princess Margaret, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, and Elton John (all of whom own properties on the island.)
Most visitors to the island are day trippers and explorations are fairly restricted. Getting around the island is by golf cart, motor bike, horseback or on foot. Those who do spend time here enjoy the island’s hilly terrain, its large plain to the north and seven lush valleys leading to the white sandy beaches along its coast.
Macaroni Bay on the east coast is one of the most popular beaches on the island with covered picnic areas and delightful swimming.
On the west coast, Britannia Bay is the only suitable anchorage in Mustique. The water is sparkling clear and is wonderful for snorkeling and swimming. |
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Gelliceaux Bay, one of ten marine conservation areas in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, also has excellent snorkeling. In L’Ansecoy Bay, the wreck of the French liner Antilles, grounded in 1971, can be seen off the north shore.
Although limited, Mustique’s dining options are luxurious; however, you must make reservations in advance!
Continue to: Canouan, Mayreau, Tobago Cays, Union Island, Palm Island, Petit St. Vincent, Grenada. |
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* unless otherwise noted.
Written By Donna Wolfson
Most Photographs By Donna Wolfson
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