Insider Recommendations

Caribbean Yacht Charter: Our Favorite Things to See and Do

Soggy Dollar Bar, White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, BVI’s

So-called, as unless you are a hotel guest in one of the few rooms, any other bar patron must swim ashore, hence rather soggy patrons paying with soggy dollars at this Caribbean bar. However, the Soggy Dollar Bar’s claim to fame is as the birthplace of the Painkiller cocktail, appropriately named for the amount of rum buried within this concoction masquerading as a lovely tropical fruit drink.

River Rafting in Dominica

A lush vegetative island, Dominica has many rivers, and river rafting or tubing is available through river rafting companies, some of which are focused on fun, while others are focused on providing a tour of the flora and fauna found on the island.

William Thornton, Norman Island, BVI’s

Also known as the “Willy T”, this floating bar and restaurant is anchored in the mostly uninhabited bay called “The Bight” and can only be reached by yacht or yacht tender. This floating restaurant was named after William Thornton who was originally from Tortola and gained fame by submitting and winning the competition organized by first President George Washington, for plans for the U. S. Capitol Building in Washington DC.

Shirley Heights, Antigua

Named after Governor Shirley, Governor of Antigua and several other islands in the 1700’s, Shirley was responsible for having the embattlements built on Shirley Heights for the protection of English Harbor for protection. Today this location offers a terrific view of English and Falmouth Harbors, and every Sunday is the scene of a “Jump Up” for celebrating the sunset, featuring barbecue, rum punch and steel bands.

Bequia Whaling Museum, Bequia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

The only whaling island in the Caribbean, in the 1800’s a Bequian made his way to New England and signed onto a whaling ship. Years later he returned to Bequia with whaling knowledge and equipment, and taught the locals how to hunt whales in specially designed and locally built open sailing skiffs. Whaling by hand still continues and Bequia is well known today for traditional boat building and as a side industry, the locals are known for hand carved half hulls, a local island handicraft. Stop in at the Bequia Whaling Museum for more information on this unique island’s whaling history.

Foxy’s Tamarind Bar, Jost Van Dyke, BVI’s

Famous as the yachting place to be to celebrate New Year’s Eve, this bar and restaurant was started years ago by Foxy in Great Harbour, with Foxy himself supplying the local calypso style music for many years. The Sly Fox and Dread Fox are specialty drinks of this bar made with Foxy’s own locally brewed rum. Also locally brewed by Foxy are certain beers served, making Foxy’s the only micro-brewery in the Caribbean.

Nelson’s Dockyard, Antigua

A dockyard first built out of local coral rock in the 1700’s was, at one point, overseen by a young Captain Horatio Nelson who was in charge of this outpost positioned and manned to guard the valuable sugar islands that were once part of Great Britain. A working shipyard, this was also the location to repair and rebuild needed warships. Today a National Park, many of the original buildings still exist and are actively being used today as hotels, restaurants and shops. There is a museum well worth visiting. And, while once the home to British warships, English Harbor is now home to the growing recreational international yachting fleet, with yachts flying various flags lined up stern to around the old Parade Grounds.

Salt Island and the Wreck of the RMS Rhone, BVI’s

The RMS Rhone was one of two “unsinkable” ships; the other being the Titanic. The RMS Rhone sank during a hurricane in 1867 just off of Salt Island with heavy casualties. For years showing just a mast above water, in the 1950’s the wreck was determined to be a maritime safety hazard, and was further sunk to a depth of 30-80 feet. Now a maritime national park, snorkeling and scuba diving on the remains of the RMS Rhone is one of the most interesting wreck explorations available in the Caribbean.

Belmont Estate and Chocolate Factory, Grenada

This 300 year old Caribbean Plantation still processes nutmeg, and ginger amongst other locally grown spices. Take a tour and visit the museum on site, and if hungry have a meal at the Belmont Estate restaurant. Also located here is the Grenada Chocolate Factory, where island grown cocoa pods are processed into various scrumptious chocolate treats. Visiting Belmont Estates and Chocolate Factory will solidify why Grenada is called “The Spice Island”.

Nevis Botanical Gardens, Nevis

These are beautiful and well-marked gardens filled with various different plant species, along with statues and fountains. Nevis is a great place to visit for anyone with botanical interests.

Callwood Distillery, Cane Garden Bay, Tortola, BVI’s

Just a short walk from the beach in Cane Garden Bay, this 400 year old rum distillery is still making rum the old fashioned way. Stop by for a tasting of the various different rums made on site. Call ahead if wanted to be assured that they are open.

Casinos

St. Martin, St. Croix, St. Kitts, Guadeloupe, Antigua and Barbuda, Canouan, and St. Vincent are all islands where gambling is legal. Each of these islands have one or more Casinos.