Up to the Sky

Travel adventures. The places I have been and things others should do.

1 day adventure in St. Barths!

1 day adventure in St. Barths!



Date:
Spring 2023

Things to Remember:

  • The locals have their siesta around 12p-2p which means shops are closed, so do your shopping earlier in the day. This also means that when you want to eat lunch around that time not every restaurant is open or serving food so plan accordingly.
  • This is one of the most expensive Caribbean Islands and that shows in about everything you do.
  • You will need your passport. It is a different country but going through customs off the boat was very easy they just stamp our passport and let us through.

How to get there:

There are different ways to get to St. Barths either by boat or plane. Aqua Mania offered a ferry that would take you over to the island from my hotel. Since I was coming from St. Maarten, the trip its self was an hour long. On the boat they gave us complementary drinks. The ride to St. Barths was very bumpy so be prepared. If you get sea sick pre-medicating is a must! When coming back to St. Maarten the ride was much smoother.

Cost: $100

Aqua Mania

How to get around the island:

  • Walking, Driving, or Mopeds
  • If you are only going to be in St. Barths for a day and do the ferry like I did, find out where the boat is going to drop you off. One thing I wish I would have done was get a car! So I highly recommend getting a rental to explore the island. The island its self is not big, it is 11 miles (17.5 km) long and 2.5 miles (4 km) wide. 
  • The Marina the boat dropped us off at was Gustavia Marina. Below shows you where the boat dropped us off. 
  • Do some research on rental car companies around the area. There are many in walking distance, but I recommend reserving ahead because when we arrived all the cars were already rented for the day.

Things to do:

Beach: There are multiple different beaches through out St. Barths.

  • Shell Beach: This is a gorgeous beach. Crystal clear, turquoise waters. The beach gets its name from all the shells that make up the sand. If you take the ferry like I did, this is the closest beach that is in walking distance from the dock. Highly recommend checking it out. There is also a bar located on the beach called Shellona. It is right on the beach, but very pricey.
  • Saline Beach: is known as one of best beaches on the island. It has white sand beaches and clear waters. Unlike all the rest of them there is no houses, hotels or restaurants making it a more secluded location. 
  • Saint Jean Beach: is one of the most popular beaches on the island. There are many hotels, restaurants, and shops located around the area. It is also very close to the airport, so you’ll be able to watch the planes fly in. 
  • Colombier beach: this one is harder to get to but seems to be worth the trip. There is no road that leads you to the beach but requires a 30 min hike into the beach or you doc off the shore with a boat.

Shopping:

  • The dock the boat dropped us off at had all the shopping you could need, if you are ready to spend a lot of money. There was many luxury brands such as Prada and Louis Vuitton. Along side them were many different boutique shops.

Restaurants :

  • Nikki Beach: One of the more famous restaurants on the island for its fun music and entertainment
  • L’Isoleta: a casual Italian/pizza spot
  • Arawak Cafe: an outdoor cafe very close to where the boat picks you up and drops you off.
  • Le Repaire: also right beside the marine.

But if you’re deciding if going to St. Barth’s is really worth your time during your vacation, the answer is yes, yes it is!! I will for sure be going back!