Saint Barthélemy, also well known as St. Barts or St. Barths has come a long way since it was discovered in 1493 by Christopher Columbus. The name was given in the honor of the discoverer's younger brother.
This French West Indies island free port, often referred to as “The Jewel of the Caribbean”, lies in the Caribbean at the northern end of the Leeward Islands. It has a population of just over 7,300 of whom 2,300 live in the charming capital of Gustavia. St. Bart’s location is some 22 miles (35 km) southeast of Saint Martin, north of St. Kitts and 18 miles southeast of Anguilla. Puerto Rico is 150 miles (240 km) to the west in the Greater Antilles.
In its entirety, St. Barths' area is a mere 9 square miles (23 square km) and the island has 5.3 miles (8.53 km) at its widest and 4.37 miles (7.03 km) at its longest points.
Perhaps most unusually, it is still represented by a senator in Paris and retains the Euro as its currency, with its population all officially French citizens.
Attractions and Entertainment in St. Barts
St. Barths is internationally recognized by the rich and famous as an ideal holiday destination, especially for a winter break. Tourists, many of them being private charter flyers, have noted its fine hotels (traditionally classified by the French 3, 4 and 4 "luxe" star system) and over 400 private villas for rent as well as cuisine that is unrivaled in the immediate region.
New Year’s Eve is the pinnacle of the tourism year, attracting celebrities, superstars, and VIPs to celebrate the festivities.
Aside from luxurious living and dining (French, West Indian, Creole, Italian and Asian cuisines are well-represented), the island is also well-known for an enormous variety of both traditional and upper-end recreational activities. Sparkling turquoise waters play host to scuba diving, snorkeling (wonderful coral reefs), sailing, deep-sea fishing, kayaking, windsurfing, and beach activities.
Also, a rich mixture of music on St. Barths is astonishing – calypso, merengue, soca, zouk, and reggae can commonly be heard across the island. The international St. Barths Music Festival is a unique yearly music event which features the finest live music and dance performances including symphony orchestras and philharmonic artists. Rugby football is the most popular local field sport.
Despite St. Barths' compact size, you can also get away from it all, walking and hiking through rolling hills and broad valleys, stopping for a break at one of several picturesque villages. Those who are interested in flora and fauna will also be pleasantly surprised – despite the terrain being regarded as generally arid, there are several hundred indigenous species of plants including Flamboyant trees and Manchineel trees, sabal (New World) palms, frangipanis, and wild trumpet. The rainy season turns St. Barths into a green island with rich vegetation and grasses. Whales, dolphins, porpoises, and turtles abound during the migration season, with a rich variety of bird and marine life that can be seen throughout the year.
What may be surprising for an island of such a small size, there are many monuments and places of interest, including churches, a lovely museum, a lighthouse and no fewer than three forts.
Private Jet Charter Flights to St. Barts
St. Barths is a perfect destination and private jet charter is a perfect way to reach it at your convenience.
The airport to the north of the island, Gustaf III Airport is only a few minutes from Gustavia. If you decide to fly to St. Barths in a private jet, bear in mind that this airport only supports small regional turboprop aircraft and charters as its landing runway is 2170 feet long. Nearby Princess Juliana Airport on a Dutch island St. Maarten hosts a lot of commercial flights from the USA and Europe. From here, you can always take a ten-minute shuttle flight to St. Barts.
If you're planning to fly by private air charter, you might first land at Grand Case on the French side of Saint Maarten to refuel as there are no fueling facilities available at the Gustaf III Airport. Then you can take a ferry, boat or a private flight in a small turboprop aircraft to visit St. Barths.
Call us at +1-877-727-2538 or email us so that we can arrange for a private jet to fly you into St. Barths.
