BVI Yacht Charters
Short passages, superb diving and a beach bar at every anchorage. There's a reason our clients return to the BVI year after year!
The BVI is good for
We know the British Virgin Islands inside out.
The British Virgin Islands are the home of Caribbean yacht charter, with pristine waters, palm-fringed beaches, and perfect conditions almost all year round. Enjoy bright sunshine and a cooling easterly breeze as you sail between Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke and Anegada. It's not just about the great sailing weather, though — the BVIs offer spectacular natural beauty, a full spectrum of aquatic life, and legendary watering holes. Your professional captain and crew will take care of your every need, seamlessly
We've been planning BVI yacht charters since HELM was founded in 2015. In that time, we've sent hundreds of families, couples and groups of friends to these islands, and we visit the BVI and Antigua Charter Yacht Shows every year to keep up to date. We step aboard the yachts, meet the crews, and make sure every yacht we recommend is one we'd happily charter ourselves.
This is how your personal HELM broker can highlight their top picks with confidence; they've been to the islands, know which layout is the best fit for your group, which anchorages are less crowded in peak weeks, and whether your group is better suited to a catamaran or a power cat. That's the difference a decade of BVI experience makes.
Tailored to your group
Build your charter
Tell us about your group, your dates and your budget. Your broker will come back with a shortlist.
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Browse BVI yachts
Every BVI yacht we list has been reviewed by our team. Search by group size, budget and dates to find the right one.
Browse yachts →Our BVI credentials
"HELM found us the best Cats and Crew in the BVIs! It's really the details that separate the good from the great. I was impressed with their ability to curate a very unique voyage with a ton of special requests. I was genuinely impressed every single day!"
James D — BVI charter, Xandros
There's nowhere quite like the BVI
The world's most vacation-friendly waters
A sailing vacation in the British Virgin Islands is genuinely different from anywhere else. The trade winds blow steadily from the east-northeast, the seas are sheltered and calm, and every anchorage is within easy line-of-sight of the next.
The BVI is a country that seems made for crewed catamaran charters: perfect weather, sensational sea life and a great beach bar around every corner. It's no wonder the BVI are home to the largest selection of crewed catamarans anywhere on earth.
The islands arc across the protected Sir Francis Drake Channel. Most passages are two to three hours at most. Long enough to feel like you're sailing, short enough that you can be swimming off the back by lunchtime.
Whether you head northeast towards Virgin Gorda or start downwind along Tortola and then up to Jost Van Dyke, you'll find that when it comes to a British Virgin Island yacht charter, there's no wrong way to sail around paradise!
A natural paradise
Beneath the surface, there's another world. Turtles graze on sea grass, spotted eagle rays glide through the shallows, and at 80 feet off the coast of Salt Island sits the RMS Rhone — a Victorian Royal Mail steamer that sank in a hurricane in 1867 and is now one of the Caribbean's most celebrated wreck dives.
No visit to the BVI is complete without a trip up to to Anegada. While the rest of the island group is volcanic and hilly, Anegada sits just nine feet above sea level, a flat, coral-ringed outlier at the northern edge of the archipelago.
Getting there requires careful navigation through the surrounding reef (your captain will know the way), but once inside you'll find secluded beaches, mountains of conch shells, a colony of wild flamingos, and lobster, grilled fresh on the beach at sunset. It's a real BVI highlight and one we always recommend.
Knowledge hub
When To Charter In The British Virgin Islands
The British Virgin Islands archipelago is blessed with an almost year-round sailing climate, (except for the hurricane season around September) but as above, the best weather is to be found between November and March, with peak season running across Christmas and New Year.
February is our favourite time to head to the BVI, as it is out of the mad rush of high season but still blessed with exceptional weather.
November and March are also brilliant times to rent a yacht in the BVI - the temperatures average 27°C (around 80°F), and you benefit from quieter anchorages and better deals.
BVI weather
When to visit
Quick seasonal guide
| Season | Months | Wind | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peak season | Dec – Apr | 15–20 kts NE | Best weather, busiest anchorages. Book early |
| Shoulder — Spring | May – Jun | 10–18 kts | Great sailing, quieter anchorages. Good value |
| Off season | Jul – Aug | 10–15 kts SE | Hot and hazy. Fewer crowds |
| Hurricane season | Sep – Oct | Unpredictable | Bases closed. Do not charter |
"February is my favourite month to go. The Christmas rush is over, the weather is brilliant, the anchorages are quieter than peak season. If you can be flexible, February in the BVI is hard to beat!"
Marcus - BVI Specialist
Crewed charters in the British Virgin Islands
A luxury yacht charter in the BVI is the ultimate way to experience the islands from the deck of a crewed yacht.A crewed yacht charter offers comfort, privacy, a customised itinerary, a professional crew, unbeatable scenery, and memories that you will treasure for years to come.
On a crewed charter, your professional captain, chef, deckhands and stewards take care of everything, from the sailing to the provisioning, the itinerary, and the sundowners. You arrive with your group, step aboard, and leave the logistics to people who know these waters better than any guidebook. The BVI, with easy-going passages and relaxed beach bar vibes, was made for exactly this kind of vacation.
This is where HELM specialises. Over the past decade we've built close relationships with the finest crewed catamaran operators in the BVI. When we recommend a yacht, it's because we know and trust the boat and the people on it.
We only offer yachts with state-of-the-art amenities, professional crew, and gourmet cuisine. With spacious interiors and ample deck space, you can relax in comfort and style as you cruise from Jost Van Dyke to Peter Island, a cool drink in hand.
Find your perfect BVI crewed yacht
The BVI is the home of the all-inclusive crewed catamaran, and there is a huge array of great ones available.
If a sailing yacht or luxury motor yacht is more your style, the BVI has those too. Every yacht we recommend has been hand-picked by our team to ensure you get a level of service we're proud of.
Not sure where to begin? Use our Experience Builder and we'll curate a shortlist suited to your group, your budget and your dates.
Or simply add your dates and group size in the search below to start browsing.
Find your ideal BVI charter yacht
Selected yachts for charter
See & Do - The BVI Highlights
After ten years and hundreds of BVI charters, here are the experiences our clients always come back talking about. Your broker will know how to fit these into your itinerary.
- Dive the wreck of the RMS Rhone
- Dine at Hog Heaven, Leverick Bay
- Visit Anegada and meet the flamingoes
- Cooper Island Beach Club
- Explore the Baths at Virgin Gorda
- Relax at the renewed Bitter End Yacht Club
- Snorkel at Mountain Point
- Sip a painkiller at Soggy Dollar Bar, White Bay, Jost van Dyke
What's included on an all-inclusive crewed charter?
All-inclusive means exactly what it says: one weekly rate, nothing hidden. The captain, the chef, all meals, all drinks, fuel, mooring fees, water toys, all covered by the charter fee. No APA top-ups, no surprise invoices at the end of the week. You know what you're spending before you step aboard.
Some yachts are governed by different contract types: here's what that means for your costs.
All-inclusive explained
What "all-inclusive" actually means on a BVI crewed charter
Your weekly rate on a typical BVI all-inclusive charter covers everything below. There's nothing to think about once you're on board.
- Professional captain
- Chef / hostMost charters have 2+ crew on board
- All meals on boardBreakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
- All drinks including alcoholSome premium spirits may cost extra - ask your broker
- Fuel
- Mooring fees
- Water toysPaddleboards, kayaks, snorkel gear
- BVI cruising permits and customs fees
- Crew gratuity15–20% of charter fee - customary and well-deserved
- Shore excursion entry fees
- Dining ashoreEntirely your choice - though the food on board is hard to leave
- Scuba divingAvailable on many charters as an add-on
- Flights and transfers to Tortola
Not sure if a charter is all-inclusive or APA? Your HELM broker will tell you upfront exactly what's covered before you commit to anything.
"Around 80% of our BVI clients choose a crewed catamaran. It's an easy choice for an effortless week. The all-inclusive model clinches it. Once you explain that the boat, the crew, all the food, all the drinks and every water toy on board come in a single weekly price, people wonder why they ever booked a villa."
Zach - BVI charter specialist
Sample BVI Yacht Charter Itineraries
How much do BVI yacht charters cost?
At HELM, we know that cost transparency is essential. Understanding what a BVI charter actually costs, and what is included, is the starting point for choosing the right yacht.
Here's a clear breakdown to help you find the right boat for what you want to spend.
Crewed catamarans are the BVI's most popular choice, and most are all-inclusive. Prices start from around $20,000 per week for a captain and chef on a well-appointed catamaran sleeping 6–8 guests. Split between the group, that works out at roughly $400–$600 per person per day. For that, you get a private yacht, a professional crew, all meals, all drinks, water toys and a different anchorage every morning.
Power catamarans offer the same all-inclusive experience with more deck space and a more elevated feel on board, typically from $25,000 per week.
Luxury motor yachts offer the very best the BVI has to offer, and start from around $50,000 per week, going up to over $150,000 for larger, better equipped vessels with a full crew.
Travelling in November or March can help you get a better deal and quieter anchorages.
Some crewed yachts are governed by MYBA terms and quoted as the charter fee plus an APA (Advanced Provisioning Allowance) rather than fully all-inclusive.
The APA (typically 25–40% of the charter fee) covers food, drinks, fuel and mooring fees during the trip. Anything unspent is returned to you at the end. Your HELM broker will tell you upfront if your charter is all-inclusive or plus APA.
It's also customary to tip your crew at the end of the charter. The norm in the BVI is 15–20% of the charter fee, split between the crew. given their usually high standards, it's well earned.
Looking for a bareboat or skippered charter?
How to get to the BVI?
The British Virgin Islands' spectacular cruising grounds make it more than worth the effort to reach this Caribbean sailing paradise. The BVI is served by the Terrence B Lettsome International Airport (EIS) on Beef Island.
There are no direct flights from Europe to the BVI, but there are several indirect options. It's easy to fly from most major European and Eastern Seaboard hubs to Antigua, Saint Martin or Bridgetown and then catch a connecting flight on to the BVI. Mainland USA customers are served by flights from Puerto Rico or Miami, among others.
Direct routes:
- Miami (MIA)
- San Juan (SJU)
- Saint Thomas (STT)
- St John's, Antigua (ANU)
- Sint Maarten (SXM)
- Bridgetown (BGI)
- Saint Kitts (SKB)
The most common indirect flight route from London to the BVI is to fly to Antigua or St. Maarten and then connect to a smaller plane to the BVI with a local operator like InterCaribbean. The flight time from London to Antigua or St. Maarten is approximately 9 hours. The flight time from Antigua or St. Maarten to the BVI is approximately 45 minutes.
From New York, you can fly via either Puerto Rico or Miami. Flights to San Juan Luis Munoz Marin take around 4 hours, and flights from there to EIS take approx. 45 minutes. Flights to Miami take around 3 hours, and flights between Miami and EIS take around the same length of time. We always recommend checking out your flight options before confirming your BVI yacht charter booking.
There are a number of ferry companies that offer service between the US Virgin Islands and the BVI. The most popular ferry companies are:
- Speedy's Ferry
- Smith's Ferry
- Road Town Fast Ferry
Ferries depart from St. Thomas and St. John in the US Virgin Islands and arrive in Tortola, the BVI. The ferry ride takes approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour.
BVI or US Virgin Islands yacht charters — what's the difference?
The British and US Virgin Islands sit just a few miles apart, and many of our clients visit both on the same charter. But they're quite different places, and it's worth knowing which is right for you.
The BVI is the sailor's choice. Line-of-sight sailing, mooring buoys in almost every anchorage, reliable trade winds, and no mass tourism. The islands are quiet, the beaches are largely undeveloped, and the pace of life is genuinely unhurried. If the sailing and the anchorages are what you're there for, the BVI wins easily.
The USVI — particularly St Thomas — has easier access from the US mainland (direct flights from many East Coast cities), more of an urban feel, duty-free shopping, and a wider range of restaurants. St John, the quieter of the main US islands, is beautiful and well worth an overnight stop.
The good news is that you don't always have to choose. Many crewed yachts are permitted to operate in both island groups, moving freely between the two. And if flying into St Thomas is easier or cheaper for your group, it often makes perfect sense to hop across to Tortola by ferry or water taxi — a straightforward 45-minute crossing — and board your BVI-based yacht there. Your broker will know exactly which yachts have the right permits and can help plan the crossing so it's seamless rather than complicated.
Our recommendation? Base your charter in the BVI, fly into whichever airport works best for your group, and dip into the USVI for a day or two if time allows.
We’re here for you
Ready to plan your BVI charter?
Our brokers know the BVI inside out.
Tell us your dates, your group size and what you're looking for, and we'll come back with a personalised shortlist of the best crewed yachts available.
