St Martin to St Barth
Private boat from Oyster Pond, table held on the other side, driver waiting at the dock, customs pre-cleared. The day trip most travellers make hard, done properly.
45 minutes
by private speedboat
6 to 7 hours
on the island, comfortably
One quote
boat, driver, table, no add-ons
Weather-flexible
we reschedule, no penalty
Three ways to hop
Each has its day. Nine times out of ten the private speedboat is the right answer. The other two matter for specific reasons: budget, weather, or a jet already landing at SXM.
Recommended
Duration: 45 minutes
Departs from: Oyster Pond (French side)
The way we send most guests. Skippered private boat, six to eight passengers depending on the craft, departure timed to the sea. Customs cleared on both sides with agents we book weeks in advance.
Best for: couples, small groups, tight schedules, anyone who wants the day to feel effortless.
Priced per boat, not per person. We quote once we know your party.
Budget option
Duration: Roughly 1 hour 15
Departs from: Marigot (French side) or Oyster Pond (private operators)
A scheduled crossing runs on most weekdays out of Marigot. Fine when the sea is calm, rough when it is not. Some runs are first come first served, others take reservations, and cancellations happen without much notice.
Best for: solo travellers who love a slow start, guests already based in Marigot, days with a flat sea and no dinner reservation to catch.
Roughly the price of a nice bottle of wine each way, per adult. Cash preferred.
When minutes matter
Duration: 8 minutes airport to airport
Departs from: SXM (Grand Case or Princess Juliana) to SBH (Gustaf III)
The eight-minute crossing. Up to six passengers with luggage, operator we have flown with for years. The right call for a private jet arriving into SXM that connects straight to a St Barth hotel, or a Gustavia dinner when the boat would run it late.
Best for: private jet arrivals, weather days when the sea is rough, tight dinner reservations, guests who value the ride itself.
By the leg, not per person. We share operator quotes on request.
What the day looks like
Mercedes van with your driver. 20 to 40 minutes to Oyster Pond depending on where you are staying.
Papers already lodged. You walk on, coffee in hand.
45 minutes across open sea, with the swell if the wind is out of the east.
Your name on a card at the dock. Fifteen minutes to your morning stop.
Gustavia harbour walk, the shops on rue du Roi Oscar, or straight to Shell Beach for a swim.
Table already held. Nikki Beach for a beach club feel, Bonito for the terrace, or a quieter Shell Beach table if you prefer sand under your feet.
Shell Beach if you stayed near town, Saline if you have the car. Loungers set up before you arrive.
Sunset over Saba as the boat pulls out of Gustavia. 45 minutes and you are back at Oyster Pond.
Driver returns you to your villa. Enough time to change, or head straight to dinner in Grand Case.
A sample. The real one is built around your dates, your party, and the table you actually want to sit at.
Customs, the short version
St Martin and St Barth are both France, so most travellers cross without visa questions. Passports are still checked on both sides.
Private crossings are pre-cleared. Our guests walk through and skip the line. On the public ferry, expect 15 to 30 minutes on the busier morning boats.
For customs across all three islands, our customs and passport guide covers every border you might cross on your stay.
When to hop
High season, and for good reason. Steady trade winds, flat mornings, warm afternoons. Restaurants are full so book weeks in advance, but the crossing is at its easiest.
The quiet edges of the year. Fewer boats, shorter waits, prices soften. Weather is mostly kind. A good time for a couple who wants Gustavia without the crowd.
Hurricane season. Most days are perfect, some are not. We watch the forecast and reschedule around it. Come with flexible dates and it usually works.
The lunch, mostly
Most of our guests plan the crossing around one specific lunch. Nikki Beach for a party of eight and a bottle of rosé. Bonito for a slower terrace afternoon. Shellona for the party of the season. Shell Beach for a quiet family lunch when they want the boat, not the scene.
We hold the table before we book the boat. If we cannot get the right table, we tell you and offer alternatives. We do not send you to a random second choice.
Questions we get a lot
Yes. Most first-time visitors do it exactly this way. 45 minutes each way by private speedboat, and you get roughly six hours on the island, which is enough for one long lunch and one beach.
It is priced per boat, not per person, and depends on the season and the craft. We send a quote once we know your dates and party. Whether you are two or six, the boat costs about the same, so groups get the better deal.
We watch the forecast the day before and morning of. If the sea is too rough for a comfortable crossing, we reschedule to a calmer day or switch you to the helicopter. You do not pay for a boat that never leaves.
Yes, always. Both islands are France, so no visa fuss for most travellers, but border officers check documents on both sides. Bring passports, not just a driver licence.
Yes. Under-tens do best on the smoother boats and on morning crossings when the sea is flat. Tell us ages when you enquire and we match the boat to the family.
Easy. We can book you a room at Eden Rock, Le Toiny or one of the smaller hotels, arrange the same private boat one way, and pick you up again the day after. Tell us how long you want to stay.
More questions? See the full FAQ, or message us on WhatsApp.
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Where to book, and where not to, when you only have six hours on the island.
We reply within 2 hours with a proposal: boat, driver, table, timing. Nothing to pay before you approve.