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Top sailing areas for catamarans in the Caribbean

British Virgin Islands — Tortola, Norman, Virgin Gorda & Anegada

The most-booked Caribbean charter region and the canonical first bareboat. Charters depart from Road Town or Nanny Cay on Tortolaand head south through Norman Island, Cooper Island, and Virgin Gorda's North Sound, with the run out to Anegadaas the trip's only true open-ocean passage. Sir Francis Drake Channel keeps daily legs under 12 NM in protected water, and the BVI National Parks Trust mooring fields make every popular stop predictable.

See our British Virgin Islands sailing guide for sample 7-day routes, mooring notes, and what to budget per week.

Bahamas — Abaco Sea & Exumas

Shallow turquoise water, white-sand bottoms, and the protected Sea of Abaco lagoon. Charters out of Marsh Harbour run line-of-sight passages between Hope Town, Tahiti Beach, Great Guana Cay, Green Turtle Cay, and Man-O-War Cay — most legs under 8 NM. Nassau-based catamarans push south to the central Exumas — Big Major Spot's swimming pigs, Staniel Cay's Thunderball Grotto — across a 35-NM Yellow Bank passage. The one open-ocean pinch on a typical week is Whale Cay Channel; pick your weather day for it.

Read the Bahamas catamaran charter guide for the Abaco vs. Nassau decision, the Cruising Permit details, and weekly cost ranges.

Martinique & the French Antilles

Le Marinon Martinique's south coast holds one of the largest catamaran fleets in the Eastern Caribbean — over 400 boats across Dream Yacht Charter, The Moorings, Sunsail and a dozen smaller operators. As an overseas département of France, Martinique uses the euro, stocks Carrefour and Leader Price supermarkets, and offers the best provisioning in the Caribbean. Charter activity happens on the protected lee coast — a 35-mile arc from Saint-Pierre past Fort-de-France, the Anses d'Arlet, and Diamond Rock to Sainte-Anne. Saint Lucia and the Grenadines are a 10-day or 14-day extension.

See our Martinique catamaran charter guide for marina detail, EUR-pricing notes, and a sample week-long Le Marin route.

Grenada & the Tobago Cays

Port Louis Marinain St. George's is the southernmost charter base in the Eastern Caribbean. Grenada sits at 12 °N — below the standard hurricane belt — so insurance windows extend further into June and July than anywhere on the Eastern Caribbean arc. The northbound passage to Carriacou and the Tobago Cays Marine Park is an 18–24 NM beam reach in steady 18–22 knot trades; the marine park is mooring-only and the most photogenic single anchorage in the Eastern Caribbean. Bequia, Mayreau, and Saint Vincent extend the route north for two-week charters.

See our Grenada catamaran charter guide for Tobago Cays Marine Park permits, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines clearance fees, and the late-season value window.

Bareboat or crewed — picking the right setup

About 80% of our Caribbean charters go out bareboat, but the choice deserves real thought. To bareboat in the BVI you need an RYA Day Skipper, ASA 104 (Bareboat), or IYT Bareboat Skipper certificate, plus documented multi-day catamaran experience the base can insure against. Martinique, the Bahamas, and Grenada accept the same international certificates. A VHF licence is recommended but not always mandatory.

A skippered charter adds a captain (US$200–US$240 per day plus food and 10–15% tip) and removes the licensing question entirely — useful if your group is mostly non-sailors, if you want to focus on the experience rather than navigation, or if your week includes Anegada, Whale Cay Channel, or the Saint Lucia immigration leg. A fully crewed catamaran with captain and chef sits at the luxury end from roughly US$13,500 per week all-inclusive.

Our team can switch the contract type even after you have picked the boat. If you are unsure, send us your dates and group profile and we will recommend the setup that fits.

When to charter — Caribbean season guide

Peak season — December to February

The driest, most consistent trade-wind weeks. Air 27–29 °C, water 26 °C, easterly winds locked at 18–22 knots, and the dependable Christmas / New Year demand peak. Reserve eight to ten months ahead for the Christmas–first-week-of-February window; Presidents' Day weekend in mid-February is the third highest-demand week.

Shoulder season — March, April, May

Our recommended windows for value. Trades soften to 14–20 knots, water warms to 27 °C, cold-front activity in the Bahamas tails off, and prices typically run 25–35% below February peaks. April and early May are the highest-rated weeks of the year for first-bareboat crews — quieter mooring fields and gentler conditions.

Late shoulder — June, July (Grenada through August)

June is the most under-rated catamaran charter month in the Caribbean. Most operators still run; trades drop to 12–18 knots; weekly rates are 30–40% below February. Grenada sits below the standard hurricane belt and insurance windows routinely extend through 31 July, with some Grenada-flagged boats chartered into August.

Hurricane season — August to November

Most BVI, Bahamas, and Eastern Caribbean operators close their fleets between mid-August and mid-November. Charter insurance restricts named-storm payouts during this window. We do not recommend booking inside this period unless you have a specific reason and a flexible cancellation clause.

What a Caribbean catamaran charter costs

Pricing depends on the model, the season, and whether the boat is bareboat or crewed. For a 4-cabin Lagoon 42 or Fountaine Pajot Astréa 42 in shoulder season, expect roughly €4,200–€7,500 per week bareboat; the same boat at Christmas / New Year tends to land between €8,500 and €11,500. Larger 46–50 ft catamarans run €11,000–€18,000 per week peak. Skipper, hostess, fuel, marina fees, cleaning, and country-specific permits (BVI Cruising Permit, Bahamas Cruising Permit, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines clearance) are typically additional and listed transparently on every quote.

See the payment procedure page for the booking timeline (50% on confirmation, balance four weeks before departure) and a breakdown of refundable security deposits versus damage waivers.

Sample 7-day catamaran itinerary — Tortola loop, BVI

Sunday — Road Town / Nanny Cay. Check-in from 16:00, base briefings, short downwind run to Norman Island. Monday — Cooper Island. Beam reach across Drake Channel; Cistern Point snorkel; rum tasting at Cooper Island Beach Club. Tuesday — Virgin Gorda North Sound. Up Drake Channel past Salt Island; pick up a mooring at Saba Rock or Bitter End. Wednesday — Anegada. Lobster dinner at Anegada Reef Hotel; the only true open-ocean passage of the week. Thursday — The Baths & Trellis Bay. Granite-boulder snorkel at The Baths; overnight at Marina Cay. Friday — Jost Van Dyke.Soggy Dollar painkiller and Foxy's. Saturday — Tortola hand-back by 16:00. Browse the full BVI route with daily mooring tips and things to do.

Frequently asked — catamaran charter Caribbean

How far in advance should I book a Caribbean catamaran?

For Christmas / New Year and Presidents' Day weekend, book eight to ten months ahead — the popular Lagoon 42 and Fountaine Pajot Astréa 42 catamarans sell out by August for the following December. March–May shoulder season is usually fine three to four months out, and June / July value-window deals often open within four weeks of departure.

Do I need a sailing licence to bareboat in the Caribbean?

Yes. Most operators require RYA Day Skipper, ASA 104 (Bareboat Cruising), or IYT Bareboat Skipper certification, plus a documented sailing CV with recent multi-day catamaran experience. If your licence is in doubt, book a skippered charter — adding a local captain costs roughly US$200/day plus food and a tip, and removes the licensing question entirely.

Which Caribbean region suits a first bareboat?

The British Virgin Islands. Line-of-sight passages inside Sir Francis Drake Channel, dense mooring fields, predictable 15–22 knot easterly trades, plenty of beach-bar lunches on the moorings, and the gentlest learning curve for crews moving up from monohulls or sailing schools.

What is included in the charter price?

The base bareboat rate covers the catamaran with its standard inventory — sails, dinghy and outboard, bed linens, galley kit, and safety gear. Fuel, water, marina fees, country-specific cruising permits (BVI Cruising Permit, Bahamas Cruising Permit, Tobago Cays Marine Park entry), end-cleaning, and optional extras (skipper, hostess, water toys, early check-in) are quoted separately so you see exactly what you pay for.

Are catamarans a good fit for families with small children?

Yes — catamarans are the most family-friendly platform we charter. Stable on anchor, wide deck space, easy access to the water from the swim platforms, and separate cabin layouts for parents and children. The protected channels around the BVI, the Sea of Abaco lagoon in the Bahamas, and the calm Tobago Cays mooring fields are particularly suited to younger crews.

Are there cruising-permit fees I should budget for?

Yes. The BVI Cruising Permit is roughly US$0.75 per person per day; the Bahamas Cruising Permit is US$300–US$500 per boat per visit; Saint Vincent & the Grenadines clearance for the Tobago Cays adds EC$150 per visit; Tobago Cays Marine Park moorings are US$10 per person per night. Our team books the permits with your charter so you do not lose a half-day at the customs office.