Chartering a boat allows you to explore the Virgin Islands at your own pace, whether you feel like picnicking on deck or exploring hidden coves and deserted cays. This is your chance to escape the crowds and find those picture-perfect spots you thought existed only in your dreams. Think we’re exaggerating? Read on for a glimpse of some of the most pristine places in the Caribbean. Some are iconic, others are hidden gems, but they all have one thing in common - they can only be reached by boat. Grab your sunscreen and your sea legs and get ready for the trip of a lifetime!
Please note that Sandy Spit, Norman Island and the RMS Rhone are part of the British Virgin Islands. If you’re a U.S. citizen, you’ll need your passport to visit those spots.
Sandy Spit
Look familiar? Sandy Spit, a tiny island with a picturesque grove of palms ringed by white sand, gained worldwide fame a decade ago when it was used as the setting for a series of Corona Beer commercials. You can recreate the moment with your own beach chair and frosty beverage, snorkel in the reef just off shore, or relax and enjoy your time in one of the most beautiful places in the world.
Cas Cay
Return to nature on your own deserted island! Cas Cay is a protected wildlife refuge located just off the coast of St. Thomas. It’s the perfect spot to hike, discover tidal pools and search for hermit crabs. Once you’ve explored the island, kayak through the mangroves or snorkel along the reef that fringes the island. After spending the day among pelicans, hummingbirds, herons and tropical fish, you might not want to return to civilization.
Wreck of the RMS Rhone
The seafloor surrounding the Virgin Islands is littered with ships sunk in pirate battles or battered by hurricanes. One of the best known is the RMS Rhone, a British mail ship that sank off the coast of Salt Island in 1867, taking all but 25 of the 145 people on board with it. Today it’s a popular dive site and items from the ship are still visible in the sand. Don’t forget to rub the “lucky” brass porthole still intact along the stern.
Norman Island Caves
Photo courtesy of Island Roots Charters
Norman Island is believed to be the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, and rumors of lost pirate treasure persist to this day. If you’re feeling brave, you can snorkel inside the three shallow caves located on the west side of the island. Keep an eye out for glints of gold along the walls - legend has it that Blackbeard may have hidden his treasure somewhere in the rocks.
Lime Out
Photo courtesy of Lime Out
What’s the only thing better than eating a delicious taco? How about eating a delicious taco while lounging on a platform in the Caribbean! Lime Out is a floating taco bar located just off St. Thomas’s Hansen Bay, and it’s so popular that it’s even been featured in Travel and Leisure magazine. Because of boat traffic, visitors are not allowed to swim across the bay to the taco bar. The only way to get to this foodie paradise is by chartering a boat.
Booking Your Boat
There are lots of charter boat options in the Virgin Islands, but we work with only the best - companies with exceptional safety records and the highest standards of customer service and adventure. We’re proud to partner with companies like Sonic Charters, Island Roots Charters, Fun Hog Charters, and Caribbean Alibi. Our concierge service is standing by to help you book the trip of your dreams, and this service is always free for Island Luxury guests. Contact us today and let us take care of all the logistics, from finding the perfect villa, chartering a boat and more!