As one of the most exclusive and high quality destinations in the Caribbean, St. Barts is also a choice location for beach houses and luxury villa rental opportunities. With a full array of amenities, services, and some of the most astonishing design and décor, you may find it challenging to leave your St. Barts vacation home, but leave you must. Why? Because no luxury vacation to St. Barts is complete without at least one day of exploration and experiences.
To ensure that you make the most of your day away from your villa during a family vacation or getaway, we suggest the following fail-proof itinerary for an idyllic day in St. Barts:
Morning
Skip your morning coffee on the terrace and set the alarm early. Today, you watch the sunrise as you walk, cycle or drive to Gustavia. The unending charms of this harbor town are at their absolute best as the day dawns. The boats may be heading in and out of the harbor, and the smells of the cafes and bakeries are apt to make you swoon.
We suggest that you go European and sit at one of the waterfront or harbor side cafes to enjoy a classic breakfast of croissant or local pastry accompanied by the ultra-French beverage – café au lait. If you don’t get your adequate level of caffeine from this beverage, just enjoy a second!
When you are energized enough from this early morning boost, do a bit of window shopping along the Quai de la Republique. We encourage the early morning, pre-business hours because this street really comes to life quickly each day and begins to get crowded long before lunch.
If you spot a must-have item, you can go ahead and return before lunch. The next must do activity is to put on your hiking shoes and head out towards Colombier. From Gustavia there is a clearly marked path that will take about 30 – 45 minutes to complete, and it takes you to one of the lovelies and most secluded coves in Colombier.
You can opt to book some snorkeling right from the cove or you can head to the harbor for a chartered boat ride or fishing trip. If you just want to enjoy a truly peaceful swim, this is the spot. When done, head back along the trail and make your way to Saint Jean. It is only a short drive to this quieter harbor town, and here you can grab an unforgettable lunch at Nikki Beach, On the Rocks or the always pleasing Sand Bar.
By this time, you are probably a little tired, so spend a short time doing some shopping along St. Jean’s peaceful streets and then head home to rest up for a few hours. This is because you are going to return to Gustavia at the classic “cocktail hour” around 6-7 PM. Start your night at one of Gustavia’s world-famous restaurants. Spots like Bonito, L’Isola, Orega, Eddy’s and Black Ginger are good bets – and you may want to get a reservation.
Enjoy your meal, toast the sunset, and make your way to a hotspot like the famous Le Ti tavern. This is a traditional gathering place and nice spot for a dessert and cocktail or two. However, it is also a jovial location and a late-night party spot too. If you want to paint the town red, dance until dawn and toast a sunrise, Gustavia offers you a great way to complete an idyllic day in St. Barts.