Motor Yacht Charter in the BVI

The British Virgin Islands are the easiest place in the Caribbean to spend a week on a yacht. Around 60 islands sit close together in sheltered water, so the runs are short and the anchorages are calm.

A crewed motor yacht gets the most out of that. You can breakfast off Jost Van Dyke, snorkel the caves at Norman Island after lunch and still reach Virgin Gorda for dinner, without watching the wind.

Why charter a motor yacht in the BVI?

• Anegada in a morning. The flat coral island sits about 15 miles north of Virgin Gorda behind Horseshoe Reef. Many sailing charters skip it; a motor yacht with a local captain makes the run in about an hour.
• More stops per day. With 12 to 20 knots in hand you can fit The Baths, Cooper Island and a sunset anchorage into one day.
• Room and toys. Motor yachts carry more deck space, bigger tenders and more water toys: jet skis, seabobs and paddleboards.

Where to go

• Tortola. Road Town, Nanny Cay and Scrub Island are the usual boarding points. Beef Island airport (EIS) is ten minutes from the east-end marinas.
• Virgin Gorda. The granite boulders and pools at The Baths, then North Sound for a sheltered night.
• Jost Van Dyke. White Bay and Great Harbour, the most relaxed stop in the islands.
• Norman Island and The Indians. Caves, reef and some of the best snorkelling in the BVI.
• Anegada. Long empty beaches, lobster on the sand and water that turns pale green over the reef.

Planning your charter

Most guests fly into Beef Island (EIS) on Tortola, or into St Thomas (STT) in the US Virgin Islands and join the yacht there. The captain handles customs if the route crosses between the US and British islands.

Every motor yacht below is crewed and bookable through DMA Yachting. Filter by size, budget or toys (see yachts with jet skis or luxury motor yachts), or ask a broker for a shortlist. For catamarans and sailing yachts as well, see our full the BVI charter guide on myBVICharter.

Motor Yacht Charter in the BVI: questions we get asked

Do I need a passport for a BVI yacht charter?

Yes. The BVI is a British Overseas Territory and every guest needs a valid passport, including US citizens joining from St Thomas.

Can a motor yacht go to Anegada?

Yes. Anegada is reachable in about an hour from Virgin Gorda by motor yacht, and a crewed yacht with a local captain is the easiest way to get there.

Where do BVI motor yacht charters start?

Usually Tortola (Road Town, Nanny Cay or Scrub Island) or Virgin Gorda. Some yachts start from St Thomas and cross into the BVI on the first day.

When is the best time to charter a motor yacht in the Caribbean?

The main season runs from mid-December to April, with the calmest, driest weather from February to April. Christmas and New Year are the most expensive and book first. Hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November; some yachts keep chartering through the summer while many larger motor yachts move to the Mediterranean or New England.

What does a motor yacht charter cost on top of the base rate?

Most motor yachts add an Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA), usually 25 to 40 percent of the base rate, which pays for fuel, food, drinks and dockage and is reconciled at the end of the week. Fuel is the biggest variable on a motor yacht, so a route with long runs costs more than a relaxed one. Some smaller yachts in the Caribbean are quoted all-inclusive instead. Your broker will show you which terms apply before you book.

Other Caribbean motor yacht destinations

• Motor Yacht Charter in the US Virgin Islands
• Motor Yacht Charter in St Barts
• Motor Yacht Charter in Antigua
• Motor Yacht Charter in the Grenadines
• Motor Yacht Charter in St Maarten