Motor Yacht Charter in Antigua

Antigua is the yachting capital of the Eastern Caribbean. English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour hold some of the biggest yachts in the region, and the island says it has a beach for every day of the year.

On a motor yacht you can spend a week moving between Antigua’s quiet bays and add Barbuda, whose long pink sand beach is a few hours’ run to the north.

Why charter a motor yacht in Antigua?

• Barbuda is within reach. Barbuda lies about 30 miles north of Antigua. On a motor yacht that is a comfortable morning run, and it opens up an empty coastline and the frigate bird colony in Codrington Lagoon.
• Big-yacht marinas. Falmouth Harbour and English Harbour are built for large motor yachts, with full service and good restaurants ashore.
• Easy to reach. V.C. Bird International Airport (ANU) has direct flights from the UK, the US and Canada.

Where to go

• English Harbour. Nelson’s Dockyard, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Shirley Heights at sunset.
• Falmouth Harbour. The superyacht marina next door and the usual boarding point.
• Green Island and Nonsuch Bay. Protected water on the east coast, good for kitesurfing and swimming.
• Jolly Harbour and Deep Bay. West-coast beaches and a wreck to snorkel in Deep Bay.
• Barbuda. Miles of pink sand beach and the Frigate Bird Sanctuary.

Planning your charter

Fly into Antigua (ANU); the marinas at English and Falmouth Harbour are about 30 to 40 minutes’ drive. The Antigua Charter Yacht Show runs in early December, and Antigua Sailing Week fills the harbours in late April.

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 Antigua charter guide on myAntiguaCharter.

Motor Yacht Charter in Antigua: questions we get asked

Where do Antigua motor yacht charters start?

Most start in Falmouth Harbour or English Harbour on the south coast, about 30 to 40 minutes from the airport.

Can we visit Barbuda on an Antigua charter?

Yes. Barbuda is about 30 miles north, a comfortable run on a motor yacht, and worth at least one night.

Is Antigua good for a first Caribbean charter?

Yes. It has direct international flights, large protected harbours and a wide choice of bays within an hour of each other.

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