Motor Yacht Charter in the Grenadines

The Grenadines are the Caribbean at its least developed. The chain runs south from St Vincent to Grenada: Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, the Tobago Cays, Union Island and Petit St Vincent, most of them a short hop from the next.

A motor yacht lets you run the whole chain in a week without long days on the water, and it handles the open-water channels between the islands in comfort.

Why charter a motor yacht in the Grenadines?

• The whole chain in one week. From St Vincent to Grenada the islands are rarely more than a couple of hours apart on a motor yacht.
• Comfort in the channels. The Windward Islands catch the full trade winds, and some channels, like the one between St Vincent and Bequia, can be lively. A stabilised motor yacht keeps it easy.
• Private-island calm. Mustique, Canouan and Petit St Vincent are some of the most private places in the Caribbean, and the anchorages are rarely crowded.

Where to go

• Bequia. Admiralty Bay and Port Elizabeth, with a boat-building tradition and good beach bars.
• Mustique. Britannia Bay and a famously private island.
• Tobago Cays. A marine park of five small islands inside a horseshoe reef, where you can swim with sea turtles.
• Mayreau and Union Island. Salt Whistle Bay, one of the prettiest anchorages in the chain, and Clifton on Union.
• Canouan and Petit St Vincent. Resort islands with calm water and long reefs.

Planning your charter

Fly into St Vincent (Argyle International, SVD) or Grenada (GND), or take a connecting flight to Canouan or Mustique. One-way charters between St Vincent and Grenada are common. The captain handles customs, usually at Union Island or Carriacou.

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 Grenadines charter guide on myStVincentGrenadinesCharter.

Motor Yacht Charter in the Grenadines: questions we get asked

How do I get to a Grenadines yacht charter?

Fly into St Vincent (SVD) or Grenada (GND). Small planes also serve Canouan, Mustique and Union Island. Many charters run one way between St Vincent and Grenada.

Can we swim with turtles in the Tobago Cays?

Yes. The Tobago Cays Marine Park is known for green sea turtles in the shallow water around Baradal. The crew will take you in by tender.

Is a motor yacht or a catamaran better for the Grenadines?

Both work. A motor yacht covers the chain faster and rides the open channels more comfortably; a catamaran is slower but very stable at anchor. Your broker can compare both.

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 Antigua
• Motor Yacht Charter in St Maarten