Well folks, the wait is over! Palm Tree Charters is the first St. John-based, private charter company to bring guests back to the British Virgin Islands! And they’re accepting reservations now, so act fast to reserve your spot!
It only took 956 days, but Palm Tree Charters returned to the British Virgin Islands with guests Sunday morning, marking an exciting return to normalcy, post-Covid. The last time they were able to bring guests to the BVI was March 18, 2020. The British Virgin Island closed their borders due to Covid the following day, and when they reopened to charter companies, their newly-imposed requirements made it prohibitive for most local companies to bring guests over into BVI waters.
Well Palm Tree Charters – a company that has been in business on St. John since 2005 – has fulfilled all of the BVI’s new licensing requirements, and they are currently approved to bring guests over on several of their boats – their Palma Bellas and Last Call, their luxury, 36-foot Aquila. They can literally take you over tomorrow if you’d like! Seriously, go book that trip!
I don’t know about you, but I absolutely love a BVI day. There is something so magical about island hopping to spots like the Soggy Dollar Bar, Seddy’s One Love and Foxy’s, snorkeling over in the Caves or at the Indians near Norman Island, or simply cruising up and down the Sir Francis Drake Channel.
Ready to grab some friends and head over to the BVI? I know I am! In fact, I am heading over with Palm Tree Charters for my birthday next week!
Full disclosure here: The price to take a private charter to the BVI has increased due to the cost associated with the approval process, including licensing fees, work permits, taxes, etc. Palm Tree Charters understands the cost is high. I understand the cost is high. But a day in the BVI is priceless, right?? 🙂 For those of you who’d rather stick to US waters, prices for these trips remain the same.
Ok, so the cost to charter the Palma Bellas to the BVI is $1,250 for up to eight guests. Customs is an additional $75 per person, and a passport is required for all BVI trips. (You must clear through Customs & Immigration when entering the British Virgin Island, and again when you return to St. John.) Trips to the Baths in Virgin Gorda and North Sound locations like Saba Rock, Bitter End and Oil Nut Bay will incur an additional $250 cost per trip. Fuel is not included and will cost roughly $170 to $350 depending on which island you decide to visit (and also based on the current cost of fuel). Simply want to visit Jost Van Dyke? Fuel will average about $170. Looking to jump off the Willy T? Gas to Norman Island will cost roughly $260.
The cost to charter Last Call, Palm Tree Charter’s luxury Aquila to the British Virgin Islands is $2,700 for up to 12 people. Customs is an additional $75 per person, and fuel in not included.
All trips depart at 8:30 a.m. from Cruz Bay and will return at approximately 4:30 p.m.
So as I mentioned, I am super excited to head over to the BVI with Palm Tree Charters next week. With so many amazing places to visit, I simply do not know where to go! A breakfast mimosa at Oil Nut Bay followed by lunch over at Saba Rock, perhaps? Maybe we will head straight to see our friends over at the Soggy Dollar Bar and Foxy’s followed by a Bushwacker at Pirate’s Bight. So many possibilities!
If you’d like to learn more about Palm Tree Charters USVI and BVI charters, please visit their website at www.PalmTreeCharters.com. Have a fantastic day everyone!
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It is outrageous what the BVI government has imposed on day visitors and the boat operators. Out of principle everyone should boycot the place. $75 customs fee?! The USVI should turn around and impose EXACTLY the same restriction on their people. Sorry I won’t go until they stop (edited) Americans.
I completely agree with Todd above. Normally, two wrongs don’t make a right, however, the USVI should absolutely return the favor to the BVI in this case. I’d like to say our family is boycotting travel such as this, but besides the storms, then virus restrictions and now inflation and ridiculousness such as this, the real reason out family of 4 hasn’t been back down to the islands since 2016 is the insane cost to just get on the ground in STT from Atlanta (not to mention lodging, boat exploring and all other associated costs). Trust me, the VI is one of my favorite places in the world to visit, but right now, it is simply not worth the exorbitant cost. There is soooo much more we can do elsewhere for a fraction of the cost, so until things like this change, unfortunately, we won’t “soon come”.
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