Best anchorages in the US Virgin Islands to visit during your luxury private yacht charter

The anchorage on Water Island is the perfect get-away-from-it-all spot. With a population of less than 200 people it is quiet and tranquil and offers visitors a superb opportunity to relax away from everything and enjoy a laid-back atmosphere. Anchored here, you will literally feel time slow down. While having one more espresso on deck, you and your loved ones can decide what to do first. Will you go kayaking or snorkeling? Or would you first like to explore the shoreline or hike or bike around the island? There is even the option to go line fishing from the deep-water dock in Flamingo Bay.

If you are interested in the history of ownership post colonization, visit the Providence Point Plantation, currently incorporated into a private home. A National Park Service Team excavated the Carolina Point Plantation in 1998. The Plantation is considered a valuable archaeological area because of its remarkable degree of preservation and historical significance. The remains include masonry foundations, cisterns, bake ovens, rubble walls of a great house, house-like structures and slave cabins.

Back at the beach, your chief stewardess is waiting for you with your favorite chilled drinks ready. Spend some time at the quiet and pristine beach, have a picnic, go for a swim or simply lay out in the sun to catch some rays before the tender brings you back to your yacht. Don’t forget to take pictures to show your loved ones back home how unbelievable beautiful Water Island is! 

Waterlemon Cay is surrounded by coral reefs and the number one destination for snorkeling on St John  – and its reputation is well deserved. With its tiny islet, covered in green, at the end of a split of white sand sitting in a brilliant blue sea, it is postcard perfect. The clear shallow waters on the eastern end of Leinster Bay are a snorkeler’s dream and provide a habitat for a wide array of tropical marine life. 

In the sea grass beds of the tiny bay you are likely to see Green Sea Turtles, rays, conch and large orange and yellow Cushio starfish. Along the dramatic structure and reef surrounding Waterlemon Cay, you will encounter plenty of purple sea fans, Boulder and Grooved Brain Coral, Mustard Hill Coral, Elkhorn and Pillar Corals. The variety of fish is even more impressive with schools of Atlantic Blue Tangs, Bluehead Wrasses, an assortment of Parrotfish, blennies, grunts, damsels and Squirrelfish

Magens Bay is St Thomas’ most popular beach and it is easy to see why it has been voted one of the world’s top ten most beautiful beaches again and again. Arriving here on your own private yacht is an out of this world experience you will never forget. You will cruise past hills rising from the sea, covered in blooming flowers, and trees and bushes in ever shade of green possible. And then there is the beach. A public park of more than one kilometer of perfect white sand, donated to the people of the Virgin Islands by Arthur Fairchild. Crescent shaped and lined with swaying palm trees, this is one of those beaches you think of while picturing what the US Virgin Islands will look like. 

The stunningly clear water is usually very calm with no waves or current, great for floating around and for swimming. Because the bay deepens gradually from shore, it is the perfect place to hang out with younger children. Your crew will make sure the paddle boats and kayaks are out in the water and your beach chairs are set up in a shady area at the beach, so all you have to do is tell your chief stewardess which of your chilled drinks is today’s favorite.  Always wanted to know how your hair looks braided? This beach is the place to try it out! Have a perfect Caribbean beach day and don’t forget to pick up a souvenir or two before you make your way back to your yacht to watch the sunset!

Salt Pond Bay has one of the nicest beaches in the Virgin Islands. This crescent shaped piece of paradise is over land only reached by a hiking trail, so there is a fair chance you will have the white sandy beach to yourself when you arrive on your private yacht! The protected bay is within the National Park and moorings are available. Salt Pond boasts some of the best snorkeling and hiking. The shallow water access makes this a great spot to go for a swim, float around in the water and have fun with the entire family. The beach is protected enough that most days there isn’t much surf, so talk to your captain and chief stewardess about spending a perfect day at the beach here! Who will spot the most beautiful fish while snorkeling? Bring your logbook and your camera and make unforgettable memories in St John! 

If you are looking for a restful, revitalising tropical time away, with warm turquoise waters and palm-lined soft sandy beaches, a private luxury charter yacht is the way to go. There is simply no better way to enjoy the US Virgin Islands with your family and friends.