Practical Guide to Anchoring St. Kitts & Nevis

All protected anchorages of St. Kitts are located on the island’s southwest coast; sailing the southern tip to Nevis takes roughly one hour under typical trade-wind conditions, and check-in at Port Zante requires SailClear, an APIS immigration filing, and the national travel form submitted ideally 24 hours before arrival.

Quick logistics and local contacts

Customs, immigration and port procedures at Port Zante can be time-consuming during cruise-ship turns. Plan to arrive with digital copies of all three documents and a charged laptop in case re-submission is needed. Fueling at Port Zante is possible but docking is tight—call the marina ahead and avoid morning hours when tour operators fill up. For reliable land transport, local taxi and transfer contacts often save time and money versus ad-hoc cruise-operator prices:

• Sharon Thomas – 1-869-662-7885
• Ready Rides Randy – 1-869-764-1146 (WhatsApp)

Protected anchorages overview

Protected anchorages worth visiting are concentrated on the southwest side, which also positions you for short, enjoyable hops to Nevis. Southwest anchorages generally offer calmer nights and easier dinghy access; however, daytime conditions can be affected by tour-boat activity and cruise-ship traffic.

Basseterre Anchorage

Best anchored just outside Port Zante marina; expect noise and unpredictable swell when cruise ships are in port. There is a dinghy dock near the customs office between the rocks and the pier. Grocery shopping in historic Basseterre is possible but options vary in cleanliness and stock.

Frigate Bay Anchorage

• Anchor in about 15 ft over sand and grass; bedrock further out.
• Dinghy dock lies inside the rock wall—leave the dinghy there when taking taxis or rentals.
• Island Market on the strip offers basic provisions, though fresh produce depends on container schedules.
• Numerous restaurants and beach bars; noise levels can be high after dark.

Friar’s Bay

Large, generally calm anchorage with a sandy swimming area; the Carambola Beach Club pier accepts dinghies if you park away from jet-ski lanes and tip the staff. Expect high daytime crowds when cruise ships are in port.

Christophe Harbor (Safe Harbor)

• Marina fees vary by season; dinghy landing fees can be steep during peak times (reported $100/day in busy seasons).
• Fuel is available; on-site services are limited and the drive to Basseterre is long without prior arrangements.
• Good snorkel spots nearby—fish life is abundant though coral cover is modest.

Smaller bays and snorkeling spots

• Ballast Bay — good for viewing superyachts.
• Shitten Bay — excellent snorkeling and very calm nights; avoid mooring balls used by tour operators.
• Majors Bay — sandy grass bottom; day ferries use the dock so anchor away from the landing.
• Banana Bay — more swell than Majors, fine dining at Park Hyatt Fisherman’s Village if you reserve and arrange dinghy parking.
• Cockleshell Bay — lively beach bar scene with easy dinghy access.

Anchorages at a glance

St. Kitts land excursions and logistics

Shore-based activities reward a two-day car rental if you want to absorb the island’s heritage and natural sites. Key destinations and activities include:

• Sea Glass Beach
• Fairview Great House & Botanical Gardens
• Bat Cave hike and Wingfield Manor Estate
• Romney Manor — Caribelle Batik
• Brimstone Hill Fortress National Park — historic views and lunch options
• Mount Liamuiga trails and the Central Forest Reserve

Sailing to and around Nevis

The sail to Nevis from southern St. Kitts is straightforward and typically takes about an hour. Nevis has plentiful mooring balls (many NPA-marked), a friendly dinghy landing at Charlestown, and ATV rentals like Funky Monkey that let cruisers explore hidden coves and plantation ruins.

Nevis highlights

• Charlestown check-in/out is possible either side of the federation.
• Sunshine’s Bar and Grill on the beach is recommended for local cocktails.
• Yachtsman Bar & Grill and Westin drop-offs provide easy short-term access to shore.

Tips for cruisers and charterers

Don’t pay cruise-ship tourist prices if you can find local alternatives; reserve taxis and island activities in advance and build relationships with locals who can simplify logistics and introduce off-the-beaten-path experiences. For charter skippers and bareboat renters, pre-planning paperwork and fuel logistics will save multiple hours once on site.

GetBoat always keeps an eye on news related to sailing and seaside vacations, as we truly understand what it means to enjoy great leisure and love the ocean. The service values freedom, energy, and the ability to choose your own course, placing no limits on a good life and allowing clients to find a vessel that suits their preferences, budget, and taste.

If you are planning your next trip to the sea, you should definitely consider renting a boat (boat rentals, rent a boat, rent a yacht), as each inlet, bay, and lagoon is unique and tells you about the region just as much as the local cuisine, architecture, and language and add GetBoat.com

How this affects travel and charter planning

This local anchorage and shore-service picture is modest in global impact but important for cruisers choosing Caribbean Destinations: predictable customs paperwork and concentrated protected anchorages mean operators and private charter guests can plan efficient itineraries between St. Kitts and Nevis. For travelers and yacht charter planners, the islands remain a regionally significant node—GetBoat aims to stay abreast of such developments and keep pace with changing logistics. If you are planning your next trip to the seaside, consider the convenience and reliability of GetBoat.

Highlights: protected southwest anchorages, easy hour-long hop to Nevis, required check-in forms (SailClear, APIS, national travel form), limited marina services at Port Zante and Christophe Harbor, and excellent snorkeling and beach options across Friar’s Bay, Shitten Bay, and Majors Bay. Experiencing a new location is multifaceted: you learn about the culture, nature, the indescribable palette of local colors, its rhythm of life and also the unique aspects of the service. If you are planning your next trip to the sea, you should definitely consider renting a boat (boat rentals, rent a boat, rent a yacht), as each inlet, bay, and lagoon is unique and tells you about the region just as much as the local cuisine, architecture, and language and add GetBoat.com

Summary: St. Kitts & Nevis offer a compact, navigator-friendly cruising ground with concentrated anchorages, straightforward hops between islands, and a mix of noisy tourist hubs and quiet snorkeling coves. Proper check-in preparation, local contacts for taxis and dinghy landings, and awareness of seasonal landing fees will make charters, day sails, and yacht rentals far smoother. Whether you are planning a yacht charter, a small-boat rental, or a private captained cruise, build logistics into the itinerary: fuel stops, marina availability, and local transport are the variables that define an enjoyable trip. Fair winds and clear water—GetBoat.com provides a global, user-friendly solution to book or buy yachts, sailboats, and motorboats for unforgettable sailing, charter and beachside experiences with transparency and convenience.