Best carribean cruising for 2 weeks in Feb?

[tommfuller]

Hi folks, I'm hoping to tap into the gushing font of cruising knowledge here!
We're planning to take two weeks somewhere in the Caribbean this winter, and looking for destination recommendations. I've had a couple of sailing trips to Antigua now, so I would like to find something different. The British Virgin Islands look fantastic, are they a bit busy though? I'm keen to find somewhere relatively quiet, avoiding resorts, anchorages which are not too crowded, a few restaurants but not too bothered about that, not interested in shopping, just want a nice place to sail and swim, and maybe surf.

Should I be looking outside the Caribbean too?

Cheers,

Tom.

 

[Rum_Pirate]

Re: Best caribbean cruising for 2 weeks in Feb?

You could try chartering out of St,Maarten/St.Martin

Anguilla 9 miles great beaches, not crowded. also includes Prickly Pear,

Tinta Marre and also Pinel island 4 miles no houses/bars etc

St. Barths up market.

St.Kitts and Nevis 60 miles quiet and laid back (I will buy you a drink.) Rain Forest. Brimstone Hill (culture Vulture) beaches

Saba 40 miles

St.Eustatius very quiet

Antigua 80 miles

Barbuda 60-70 miles a truely tropical island. great beaches,

Montserrat - see a live volcano.


hhttp://www.stmaartenconcierge.com/islands.html

 

[HoratioHB]

Re: Best caribbean cruising for 2 weeks in Feb?

BVIs gets very crowded but is pretty good.

I would suggest the Grenadines, Sunsail operate out of St Vincent or the Moorings from Canouan. Much quieter, spectacliar places like the Tobago Cays and plenty of variety.

 

[phantomlady]

I would recommend St Maarten too for the same reasons. Have spent a lot of time there and think its great! Sunsail/Moorings base at Oyster Pond but other small independent charterers too. Getting there is a bit trickier than some places but pretty cheap charter flights available from Orly Paris with Corsairfly.

 

[photodog]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm keen to find somewhere relatively quiet, avoiding resorts, anchorages which are not too crowded

[/ QUOTE ]

Then give the BVI's a miss... almost no place to anchor.. heaving with yanks.. (and cruise ships now...)

If your thinking St Marten then KLM or Air France do flights with connectors from places like Bhm and Glasgow and Manchester direct no problems... versus BWIA/Virgin/BA which will go Gatwick-Antigua with LIAT into St Marten.... we think the KLM/AF option is best if yer in the provinces....

Have you considered the Seychelles or the Baja?

 

[geoffcollins]

+1 Vote for the Grenadines.

 

[john_q]

Have a look at Belize in the NW Caribbean,

Beautiful sailing inside the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world, flat seas with trade winds and very few boats.

Good fishing, diving and snorkelling. English and Spanish speaking

It can be shallow in places and the only charts available date from the 1880’s and are not that accurate so eyeball navigation is the best way here, (chart plotters can be 400 metres out)

I would suggest looking at Southern Belize as the cayes are better IMHO which would probably mean basing yourself at Placencia and using the Moorings.

Moorings, Tradewinds and TTM operate out of here as well as a number of local charter firms.

Next year there is talk of being able to Fly from Europe to Cancun in Mexico – which is cheaper than US and then onto Belize City

PM me if you want pictures or more details

 

[Boat44]

Did Grenadines few years back for X-mas. Loved it. Direct flight to Grenada. (We didn't know at the time but we could have had an upgrade for £50 on the flight, but nobody told us. ASK. Well worth it.)

Bit time consuming with checking in/out between Grenada and next lot up (sorry name escapes me) But all very pleasent.

Some anchorgaes very busy, but others almost to ourselves.

Got as far up as Tobago Cays. And it is as nice as it looks in the pictures.

Had a great time.

Have fun.

 

[KINGFISHER 9]

Not strictly Caribbean but have a look at Abaco, Bahamas (Marsh Harbour) and the off-islands - Green Turtle Cay, Elbow Cay etc - paradise with a sandy bottom .. and warm sea .. and very few tourists .. and .. and .. done it many times and if you don't like saily boats you can rent a 25 ft centre console p/b for $800 a week .. fly in to Miami then Miami to Marsh Harbour next morning. Bliss!

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[TQA]

Guadaloupe is worth a look.

The Grenadines are fantastic and a one way from St Lucia to Grenada is worth checking out.

I love the Bahamas but in February you are risking the dreaded winter cold fronts esp. in the Abacos. You could get unlucky and be in UK style weather WET COLD AND WINDY!

 

[Jeannius]

BVIs are excellent. Empty before Xmas, crowded over New Year, very quiet Mid-January to early February, get busy again late Feb through to Easter then, the best month of the year... May.

Even when 'crowded' if you know where to go you can have an anchorage to yourself.

I also really like the St Martin, Anguilla, St Barts, St Kitts and Nevis circuit as mentioned by Rum_Pirate.