A beautiful view of the small Gustaf III Airport (SBH) in St. Barths; credit St. Barths Tourism
St. Barths Transportation
Airports
Since St. Maarten’s nearby Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) accommodates many direct flights from North America and Europe, most guests headed to St. Barths fly there, then transfer to small plane rides to Gustaf III Airport (SBH). Other guests to St. Barths take the 45-minute ferry from St. Maarten.
There are frequent flights from NYC JFK, Newark, Toronto, Montreal, Fort Lauderdale, Washington Dulles, Chicago, Atlanta, Charlotte, Philadelphia, and Paris CDG airports to SXM Airport. United, American, Delta, Air France, Air Canada, Air Caraibes, Caribbean, Copa, JetBlue, Air France, KLM, WestJet, and Spirit Airlines fly to SXM Airport for small connecting flights to SBH Airport in St. Barths.
Occasional turbulence in small planes makes adventuresome landings at SBH Airport. That is also what makes the island more exclusive. Guests then take taxi rides directly to their hotels.
Ground Transport
Driving on St. Barths’ unimpressive roads can also be an adventure, so jeep rentals are preferred. You can drive to any other part of the island in less than 20 minutes.
A valid driver’s license is sufficient to rent a car from SBH Airport. Car Rentals: Hertz, Avis, Budget, Thrifty, Europcar, Maurice Car Rental, Sixt and Turbe.
Prefer not to drive? There are only two taxi stations in St. Barths, one at SBH Airport and one at Gustavia Harbor.
Residents often ride Mini-buses around the island. At your hotel, check their bus route before taking one of their inexpensive rides.
Rapid Explorer ferry docked in Gustwavia Harbor, St. Barths; (c) Atout-France
Ferries
A St. Maarten-St. Barths’ ferry round trip will cost you from 50 Euros to 75 Euros.
The Edge
There is also a high-speed ferry named The Edge that comes to Gustavia once a day from Tuesday until Saturday. It leaves from Pelican Marina in Dutch-side St. Maarten at 9 AM. The passage lasts around 45 minutes.
MV Voyager
MV Voyager departs from St. Martin at 9:00 AM and 6:45 PM every day except Wednesday and Sunday from the waterfront in Marigot, to arrive in Gustavia around 75 minutes later. Wednesday and Sunday it departs from Oyster Pond to Gustavia around 45 minutes later.
PHONE: +590-590-27-54-10
You can also catch a Rapid Explorer ferry from Anguilla.