Seven Days or Ten in the Grenadines? Choosing Your Yacht Charter Duration
One of the most frequent questions we receive from charterers planning their trip to St Vincent and the Grenadines is whether a week is truly enough, or whether stretching to ten days makes a meaningful difference. With over twenty years based in St Vincent, we have seen guests sail both routes countless times. The short answer is that seven days delivers a classic, unforgettable cruise, while ten days transforms your voyage into an unhurried exploration.
The Classic Seven-Day Route
A seven-day charter offers a focused itinerary taking in the essential highlights of the archipelago. Starting from our base, your first passage brings you across the Bequia Channel to Admiralty Bay. From Bequia, you sail south through the chain, dropping anchor in Salt Whistle Bay on Mayreau before spending time immersed in the marine life around the horseshoe reef at the Tobago Cays. You can then visit Chatham Bay on Union Island or anchor off Petit St Vincent before beginning the return leg north via Mustique and Britannia Bay.
The pace on a one-week charter is active and rewarding, with sailing passages typically averaging two to three hours per day. Because time is limited, you will generally move to a new anchorage each morning or afternoon. It suits sailors who enjoy being underway daily, wish to experience the core islands without taking extended time away from work, and are comfortable with a single night in each key location.
The Freedom of Ten Days
Adding three extra days fundamentally shifts the character of your charter. Rather than following a strictly linear route south and back, a ten-day itinerary provides breathing room to spend multiple nights in your favourite spots. You might spend two full days anchored behind the protective reef in the Tobago Cays, taking a tender out to the quiet sands of Petit Tabac, or linger for an extra afternoon swimming off Princess Margaret Beach in Bequia without watching the clock.
A ten-day window also opens up anchorages that are often bypassed on tighter schedules. You have time to explore the quiet bays of Canouan, pause off Palm Island, or spend an unhurried evening ashore at Basil's Bar in Mustique. Crucially, the extra days build in natural flexibility for weather adjustments or spontaneous lay days, ensuring you never feel rushed to make passage on a particular tide or wind angle. Ten days even allows for a leisurely sail downwind to Grenada.
Practical Planning
Whichever duration you choose, starting your charter from St Vincent ensures a smooth departure. Whether you charter a bareboat monohull, a skippered catamaran, or a fully crewed motor yacht, you can arrange advance provisioning through SIPS, and transfers from SVG Yacht Services. This means you can depart promptly on your first afternoon without losing precious holiday time to supermarket runs.
If you would like tailored advice on planning your route or choosing the right yacht for your dates, please get in touch with our team or start an enquiry on our website.