Live conditions · 17.9°N 62.83°W

St Barts today

The sea, the sky and the light of the day — and what our island experts read into them: which beach is glassy right now, where to lunch in the shade, when to head out to sea. Continuously refreshed.

How we read the day

No magic: the island’s geography, crossed with the wind and swell of the moment. Six rules explain every recommendation we make.

The trade wind blows from the east-northeast almost all year. It leaves the south and west coasts glassy — Grande Saline, Gouverneur, Shell Beach, Corossol — while the windward side ripples.
North swell arrives from December to March. It wakes Flamands, Lorient, Saint-Jean and Colombier; meanwhile the south of the island stays calm. The exact opposite of summer.
Three beaches are reef-protected — Saint-Jean, Lorient, Grand Cul-de-Sac. Their lagoons stay swimmable even when it moves offshore: the safe bets with young children.
Above 18 knots, Grand Cul-de-Sac becomes the island’s best plan. Flat lagoon, steady wind: what ruins a beach makes a wing and kite paradise.
Between 11am and 3pm, UV decides more than the sea. Shadeless beaches — Saline, Gouverneur — are earned early or after 4pm; at midday, a table under the trees wins.
The Toiny coast is for looking, not swimming. Powerful swell and currents: magnificent in photographs, dangerous the moment the sea passes one metre.

Reaching the island

From Saint-Martin (SXM), by air — a 10 to 12 minute flight into Gustaf III airfield. Rotations run throughout the day with Winair and St Barth Commuter; the approach over the Tourmente col remains one of the world's great arrivals.
From Saint-Martin, by sea — a 30 to 45 minute crossing from Philipsburg or Marigot depending on operator and sea state. Comfortable in calm water; with north swell and a brisk trade, the plane earns its price.
Semi-private flights — seasonal links from San Juan and Antigua, eight-seat cabins, check-in in minutes.
What we handle — booking the rotations, meeting you at SXM, coordinating luggage, private transfer to the villa and keys in hand on arrival.

Schedules and frequencies vary by season: we confirm exact slots when your stay is booked.

Driving times from Gustavia

Airport / Saint-Jean8 min
Anse des Flamands12 min
Grande Saline12 min
Anse du Gouverneur10 min
Lorient12 min
Grand Cul-de-Sac18 min
Colombier (car park + 20 min walk)15 min
Toiny22 min

Indicative times outside peak hours. The island is 25 km²: nothing is ever more than half an hour away.

The Memory Designer signature

Villa, chef, sea, concierge: all of that can be organised. What sets a stay apart is what will remain of it — our Memory Designers design from the memory, and the island is orchestrated around it.

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