St Maarten to St Barts: Boat, Ferry & Helicopter, Every Option Compared

The four ways to get from St Maarten to St Barts

There is no bridge, no tunnel, and no scheduled cruise route between the two islands. The 19-mile (30 km) channel between Sint Maarten and Saint-Barthélemy has to be crossed by sea or by air, and that's it. Once you understand that, the choice narrows to four categories:

Option 4, private charter: some of the boats available.

• Public ferry, fixed schedules, lowest price, longest door-to-door time.
• Commuter flight, fast and iconic, but luggage-restricted.
• Helicopter, fastest and most flexible, premium price.
• Private boat charter, door-to-door, customizable, ideal for groups and luxury travelers.

Each option has a sweet spot. A solo backpacker on a budget will not pick the same transfer as a family of six with eight suitcases arriving on a delayed transatlantic flight. The next sections break down each one with real numbers. For a broader destination overview you can also cross-check st-barths.com, which keeps general arrival info up to date.

Option 1: Public ferry (Voyager / Great Bay Express)

The public ferry is the cheapest way of getting from St Maarten to St Barts. Two operators run the route in 2026, one from the Dutch side and one from the French side:

• Great Bay Express, departs Bobby's Marina, Philipsburg (Dutch side). Crossing time ~45 minutes, the shortest of the two. See schedules on greatbayexpress.com.
• Voyager, departs Marigot (French side). Crossing time about 80 minutes. Voyager advertises around 55, but that figure is measured buoy to buoy: once you count the channel, docking and disembarking, 80 is what you actually experience. Marigot is now the only French-side ferry port; Oyster Pond has not run this route since Irma.

A third operator, The Edge, ran the crossing out of Simpson Bay for years. Its boat was sold in April 2026 and the service is gone, so disregard older guides and forum posts that still list three ferries.

Price and schedule

One-way fares sit in the region of US$90 to US$120 per adult, depending on the operator and the season, with a round trip roughly double that. Fares are quoted in dollars and they move, so check the operator's own page for the figure of the day. One thing worth knowing: both operators state that the departure tax and port fee are already included in the price shown, so there is nothing extra to pay at the dock, whatever other guides tell you. Expect 2 to 3 departures a day. The last sailing out of Philipsburg is around 5:30 PM, and the last out of Marigot around 6:55 PM. The evening rotation isn't guaranteed year-round, so confirm on the day rather than counting on it.

Pros

• Lowest cost
• Predictable schedule
• No luggage weight limits

Cons

• Transfer time from SXM airport to either port is 25 to 45 minutes by taxi (€25 to €50)
• Schedules don't sync with international arrivals, long layovers are common
• The crossing can be rough; the channel between the islands is exposed
• Boats are functional, not comfortable, no shaded outdoor deck, basic seating
• Last ferry leaves mid-afternoon, so a late SXM arrival means an overnight in St Maarten

Who it suits

Independent travelers on a budget, day-trippers from St Maarten, anyone who arrives at SXM with hours to spare and doesn't mind the queue. Land after about 4:30 PM and you're down to the single evening departure out of Marigot, which means clearing immigration, finding a taxi and crossing the island in under two hours with no margin if your bags are slow. Land after about 5:30 PM and the ferry is genuinely off the table for the day.

Option 2: Commuter flights (Winair, St Barth Commuter)

The flight from SXM to SBH (Gustavia airport, also called Rémy de Haenen) takes 15 minutes in the air. The approach into St Barts is famous, a steep dive over the hill at Col de la Tourmente before a short-runway landing on the beach side. It's worth doing once just for the view.

Operators and price

• Winair, multiple daily flights, IATA-coded, bookable like any normal airline. Details at winair.sx.
• St Barth Commuter, privately held, often more flexible on charter slots. See fly-stbarth.com.
• Tradewind Aviation is often listed for this route, but its scheduled service to St Barth runs from San Juan and Antigua, not from Sint Maarten. Out of SXM it's private charter only.

One-way scheduled fares run €140 to €220 per person. Last flights land before sunset: St Barts allows no night landings at all, on either runway.

Pros

• 12-minute flight time
• Iconic experience, the SBH approach is one of the most dramatic in the world
• Frequent rotations during the day

Cons

• Luggage is capped by size and by cabin weight, not by a small checked allowance: 23 kg (50 lb) checked, with a 62-inch total-dimension limit, and only 6 to 12 kg of cabin baggage depending on the airline. Heavier bags are carried on space availability only, for a fee, which in practice means a full aircraft can push your suitcase onto a later rotation.
• Weight-and-balance can shuffle passengers between flights
• Weather-sensitive, wind shear cancellations happen
• No flights after dark, so late SXM arrivals miss the connection
• Still requires a taxi from SBH airport to your villa or hotel

Who it suits

Couples and solo travelers with light luggage, anyone who wants the postcard landing, and travelers connecting to a midday SXM arrival.

Option 3: Helicopter transfer

A helicopter from SXM to SBH takes about 10 minutes gate-to-gate, landing at St Barth's airport in Saint-Jean rather than at a separate pad. Several operators run on demand, with the option of departing from the FBO at Princess Juliana, which means you can step off your private jet and onto the helicopter in under 15 minutes.

Price

Helicopters on this route are sold by the aircraft, not by the seat. Operators publish starting figures around US$2,200 for a private transfer, with handling fees added per passenger, and rates climb in high season. There is no shared-seat helicopter product between SXM and St Barth, whatever older comparison pages claim. Ask the operator for a written quote for your date.

For private aviation arrivals, including jet handling, helicopter coordination, and ground services on both sides, concierges like gosbh.com handle the door-to-door logistics so the timing actually works.

Pros

• Fastest option after wheels-down at SXM
• No sea sickness, no port transfer
• Lands beside the terminal, so no onward airport transfer
• Spectacular aerial view of both islands

Cons

• Most expensive option by far for one or two people, because you pay for the aircraft
• Same luggage constraint as commuter flights, often stricter
• Weather cancellations possible
• Daylight only. Helicopter operators on this route run roughly 7 AM to 6 PM, and St Barth's runway has no lighting, so a helicopter is no help for an evening arrival

Who it suits

Time-poor executives, private jet arrivals, and travelers who simply want zero hassle and have the budget to match.

Option 4: Private boat charter

A private boat transfer is the option most repeat St Barts visitors quietly settle on after trying the others. You're picked up at a marina on St Maarten, usually Simpson Bay, Oyster Pond, or directly at the SXM seaplane dock, and you arrive at the public dock in Gustavia harbor. Crossing time is about 40 minutes on the water from the Dutch-side marinas at a normal 25-knot cruise. Leaving from Marigot on the French side adds roughly 20 minutes, since the boat has to round the western tip of the island first, and a heavy winter swell adds 10 to 15 more because the captain slows down to keep the ride civil. Door-to-door, count on an hour to an hour and a half.

Boat types and price

Our boats are priced per boat, not per person, one-way. Round trip is roughly double. These are the published starting rates, not estimates:

• Cigarette 36, open speedboat, up to 6 guests: from €1,800 one-way
• Concept 44, offshore powerboat, up to 12 guests: from €2,200 one-way
• VanDutch 48, motor yacht, up to 12 guests: from €5,200 one-way
• VanDutch 55, flagship motor yacht, up to 12 guests: from €5,800 one-way

Captain and crew, fuel, open bar, snorkeling gear and door-to-dock ground transport are included on every crossing, with no fuel surcharge added at the dock. See the full rates and estimate your crossing.

Pros

• No real luggage limit, bring all the suitcases, the surfboard, the case of wine
• Door-to-door from the SXM airport area; we coordinate the taxi from the terminal to the marina
• Operates after dark, so late international arrivals work
• Air-conditioned cabin, shaded deck, swim platform, drinks onboard
• Can stop at Tintamarre or Île Fourchue on the way for a swim
• Seats up to 12, often cheaper per person than helicopter for groups of 4+
• No commuter-flight cancellations from crosswind at SBH airport

Cons

• More expensive than the public ferry
• Sea state on rough days still affects comfort (though luxury yachts handle it well)
• Slightly slower than flying

Who it suits

Families, friend groups, honeymooners, anyone with serious luggage, late arrivals, and travelers who want the trip to start the moment they board the boat instead of after they reach the villa. Pair it with a pre-arranged ground transfer through driverstbarth.com and your bags go from the dock in Gustavia straight to your villa with zero queueing.

Cost comparison: all options side-by-side

Ferry fares already include the departure tax and port fee. Our boat rates include captain and crew, fuel, and door-to-dock ground transport, with nothing added at the dock. Air fares move with season and availability, so confirm those at booking.

Which option is best for your travel style?

There isn't one universal answer to "what's the best way to get from St Maarten to St Barts", there's a best answer for your trip.

Solo or a couple with carry-on only

The commuter flight is hard to beat. Twelve minutes, postcard view, predictable price. Book Winair if you want airline-style reliability, St Barth Commuter if you want a more boutique feel.

A family of 4 or a group of friends

A private boat transfer almost always wins on math and on experience. The Cigarette 36 at €1,800 split six ways is €300 each, less than a shared helicopter seat would cost if one existed, and on the Concept 44 at €2,200 a group of twelve pays €183 a head. You get all your luggage, no weight-and-balance surprises, no flight cancellation, and about 40 minutes on the water with drinks on the deck.

Arriving on a late international flight

This is the case where the choice makes itself. St Barth's airport has no runway lighting and accepts no night landings, so the plane and the helicopter are both finished at sunset, somewhere between 6 and 7 PM depending on the season. The last ferry leaves Philipsburg around 5:30 PM and Marigot around 6:55 PM, and that evening rotation isn't guaranteed year-round. Land at 7 PM and there is no scheduled way across until morning. A private boat is the exception: it isn't tied to the airport curfew and crosses in the dark. That's exactly why so many winter transfers are delayed long-hauls. If your inbound is already running late, tell us while you're still in the air.

On a backpacker budget

Public ferry, no question. Just lock in your SXM arrival before 1:00 PM so you don't miss the boat.

Stepping off a private jet at SXM FBO

Helicopter. Five-minute transfer between the FBO and the helipad, ten minutes in the air, and you're at Gustavia.

If luggage is the deciding factor

Private boat or public ferry. Anything airborne will weigh and measure every bag, and carry the heavy ones only if there's room that day.

To match the transfer to the right villa or hotel, it's worth lining up your accommodation first. Resources like yourstbarth.com cover the main areas (Gustavia, Saint-Jean, Lurin, Pointe Milou) so you can pick a base that fits your arrival time and onward logistics.

How far is St Maarten from St Barts?

Island to island, St Maarten and St Barts sit about 19 miles / 30 kilometers apart. Measured port-to-port, the most-traveled route, Philipsburg's Bobby's Marina to Gustavia harbor, is 13 nautical miles, roughly 15 miles or 24 km. From the Dutch-side marinas most private boats leave from, Cole Bay and Simpson Bay, it's about 15 nautical miles.

By air, it's a 15-minute flight at low altitude. By boat, most captains cruise the crossing at around 25 knots and land in Gustavia in about 40 minutes. The channel itself can be lively, Atlantic swell wraps around the eastern tip of St Barts and meets Caribbean current, so morning crossings are usually smoother than afternoon ones.

For trip planning: think of St Barts as a 60-to-90-minute door-to-door commitment from SXM no matter which option you pick once you factor in airport-to-port transfers and check-in times. Only the helicopter beats that.

Tips for a smooth arrival in St Barts

A few specifics that make the difference between a slick arrival and a stressful one:

• Build a buffer. International flights into SXM are routinely delayed 30 to 60 minutes. Don't book the last ferry or last flight of the day with a 90-minute connection, give yourself two hours minimum.
• Pre-book your onward ground transfer in Gustavia or at SBH airport. Taxis at peak times (Saturday afternoons, holiday weekends) can run out. A pre-booked driver waits with your name and takes the bags directly.
• Customs on arrival in St Barts is fast, it's an EU territory but a special status, so border formalities are minimal for most nationalities. Bring your passport.
• Cash and cards. Euro is the official currency; USD is widely accepted at a roughly 1:1 informal rate (which works against you). Use cards or get euros.
• Phone and data. French SIMs and EU roaming work. US carriers usually charge international rates, check before you arrive.
• If you're bringing wine, watches, or anything fragile, the boat is the only mode that won't shake or weight-restrict it.
• Sun, water, light layer. Even on a 45-minute boat ride, the Caribbean sun on open water is no joke.

If you're asking yourself "how do I get from St Martin to St Barts" rather than "St Maarten", same island, French side spelling. The boat options from Marigot (French side) are slightly closer to most villa rentals; the airport-side options are closer to SXM if you're flying in.

Frequently asked questions

Is there helicopter service from St Maarten to St Barts?

Yes. Helicopter transfers run between Princess Juliana (SXM) and St Barth in about 10 minutes, chartered by the aircraft rather than by the seat. Flights are daylight only, operators run roughly 7 AM to 6 PM, and luggage is weight-restricted, so most groups send checked bags separately by boat. If you have larger bags or arrive after dark, a private boat covers the same crossing in about 40 minutes with no weight limit and without the airport's sunset cutoff.

What is the best way to get from St Maarten to St Barts?

For most travelers with luggage or a group, a private boat charter is the best way to get from St Maarten to St Barts. It's door-to-door, runs after dark, has no weight limits, and works out comparable to flying once you're 4+ people. Solo travelers with light bags often prefer the 15-minute commuter flight.

How long does it take to get from St Maarten to St Barts?

Crossing times: helicopter 10 minutes, plane 15 minutes, private boat about 40 minutes, public ferry 45 minutes from Philipsburg, about 80 from Marigot. Door-to-door, including airport transfers and check-in, expect 1 to 3 hours depending on the option.

Can you take a ferry from St Maarten to St Barts?

Yes. Two operators run scheduled ferries to Gustavia in 2026: Great Bay Express from Philipsburg (~45 minutes) and Voyager from Marigot (about 80 minutes). A third, The Edge, stopped after its boat was sold in April 2026. One-way tickets sit in the region of US$90 to US$120, with the port tax already included. The last sailing is around 5:30 PM from Philipsburg and 6:55 PM from Marigot. We have a complete ferry guide with schedules and operator-by-operator detail.

Is there a direct flight from St Maarten to St Barts?

Yes. Winair and St Barth Commuter both fly SXM to SBH, in 15 minutes. Tradewind Aviation is often listed for this route, but its scheduled St Barth service runs from San Juan and Antigua, not from Sint Maarten. Multiple daily rotations operate during daylight hours; St Barts airport accepts no flights after sunset.

How much does a helicopter from St Maarten to St Barts cost?

Helicopters here are chartered by the aircraft, not by the seat. Published starting figures are around US$2,200 for a private transfer, plus per-passenger handling fees, and high season costs more. There is no shared-seat helicopter service on this route, despite what several comparison pages state. Luggage often has to follow separately by boat.

What happens if I arrive at SXM late and miss the last flight or ferry?

After about 6 PM, every scheduled option is finished for the day. St Barth's runway has no lighting and the airport accepts no night landings, so planes and helicopters both stop at sunset, whatever you're willing to pay. The last ferry leaves Philipsburg around 5:30 PM and Marigot around 6:55 PM. That leaves two possibilities: a private boat, which isn't bound by the airport curfew and crosses in the dark, or a night in St Maarten and a first crossing in the morning. If your inbound is already showing a delay, message us before you land, the earlier we know, the easier it is to have a boat and a driver waiting.

Ready to plan your crossing?

The honest summary: light bags and a daytime arrival, take the plane. Tight schedule and big budget, take the helicopter. Backpacker budget and an early arrival, take the ferry. Group, family, late flight, real luggage, or just a desire to start the holiday the second you board, book a private boat. If that last description sounds like your trip, get in touch for a tailored SXM-to-SBH transfer quote and we'll match the boat, schedule, and ground logistics to your arrival.