A year-round tropical escape, the Caribbean delivers infinite opportunities for relaxation and adventure, surrounded by some of the world's most idyllic scenery. Whether visiting a five-star resort or relishing a luxury yacht charter in paradise, the warm winter months are a perfect time to visit with a choice of more than 7,000 islands. With options from fun-packed entertainment to off-the-beaten-path seclusion it is time to swap your knits and snow boots for suntan lotion and flip flops and head to the islands.
Just because you plan a getaway over the Thanksgiving break in November, it doesn’t mean there will be no celebrations. A longstanding event on the gorgeous US Virgin Island of St John is the Thanksgiving Regatta, held in Coral Bay. A fundraiser benefiting local youth education projects, it offers two days of racing starting the day after Thanksgiving, plus two nights of after-parties accompanied by live music. Watching from a luxury charter yacht is the best seat in the house and your dedicated chef can serve a traditional Thanksgiving dinner after the action.
An exclusive jet-set retreat, St Barths in the Leeward Islands celebrates their spectacular Gourmet Festival from 10-14 November. Residents and visitors alike can enjoy tantalizing flavours and innovative creations from eleven internationally renowned chefs bringing their artforms to the island. Visit the festival on a private yacht charter in the Caribbean, while making the most of the breath-taking coastline, copious anchorages, coral reefs for snorkeling and some of the best designer shopping you can find. Vow to return at the end of December, as St Barths is THE spot for a New Year's Eve party like no other.
Channel your inner Jack Sparrow during Pirates Week in the Cayman Islands, a national festival packed with family fun. Starting in Cayman Brac, the party moves to Grand Cayman and culminates in a swashbuckling extravaganza on Little Cayman. Costume contests, float parades, underwater treasure hunts, fireworks and food festivals play out across all three islands. Celebrating the spectacle and pageantry of pirate legends and cultural heritage in the Caymans is an entirely unique experience perfectly suited to a yacht charter.
A popular Caribbean luxury yacht charter destination, St Lucia hosts the four-day Kalalu Music Festival on the first weekend in December and lives up to its motto of "different beats, one vibe…. come taste the music". Attracting music lovers the world over, the event sees African, Latin and Caribbean music performed by visiting international artists against a backdrop of local culture, cuisine and art. An integral part of the St Lucia events calendar, the festival kicks off the official start to the island's winter season. While on the island, take advantage of buying festive gifts at some of the excellent shopping spots.
In the Turks and Caicos, stunning Grace Bay Beach on the main island of Providenciales provides an individually scenic way to enjoy the festive season. This 12-mile stretch is filled with Christmas spirit, with each waterfront resort creating its own unique holiday display. As the sun goes down, enjoy the strings of twinkling lights along the shoreline and don't miss the Christmas tree lighting ceremony at the Seven Stars Resort. Join the Maskanoo Parade on 26 December, rooted in African traditions, with masked dancers in bright costumes accompanied by rhythmic drum beats and traditional food.
Renowned for a warm welcome, St Kitts has been dubbed 'the island of smiles' and is an idyllic location for a private yacht charter in the Caribbean. Celebrations for the St Kitts National Carnival start on 24 December with a traditional J'ouvert party, followed by a vibrant parade on New Year's Day and closing party on 2 January. Celebrating local folklore and traditions with song, dance, drama and poetry, this colorful event blends together local Caribbean culture, African heritage and a good deal of Christmas spirit.
After the excesses of the December break, an escape to seclusion proves a big draw, with Aruba offering an exceptional opportunity for a Caribbean luxury yacht charter. Part of the ABC Islands, the island offers the ultimate January weather, with consistent sunshine and light trade winds. Anchor in the horseshoe bay of Mangel Halto Beach to soak up spectacular views of picture-perfect scenery, sugar-fine sand and lush vegetation. Explore the nearby lagoon, reef and mangroves with some kayaking, paddle boarding or snorkeling, then relax with a picnic in tranquillity.
Neighboring Curaçao, famed for the pastel-colored colonial architecture adorning capital city Willemstad, is equally blessed with velvet sands – trendy Mambo Beach delivers a cool vibe and water sports abound. In a similar vein, Bonaire dazzles with a choice of 22 bays, with No Name Beach on uninhabited sister Klein Bonaire delivering a true fantasy environment. Resting on a coral reef, the snorkeling is sublime and simply ideal to explore on a private yacht charter in the Caribbean.
For some Latin fun, the lively affair of Los Reyes Magos or Three Kings Day in Puerto Rico on 6 January represents a holiday filled with celebrations island wide. Notably, the southern town of Juana Diaz holds fabulous festivities, with carnivals, fairs and feasts honoring the unofficial hometown of the three kings, who subsequently travel around and make an appearance in the district of Old San Juan with an annual festival said to be the grandest of all.
