The Million-Dollar Question: USVI vs BVI

When chartering in the British Virgin Islands, your two airport options are:

• St. Thomas (STT) – U.S. Virgin Islands
• Tortola (EIS – Beef Island Airport) – British Virgin Islands

At first glance, flying into St. Thomas often looks easier or cheaper. However, the logistics after landing are where you lose valuable time on your yacht charter. And time on the yacht is the whole point.

Flying into St. Thomas (STT):

Option 1: Take a private water taxi and arrive at your yacht in BVI

Arrival:

• Water taxi picks you up from the airport in a taxi to Red Hook: 30–35 minutes
• Water Taxi from Red Hook to West End Tortola: 15 minutes
• Customs at West End (open until 7pm)
• Water taxi to your yacht

On return:

• Road Town, Tortola to clear customs OUT of BVI. 
• Road Town, Tortola to St. John to clear customs into US: 40 minutes
• Customs: 10–30+ minutes
• 15-minute boat ride to Red Hook, St. Thomas
• 35-minute taxi to the airport
• Clear customs in airport

It’s efficient, but it’s still a full process.

Option 2: Take a small plane

20-minute cab ride to the public airport and then a 19-minute flight to Tortola. The plane only holds 6-8 guests.

Option 3: Take a public ferry

Step 1: Taxi to the Ferry Terminal

You’ll take a taxi to:

• Charlotte Amalie (20–30 minutes), or
• Red Hook (40–45 minutes)

Step 2: Ferry to Road Town, Tortola

• Ferry ride: 1 to 1 hour 15 minutes
• You must arrive early (45 mins-1 hour)
• Schedules run approximately 3–4 times daily
• You’ll need to check the ferry websites for your specific date:
  
  • Road Town Fast Ferry
  • Native Son Ferry
  • Aquatic Rentals

Step 3: Once in Tortola, you’ll take another taxi to your marina.

Total Travel Time: 3.5 to 4+ hours minimum

That’s half a day gone on Day 1 of your charter.

The Bigger Issue: Lost Yacht Time

If Your Yacht Starts in BVI and you Fly into STT, you lose about half a day just getting to the yacht. Even if your yacht starts in USVI, you lose a few hours crossing into the BVI on Day 1.

On the Final Day, if your charter ends at noon (standard charter contract), you cannot realistically cross from BVI to USVI that morning and make flights. This means you must return to USVI the night before, effectively shortening your charter by another half day.

That’s a significant reduction in time onboard.

Flying Directly into Tortola (EIS): The BEST option

If you fly into Beef Island Airport (EIS) in Tortola:

• You land.
• You grab a taxi.
• You go directly to your marina.

That’s it.

No ferry schedules.
No border crossings.
No lost half days.

You maximize every hour onboard your yacht.

What About Concerns Landing in BVI?

Some travelers worry about landing at EIS, especially on American Airlines flights from Miami.

Here’s the reality:

• American Airlines operates the largest aircraft able to land there.
• If the runway is wet, pilots may circle or temporarily divert.
• In rare cases, flights may divert to San Juan, St. Thomas, or St. Croix until conditions improve.

In dozens of trips, diversions are uncommon but possible.

Important note:
Flights connecting through Puerto Rico (SJU) use smaller aircraft and can land in a wider range of conditions.

If minimizing risk is important to you, routing through Puerto Rico is often the most reliable strategy.

So… Should You Fly into USVI or BVI?

Best Option: Fly directly into Tortola (EIS) to maximize yacht time.

Second Best Option: Fly into St. Thomas and take a private water taxi.

Not Recommended: Ferry from STT unless necessary.

Final Thoughts: Protect Your Yacht Time

A yacht charter in the British Virgin Islands is about freedom, flexibility, and making the most of every anchorage.

Losing half a day on arrival and another half day on departure adds up quickly.

When possible, we always recommend flying directly into Tortola to maximize your time onboard.

Because when you’re chartering a yacht, every hour matters.