If you're researching Caribbean yacht charters, you've likely narrowed it down to two destinations: the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the Exumas, Bahamas. Both are legendary cruising grounds with consistent trade winds, protected waters, and postcard-perfect anchorages. But they're not interchangeable.
We're based in the Exumas, so we're biased—but we've also chartered in the BVI, sailed the entire Caribbean, and talked to hundreds of guests who've done both. This isn't a marketing piece. It's an honest breakdown of what each destination does well, where they differ, and how to decide which one matches your priorities.
Water Clarity: The Exumas Win (And It's Not Close)
Let's start with the most dramatic difference: the water itself. The Exumas are famous for a reason. The water isn't just clear—it's luminous. Electric turquoise in the shallows, deep sapphire in the channels, and so transparent you can see the sandy bottom 30 feet down.
The BVI has beautiful water. But it's Caribbean-standard beautiful, not Bahamas-level surreal. Visibility averages 60-80 feet. In the Exumas, 100+ feet is common, and on calm days, it feels like swimming in an aquarium. If underwater photography, snorkeling, or freediving are priorities, the Exumas deliver in ways the BVI simply can't match.
Why the difference? Geography. The Exuma Cays sit on the edge of the Bahama Banks, where shallow sandbars meet deep ocean trenches. Constant tidal flow flushes the water clean. The BVI, surrounded by deeper water and more land mass, doesn't get the same effect.
Crowds and Anchorages: Space to Breathe
The BVI is the most popular charter destination in the Caribbean. On any given day, hundreds of charter boats share the same anchorages. The Baths, Anegada, White Bay—these are bucket-list spots, and they feel like bucket-list spots. Crowded, festive, social.
The Exumas have far fewer charter yachts. On an average week, you'll see a handful of other boats, and many anchorages will be yours alone. The swimming pigs at Big Major Cay draw day-trippers from Nassau, but an hour's sail in any direction puts you in true solitude.
What this means: If you want the energy of a floating beach party, moorings everywhere, and easy access to beach bars, the BVI delivers. If you want Robinson Crusoe privacy, deserted beaches, and the sense you're discovering something untouched, the Exumas are unmatched.
Sailing Conditions: Both Excellent, Different Character
The BVI earned its reputation as the world's best learn-to-sail destination for a reason: consistent 15-20 knot trade winds, short distances between islands (often under 10 miles), and protected waters. It's user-friendly sailing with reliable conditions.
The Exumas offer similar trade winds but with more variety. Some days you'll motor through the glass-calm banks. Other days you'll sail broad reach across open water with steady 20-knot winds. The distances between anchorages are longer (15-25 miles), which means less motoring between lunch and dinner, more actual sailing.
For sailors: The BVI is perfect for beginners or those who want predictable, easy conditions. The Exumas reward experience and offer more dynamic sailing—though on a crewed charter, your captain handles all of it regardless.
Activities and Wildlife: Unique Encounters vs. Established Infrastructure
The BVI has infrastructure. Beach bars at every anchorage. Restaurants. Moorings. The Baths. Snorkel trails. It's polished, accessible, and convenient. You'll snorkel healthy reefs, explore caves, and enjoy the social atmosphere of the Caribbean charter scene.
The Exumas have experiences. Swimming with nurse sharks at Compass Cay. Feeding the famous swimming pigs. Freediving the sunken drug plane. Snorkeling Thunderball Grotto (yes, the James Bond location). Hiking Warderick Wells for 360° views of uninhabited islands. These aren't activities you book—they're moments your captain curates.
Wildlife: Both destinations offer sea turtles, rays, and colorful reef fish. The Exumas add iguanas on Allan's Cay, swimming pigs, and the aforementioned nurse sharks. The BVI doesn't have comparable signature wildlife encounters.
Costs: Comparable Charters, Different Value Propositions
Charter rates in both destinations range $20,000-$45,000+ per week depending on vessel age, crew, and season. The BVI has more options at every price point due to the larger fleet. The Exumas have fewer vessels but tend toward newer, higher-spec boats (like PurelyBlu's 2021 Lagoon 50).
Operating costs: The BVI has more shoreside dining and bar options, which can increase your APA expenses if you eat out frequently. The Exumas are more all-inclusive by necessity—you're cooking aboard most nights because there simply aren't restaurants at remote anchorages.
Getting there: The BVI requires a connection through San Juan or St. Thomas (or a direct charter flight). The Exumas connect through Nassau, with short puddle-jumper flights to Staniel Cay. Both are accessible, but the Exumas add one extra flight.
When to Choose the BVI
The British Virgin Islands are the right choice if you:
Want easy, predictable sailing conditions
Prefer a social atmosphere with other boaters
Value shoreside amenities (bars, restaurants, beach clubs)
Are learning to sail or chartering bareboat
Want shorter distances between stops
Have been before and love the vibe
When to Choose the Exumas
The Exumas are the right choice if you:
Prioritize water clarity and underwater visibility
Want privacy, solitude, and uncrowded anchorages
Value unique wildlife encounters (pigs, sharks, iguanas)
Prefer exploration over established infrastructure
Want a crewed charter focused on curated experiences
Are photographers, snorkelers, or divers seeking pristine conditions
The Honest Truth
Both destinations deliver world-class charter experiences. The BVI is the Caribbean's greatest hits album—familiar, polished, reliably excellent. The Exumas are the deep cut you didn't know existed—raw, stunning, unforgettable.
If you want convenience, social energy, and proven infrastructure, book the BVI. If you want the most beautiful water you've ever seen, space to breathe, and encounters that feel like discovery, book the Exumas.
And if you can afford it? Do both. They're different enough that neither diminishes the other.