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Luxury Living in St. Kitts with Christophe Harbour

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We’re so excited to share our latest interview with you – our old friend and real estate visionary, Buddy Darby spent a bit of time with us this week. If you follow their Instagram account, you have probably looked longingly at gorgeous beach shots and fabulous yacht photos in Christophe Harbour just like us!

Read on for an update on this budding Caribbean paradise and enjoy this virtual vacation with us!


How has the region grown since Christophe Harbour first broke ground?

We have worked hard to put in place the key infrastructures such as new roads and access routes, underground utilities, and of course complete Phase 1 of the superyacht marina, which includes 24 berths for yachts of up to 91m (300ft). Christophe Harbour is front and centre to delivering on the dual nation’s yachting strategy.

The marina has seen year-on-year growth since it opened in 2015 and is keeping pace with the five-year 20% year-on-year growth for the St Kitts & Nevis yachting industry as a whole. So far, the 2018 season has been its busiest yet with numerous trophy yachts visiting such as Limitless, Perseus 3, Anatta, and Phoenix 2, and several regattas with Gustavia Yacht Club, New York Yacht Club and Panerai announced for 2018-19. The Park Hyatt St Kitts Christophe Harbour opened last fall and has been widely acclaimed as one of the best hotel openings of 2017; it is the first Park Hyatt to open in the Caribbean region.

What do you see guests enjoying during their time here – both from a charter guest coming in off of a yacht, and guests who only stay on the island?

Yacht and land-based guests come to Christophe Harbour for a number of reasons. Yachting guests and crew welcome the marina’s efficient services from VIP expedited customs and immigration to tailor-made itineraries both on land and on the water. These itineraries encompass everything from shopping at our Marina Village retail shops to adventurous guided game fishing in the best spots around the island. Guests can also enjoy wine-pairing menus at The Pavilion members club, private steel pan lessons or gourmet classes in creating some of our island’s most delicious meals.

We also offer special journeys through the island such as hiking the long-dormant volcano and following the former plantation routes, visits to UNESCO World Heritage Site Brimstone Hill or even private in-room spa treatments. Above all, guests come here because we open the door to the real Caribbean, an authentic journey where the warm Kittitian welcome is second to none.

For crew of course, they come here for many of the same reasons. Christophe Harbour offers dedicated crew amenities and programming and crew concierge services. The marina also offers some of the fastest refuelling in the Eastern Caribbean with SOL-supplied ultra-low sulphur diesel at duty free volume tiered pricing. We have also partnered with the exemplary Superyacht Supplies to provision yachts and villa owners via the newly opened Sugar & Salt Gourmet Market at the Christophe Harbour Marina Village.

Not least The Marina at Christophe Harbour is managed by former superyacht captains and crew, bringing first-hand knowledge to the operation that exceeds guest and crew expectations.

yachts on a dock at sunset
What are one or two of your biggest recommendations to guests – what can they simply not miss when visiting?

One of the most memorable adventures is into the heart of Mount Liamuiga, St Kitts’ dormant volcano and the island’s highest point. The journey that takes in a 1000-metre descent into the volcano’s mile-wide crater with freshwater lake and cupped by lush rainforest. Another fantastic journey is up to Caribelle Batik at Romney Manor, the former home of Sam Jefferson II, the great-great-grandfather of Thomas Jefferson. Surrounded by rainforest and home to prime specimen trees including the 350-year old Saman tree, it is now the location of Caribelle Batik where the traditional arts of hand batik-dying are in play. In the grounds surrounding are the remains of some of the island’s best-preserved plantation structures.

When is the best time of year to come?

Christophe Harbour is a wonderful destination to visit year-round for the myriad activities on offer here and on the wider island throughout the year. The busiest time for yachts is November to May but our personal favourite month is June, when the weather is glorious and it is less busy so that the fine Kittitian ambience is yours to soak up.

Thanks so much to Buddy and the Christophe Harbour team for sharing some insight with us!

To learn more about this region, please click here

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