There are two ways to reach a BVI charter base: fly straight to Beef Island on Tortola, or fly to St. Thomas and take the ferry. One is quicker, the other is usually cheaper. Price both from your home airport here, check the ferry times, and work out which one fits your base and your boarding time.
The two ways in
Fly to Beef Island, Tortola
You land on the right island, clear BVI immigration in the terminal and take a taxi to the base. No ferry, no second border.
- Direct from Miami. Otherwise connect through San Juan (SJU) on a small regional aircraft.
- 15 to 45 minutes by taxi to most bases, an hour to West End.
- Fewer seats, so fares run higher and sell out early in peak season.
- Small aircraft mean tight baggage limits. Pack soft bags.
Fly to St. Thomas, then the ferry
Many more flights from the US mainland, often much cheaper for a crew of six or eight. The price is time: taxi, ferry, customs, taxi.
- Taxi from the airport to Charlotte Amalie (10 minutes) or Red Hook (30 to 40 minutes).
- Ferry to Road Town or West End, 45 to 60 minutes, then BVI customs at the dock.
- Allow three hours from landing to stepping aboard.
- Land after about 3 PM and you will probably miss the last ferry.
Price flights to EIS and STT
Enter your home airport and dates. We open the search on Google Flights in a new tab, one tab for each airport you pick, so you can compare the real fares side by side. We do not sell flights.
Ferry times between St. Thomas and Tortola
Pick the dock nearest your base: Road Town for the Road Town bases, Nanny Cay and Hodges Creek, West End for Soper’s Hole. These are the typical daily departures. Operators change them, and some days have fewer boats, so confirm before you book a flight around one.
Which dock and airport suit your base
Taxi times on Tortola are slow because the roads are steep and winding, not because the distances are long. Taxis charge per person.
| Charter base | From Beef Island airport (EIS) | From the Road Town ferry dock | From the West End ferry dock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Road Town (Wickhams Cay, Road Reef, Joma) | 30 to 40 min | 5 min | 30 min |
| Nanny Cay | 45 min | 15 min | 20 min |
| Hodges Creek and Fat Hogs Bay | 15 to 20 min | 20 min | 45 min |
| Scrub Island | 5 min, then the resort launch | 35 min, then the launch | 1 hour, then the launch |
| West End (Soper’s Hole) | 1 hour | 30 min | 5 min |
How to time it
Arrive the day before
Book the sleep-aboard. It soaks up a late flight or a missed ferry, and you provision that evening instead of burning the first morning.
Work back from the last ferry
Last boats leave St. Thomas around 5:30 PM. Give yourself two hours from landing to the dock. A flight that lands after 3 PM means a hotel night in St. Thomas.
Send the bags light
Soft duffels only. Hard cases do not fit on a boat, and the small aircraft into Beef Island leave bags behind when they are full.
Do not rush the last day
Boats are due back by 10 or 11 AM. Fly home after 1 PM from Beef Island, or after 3 PM from St. Thomas.
Flights and ferries: common questions
What is the best airport for a BVI bareboat charter?
Beef Island, Tortola (EIS) puts you on the right island, 15 to 45 minutes by taxi from every charter base, with no ferry. St. Thomas (STT) has far more flights and usually cheaper fares, but adds a taxi, a ferry and BVI customs, about three hours door to dock. Price both.
Can I fly direct to the BVI from the United States?
Yes, to Beef Island (EIS) from Miami. Everything else connects, usually through San Juan (SJU) on a small regional aircraft, or you fly to St. Thomas (STT) and take the ferry.
What time is the last ferry from St. Thomas to Tortola?
Typically around 5:30 PM from Charlotte Amalie to Road Town and 5:45 PM from Red Hook to West End. If your flight lands in St. Thomas after about 3:00 PM, plan on a night in St. Thomas and the first ferry in the morning.
Should we arrive the day before our charter starts?
Yes. Most bareboat companies sell a sleep-aboard the evening before, boarding from about 5 or 6 PM. It absorbs a delayed flight or a missed ferry, you provision that evening, and you are off the dock after the briefing the next morning instead of mid afternoon.
Do I need a passport to go from St. Thomas to the BVI?
Yes. St. Thomas is US territory and the BVI is British. Everyone clears BVI immigration and customs at the ferry dock on the way in, and US customs when the ferry lands back in St. Thomas.
How early should I book my flight home?
Boats are usually due back on the dock by 10 or 11 AM. From Beef Island (EIS), book a flight after 1:00 PM. From St. Thomas (STT), allow for the taxi, ferry, US customs and another taxi, and book nothing before 3:00 PM.
Want a second opinion on the plan?
Tell us your home airport, dates and crew. We will tell you which airport we would use, which base suits it and which boat fits the crew. Same price as booking direct.
Checked in September 2026. Ferry times and fares are typical published departures and change without much notice. Confirm with the operator, and with your charter company for boarding and return times.