Port St. Charles Marina – Barbados

Port St. Charles Marina – Barbados’ Luxe Maritime Gateway

Nestled along the tranquil northwest coast of Barbados in Saint Peter Parish, Port St. Charles Marina is widely regarded as the premier luxury marina on the island. With protected waters, a breakwater outfitted for megayachts, full port‑of-entry status, and an adjacent resort community, it offers a polished, well‑rounded stopover for sailors seeking both comfort and Caribbean charm.

Location & Coordinates

Port St. Charles sits in Heywoods, Saint Peter, just a short hop from Speightstown—a historic coastal town bustling with local culture.

Marina Design & Berthing

Port St. Charles is built around a calm lagoon with an offshore breakwater that hosts six dedicated superyacht berths, capable of accommodating vessels 60 to 250 feet LOA. Within the lagoon itself, there are smaller berths for yachts from about 30 ft to 110 ft, and the inner lagoon is reserved for residents and marina guests. The lagoon depth at low tide is about 14 ft (~4.26 m), allowing moderate draft vessels to navigate safely. Beyond the breakwater, the marina also maintains a few offshore mooring buoys intended for larger yachts exceeding the breakwater berth lengths. On the offshore wall, superyachts tie alongside the breakwater, while the internal lagoon handles more sheltered dockage.

Communications & Port Entry

The recognised VHF channels for Port St. Charles are 77 and 16—common channels for routine marine communications.

In terms of customs and immigration, Port St. Charles stands as one of only two official sea-based ports of entry in Barbados (the other being Bridgetown’s Deep Water Harbour). Yachts approaching Barbados are instructed to call the Signal Station on VHF Channel 12 to request entry, as part of the national arrival procedures. barbadosport.com

Visitors must report directly to the seaport of entry (which might be the marina breakwater) and are generally not allowed to anchor or dinghy ashore before clearing immigration and customs. Noonsite

Facilities & Services

Port St. Charles offers a full suite of marina facilities designed to meet the expectations of discriminating yachts:

Electricity & Water: Available at most larger berths (30–110 ft and more) with metered systems. Marine Project

Cable TV / Telephony: Provided for qualifying berths.

Fuel (Dockside Bunkering): Fuel service is available to yachts.

Sewage / Waste: Pump-out and disposal services are supported.

WiFi / Internet: Provided as a marina amenity.

Security: Routine 24/7 marina security, gate access, and oversight.

Marine Support: While Port St. Charles is not known as a heavy-duty shipyard, light repair work, provisioning, and dockside services are available and coordinated through marina staff. Marine Project

Customs / Immigration / Police / Coast Guard: All these regulatory bodies maintain offices or facilities on or near the offshore breakwater, making arrivals and clearances relatively streamlined.

Heliport: The marina boasts a helipad for fast transfers to/from Grantley Adams International Airport or Bridgetown.

Resort Integration: Port St. Charles is part of a larger luxury resort community with villas, condos, amenities like swimming pools, spa, beach access, and dining venues (e.g. Pier One).

The resort side ensures that yacht crews and guests can enjoy a full island-stay experience without needing to leave the marina environment.

Strengths, Challenges & Tips

Strengths:

Luxury & integration – A rare blend of elite marina services and upscale resort infrastructure.

Port of Entry – Makes customs/immigration easier when arriving by sea.

Protected anchorage – The breakwater offers good shelter from prevailing seas.

Superyacht ready – Berths and mooring buoys suitable for large yachts.

Amenities ashore – Resort lifestyle, dining, villas, and services all part of the marina complex.

Challenges:

Book early – With only six megayacht berths and limited staff, demand in high season can stretch availability.

Draft limitations – The lagoon and inner slips have modest depths; deeper-draft yachts must negotiate carefully.

Service constraints – While offering light repairs and provisioning, major haul-outs or full refits require external yards.

VHF clarity – Always call ahead on the proper VHF (77 or 16) to coordinate entry; marina staff expect prior contact.

User Notes & Advice

Incoming calls: Call VHF 77 or 16 well in advance of reaching Port St. Charles.

Arrival procedure: As part of Barbados’ arrival rules, early communication with the Signal Station on VHF 12 is also standard. barbadosport.com

Stay inside the breakwater if possible—anchor outside only if instructed or authorised.

Access lagoon slips only if you are a resort guest or have marina permission.

Request assistance with docking—crew and staff at Port St. Charles are known to be very helpful.