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St Barthelemy / St Barts Travel Guide |
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Welcome to St
Barthelemy on the Paradise
Islands website. The
island name is
abbreviated to Saint
Barth in French and St
Barts or St Barth's in
English. St Barts is a
French overseas
collective territory
(independent territory)
together with
Guadeloupe, Martinique
and Saint Martin which
collectively make up the
"French West Indies"
which are all located in
the
Caribbean Leeward
islands group. It is
thought that the island
was named by Christopher
Columbus after his
brother 'Bartholomeo'. |
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St Barts
is a small volcanic
island around 8 square
miles with a population
of just under 9,000. It
is 160 miles east of
Puerto Rico and south of
the Virgin islands. The
highest point is Morne
Vitet at 286 metres
above sea level.
The
capital and attractive
natural harbour on St
Barts is Gustavia. Here
you will find a small
number of shops
including some up-market
boutiques, restaurants,
a luxury hotel and often
a number of super yachts
berthed in the port.
Gustavia has three forts
built in the 17th
century to protect the
harbour: Oscar (formerly
called Gustav Adolf),
Karl Fort and Gustav
Fort. |
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Like most
of the Caribbean, St
Barts is a popular
tourist destination;
albeit quite exclusive,
with around 70,000
annual visitors staying
over night. The vacation
market is predominately
high-end tourism with
luxury hotels and villas
and many of the locals
enjoy a prosperous and
high standard of living
compared with much of
the region. Fantastic
beaches, an attractive
harbour, high end
boutiques and gourmet
dining bring in the rich
and famous during the
winter months. |
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Air
passengers arrive via
the
Princess Juliana Airport
on Sint Maarten and
onwards via a local
connecting flight to St
Barts Gustaf III airport
which is located on the
north east coast. Gustaf
airport can only handle
small regional
commercial aircraft with
a 650 metre runway. |
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Travel, holiday, vacation and cruise
guide to St Barthelemy and the Caribbean. All text and images are Copyright
Paradise Islands
org. All photographs on this Caribbean travel guide website are obtained with
the permission of the owners and come from various sources
including the islands tourist boards. |
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Quick Facts
Capital
Gustavia
Main Airport
Gustaf
Main Port
Gustavia
Language
French
Currency
Euro
Government
French
Dependent Territory
Island Size
8 Square Miles
Population
9,000
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Cruise Port Guide |
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