2Hulls
Get a Quote

Destination comparison

Egypt vs Saint Lucia

Two distinct sailing grounds — here's how they compare on conditions, cost, season, and who they suit.

Get Quotes for Both Skip to Verdict

Quick Comparison

Dimension Egypt Saint Lucia
Region Red Sea & Middle East Caribbean
Peak season Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr
Shoulder Feb, May, Dec Nov, May
Sailing difficulty easy to moderate moderate to difficult
Recommended level intermediate intermediate
Avg wind (winter / summer) 12 / 18 kn 18 / 14 kn
Hurricane risk None Aug, Sep, Oct
Currency EGP (Egyptian Pound) - marinas quote USD XCD (pegged to USD)
Mid-tier price (7 days) $10,500 $10,000
Luxury tier price $45,000 $38,000
Detail page View → View →

At a Glance

Red Sea & Middle East
Egypt

The Red Sea Riviera is a protected, reef-lined corridor with steady N winds and near-permanent sunshine. October-April is the sweet spot; summer is hot but the meltemi-style northerlies keep boats moving. Bareboat fleets are the largest in the region and checkout sails are routine.

  • • 2 base marinas
  • • 4 must-visit anchorages
  • • 10 boats in our fleet database for this region
Caribbean
Saint Lucia

Northern end of Windward chain; longer passages. Pitons protected area. Strong Atlantic swells December-April.

  • • 2 base marinas
  • • 4 must-visit anchorages
  • • 31 boats in our fleet database for this region

Sailing Conditions

Egypt averages 12 knots in winter and 18 knots in summer. There's no hurricane season, which makes year-round planning easier.

Saint Lucia averages 18 knots in winter and 14 knots in summer. Hurricane risk: Aug, Sep, Oct.

In terms of sailing difficulty, Egypt is generally rated easy to moderate and Saint Lucia is moderate to difficult. The difference matters: Saint Lucia asks more of the skipper — confidence at the helm and some experience with coastal navigation helps.

Cost Comparison

For a 7-day charter of a typical 45-ft catamaran (4 cabins, sleeps 8):

Egypt
  • Low season: $4,200
  • Mid season: $10,500
  • High season: $24,000
  • Luxury / crewed peak: $45,000+
Saint Lucia
  • Low season: $3,800
  • Mid season: $10,000
  • High season: $19,000
  • Luxury / crewed peak: $38,000+

Bareboat base rates. Crewed typically adds ~$1,500/day (captain + hostess). Prices exclude fuel, provisioning, mooring fees, gratuity.

Anchorages & Must-Do

Egypt
  • Giftun Islands National Park — Protected reefs and 20+ named snorkel sites off Hurghada
  • Abu Dabbab — Dugongs and turtles in shallow seagrass; a protected mooring field
  • Fury Shoals & Dolphin House — Signature Marsa Alam reef with schooling dolphins
  • Luxor day trip — Valley of the Kings is a 4h transfer from the coast - worth the detour
Saint Lucia
  • Pitons (UNESCO) — Twin volcanic peaks; iconic St Lucia
  • Soufrière — Drive-in or anchor; sulfur springs
  • Marigot Bay — Dramatic hurricane hole
  • Anse Cochon — Sheltered cove

Which Should You Choose?

If you've never chartered before

Both work for first-timers. The default choice for the industry is BVI; choose that unless you have specific reasons to prefer Egypt or Saint Lucia.

If you want warmer / tropical water

Both sit in warm waters — temperature is broadly similar. The differentiator is which coast or chain: Egypt vs Saint Lucia. Read the must-visit lists above.

If you want history / culture / food

Egypt has 0 cultural anchorages vs Saint Lucia's 1. Pick by what kind of stop you want between swims.

Captain's Take

"Red Sea seasons are counter-intuitive. Most first-timers assume summer; the real sweet spot is October-April when the air is 22-28°C and the N wind is a pleasant 12-18kt instead of a June hammer. El Gouna's Abu Tig marina is the easiest base for a first Red Sea bareboat - the lagoon exit is sheltered and the reef passages are well marked. Do the checkout sail seriously: the reefs demand attention even on a clear day."

— Captain E. (2Hulls editorial charter captain), local captain · year_round note · verified 2026-09-09

Timing and Budget: Egypt vs Saint Lucia

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Egypt or Saint Lucia better for a first-time charter? ▾
Neither is a "first-charter" pick — both lean intermediate. Consider starting in BVI or Greece before tackling Egypt/Saint Lucia.
Which is cheaper to charter — Egypt or Saint Lucia? ▾
Saint Lucia is the cheaper of the two at the mid-tier: ~$10,000/week vs ~$10,500/week for Egypt. Bareboat low-season starts around $3,800 in Saint Lucia vs $4,200 in Egypt.
When is the best time to visit Egypt vs Saint Lucia? ▾
Egypt: peak Oct, Nov, Mar, Apr; shoulder Feb, May, Dec; off Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep. Saint Lucia: peak Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr; shoulder Nov, May; off Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. The seasons only partially overlap.
How do sailing conditions compare — Egypt vs Saint Lucia? ▾
Egypt: typical winter winds 12 knots, summer 18 knots. Sailing difficulty: easy to moderate. No hurricane season. Saint Lucia: typical winter winds 18 knots, summer 14 knots. Sailing difficulty: moderate to difficult. Hurricane risk: Aug, Sep, Oct.
Which has better flight access — Egypt or Saint Lucia? ▾
Egypt: Hurghada International (HRG), also Marsa Alam (RMF) + 1h, Cairo (CAI) + 5h transfer. Saint Lucia: Hewanorra (UVF) / George F.L. Charles (SLU), also Connection through SJU.
Which is more beginner-friendly, Egypt or Saint Lucia? ▾
Both are accessible to first-time charterers (intermediate and intermediate respectively). Many charterers combine both on one trip.
Keep Exploring
→ Egypt detail → Saint Lucia detail → All comparisons

Choose Between Egypt & Saint Lucia

Tell us your dates and group. We'll recommend the right one — honestly.

Get a Free Recommendation