Geographically, Little Abaco, Great Abaco, and the various smaller islands that comprise the Abaco Islands have been collectively referred as the “Abacos”. Sailing in Abacos can done using the charters of Great Guana Cay, Wood Cay, Sandy Point, Moore’s Island, Green Turtle Cay, and / or Man-o’-War Cay. However, if you want more excitement to your sailing holiday, you can tour Bahamas, the Caribbean, and as far as Florida and Cuba.
The first known history of Abaco Islands was dated back in the late 17th century when several American Revolution Loyalists settled the place. However, the first inhabitants of the Abacos were the Lucayan Indians. They were excellent ship-makers, farmers, and fishers.
One of the most famous local landmarks in Abaco Islands is Hope Town. It is situated on Elbow Cay. Hope Town became the second Loyalist-inhabited place in Abaco Islands – the first being Marsh Harbor. This place is famous for its lighthouse with a candy cane theme. There are many hotels you can stay when you are vacationing in Abacos. However, some tourists rent cottages next to beaches to serve as their temporary houses.
Although, you can’t find amusement parks, malls, and gambling casinos in the Abacos, you will never get bored of its nature tripping. Among the many things you can do in Abaco Islands include fishing, diving, snorkeling, and sailing. The type of fishing you can do in Abacos is different. Instead of the usual, you can stalk fishes in shallow waters. You can also whack Blue Marlins on the island’s coastlines. The other popular fishes you can track in Abacos include the tuna, wahoo, sailfish, and the kingfish. Because of Abaco Island’s trendy fishing style, several international and local fishing competitions are held every year.
If you are not into nature tripping, you can always enjoy the island’s unique architectural buildings. Around Abacos’ towns, you can catch its colonial, picturesque, and colorful constructions. Most of these old-fashioned buildings were built by the Loyalists in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. There are several hotels, pension houses, and inns you can stay when you will have your holiday in Abacos.
Sailing in Abacos can be done in any part of the island. If you are sailing to the north, your starting base should be either in Coopers Town, Spanish Cay, Allans-Pensacola Cay, Moraine Cay, Crown Haven, or Fox Town. These places are excellent departure areas for your charter. This is also a good place to sail towards Walkers Cay.
Are you dreaming of relaxing aboard a luxury powered yacht charter? Receiving world class service and gourmet meals even royalty would envy? Consider a yacht charter Miami vacation. All the luxury, service, and activities onboard your own private yacht wil be available to you without the maintenance costs of yacht ownership.
Types of Luxury Charter Yachts
Located in Miami are literally hundreds of yachts available for charter. There is a power yacht charter, VIP yacht charters, wedding yacht charters, luxury motor yachts, sport fishing boats, sailing yachts and catamarans. Whether it is an evening dinner and cocktail cruise or a couple of weeks exploring the nearby islands and keys a yacht charter is a great alternative to hotels. Yachting avails you the opportunity to stay in a different bay or island everyday, cruise at your own pace, relax in the sun with your captain at the helm, all this without having to repack your suitcase and travel by car to your next destination.
Crewed Charter Yachts
There are many fully crewed yacht charters available through yacht charter Miami. The crew onboard these yachts are well trained, vastly experienced, and professional. They offer a level of security and privacy for your dinner cruise or travel needs. These luxury yacht charters employ some of the finest chefs in the world preparing gourmet meals, beautifully plated and served to you on the deck of your private yacht during your VIP affair, wedding or after a fun day of water activities on the beautiful azure seas of Florida.
Water Sport Activities
The coast of Florida and surrounding bays offer a variety of water sport activities. Whether you enjoy diving, swimming, wind surfing, deep sea fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, water skiing or wave riding, these yachts provide all the equipment you will need and the crew to assist you.
Planning Your Yacht Charter Miami
Before booking a charter yacht Miami pre-planning is important. You must decide where you want to cruise, what type of luxury yacht you are interested in, when you are planning to travel or hold your event, how many people will be in your group and what activities would you enjoy participating in, most importantly, your budget. This allows the charter company custom design the yacht charter to meet your specific requirements.
There are many yacht charter companies listed online. Their sites are well designed and will have a video library of yacht photos, floor plans, specifications and list of available equipment. Captain and crew resumes should also be available. Most charter companies will have an all inclusive rate that includes food, beverages and activities that are offered onboard. The larger luxury yachts operate on a “cost plus all expenses basis” this allows more flexibility for the charter when creating the itinerary, activities and meals. The captain will often call ahead and introduce himself, ask if you have any special diet needs and meet you at the airport to personally escort you to your private luxury yacht.
When considering a yacht charter Miami get references from a colleague or friend who may have recently chartered a luxury yacht. This should be your most memorable vacation and possibly a once in a lifetime vacation you want to make sure every detail is fully researched and planned.
Well, the summer is just around the corner. But what better time to plan for this than in the spring, when hints of the sun come through and tease us with questions such as “Where do you want to go to spend your summer days and nights?”
Heading into the summer months, many a traveler will look to head south and hit the shores. Popular destinations include various spots all around the Mediterreanean Sea, however this article will concentrate on the famous Balearic Islands of Spain, more specifically, holidays in and around the island of Menorca. The main islands of the Balearics are Menorca, Mallorca and Ibiza. One common way to get the best of all these islands is via the nautical (also known as sailing) route. But once that is determined, it is up to your group to decide which route to take.
Some decide to work on their sun tans and simply take it easy. Tanning by day and sailing ashore for some of the finest food and drink by night. Some groups sail the seas for relaxation, but on the other hand, some decide to go all out when sailing in Menorca – going climbing the cliffs around the island, snorkeling, deep sea diving and various other recreational pursuits. Several companies based in Menorca can provide private yacht charter with snorkelling packages and equipment available, and can also arrange that a fully qualified private diving instructor (PADI) is there for deep sea diving.
While single day yacht charters are available, for one to get a full view of the Balearics, a weekly or custom yacht charter trip is recommended. Try to find Menorca sailing holidays that allow you to plan your day according to your wishes and thus do not push pre-planned itineraries. This means you can tailor each trip to your very own needs. The only possible diversion is based on potential weather conditions. However, your group will be kept informed on weather conditions and any changes that may be necessary.
Not to worry though, as Climate is usually a sure shot, as sunshine is abundant. Temperatures range from 15 Celsius in the winter, to about 20-25 in the spring and autumn, while touching the 30’s in the summer. With light winds generally, the conditions are usually just right for sailing. Sea temperature itself gets quite warm too, hitting 30 degrees Celsius in August. With the summer air starting to give a little bit of a hint, days by the sea may be just what you’re looking for.
Chesapeake is one of the most popular destinations in the United States. A lot of rivers and streams coming from different states pass through this estuary. It also introduces a comprehensive ecosystem composed of flora and fauna. There are also many species of that inhabit the waters and the tributaries. Sailing in Chesapeake Bay is a good activity to explore the area on your holiday.
The best time to visit Annapolis will be from May to September. At this time, there are many boats and yachts that you can find sailing in Chesapeake Bay. The entire dock is also filled with numerous band concerts, which you can catch in the harbor or in the seawall of the Naval Academy. On Wednesday nights, you can also watch boats of all sizes competing for a good prize. Better yet, take a stroll with your loved one in the Spa Creek Bridge. If the main center doesn’t interest you, you can move on to Havre de Grace. It’s a historic metropolis, filled with cultural and ecological attractions such as the Concord Point Light, a very old light house. You can also visit the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, Havre de Grace Maritime Museum, or Skipjack Martha Lewis. The Tydings Park is a nice place to have a picnic or for walking toward the Promenade.
One of the popular Chesapeake Bay tributaries is the Sassafras River. It is located near the Delmarva Peninsula. It runs for more than 30 kilometers. This body of water is buzzing with a lot of activity. Every day, you can see a yacht, sailboat, cruiser of all kinds. They are docked in any of the four marinas that surround the area. Fishing is a good activity to do here. If not, you can go swimming in any of the beaches close to near the river or tubing into the creeks. Another boating paradise is Still Pond, close to in Kent County, Maryland. There are not so much people here, so you can surely enjoy some privacy. You can then proceed to the Village for some meal or to buy fishing supplies and equipment. The good thing about Still Pond is that you’ll never run out of creeks. You have Worton, Turner, and Back creeks. Punctuate your tour in the “tributaries% at Rock Hall. It’s a very beautiful public beach made of white sands and cool water. It’s also the most excellent place to have a perfect view of the bay. You can also venture into the Waterman’s Museum. There are several exhibits related to fishing and crabbing here. You may also dock your yacht at Haven Harbor Marina.
In the end, sailing in Chesapeake Bay will never be complete without going through the Fairlee Creek or in Baltimore Inner Harbor. The dock is just full of life coming from various attractions. You can examine the Maryland Science Center, Fort McHenry, Baltimore Maritime Museum, and the World Trade Center.
In my previous article, our last port of call was Sandhamn in the Stockholm archipelago. Today, we’ll cruise on over to the island of Gotland. There are no luxury yachts available for charter on Gotland, but many in Stockholm, so this is the way to go.
From Sandhamn, it is about a 24-hour sail to reach Gotland. This beautiful island, surprisingly unknown to foreigners, is a favorite vacation destination among Swedes. First-time Swedish visitors often comment that it feels like being abroad, perhaps somewhere in the Mediterranean. Having grown up on Gotland, I am perhaps biased, but from the medieval, walled-in cobble-stoned city of Visby to the stark, windblown, sheep-studded landscape of Faro, Gotland truly is a spectacular and fascinating place.
Visby, the only city on the island, gets quite crowded in the summer, and if you like an intense nightlife, you definitely want to check it out. “Everybody” in Sweden shows up in Visby at some point in July: celebrities, politicians and royalty alike. After mid-August, however, most of the tourists are gone, so if you have your heart set on Visby but don’t want to fight the crowds, that’s a great time to visit. September can also be beautiful, with summer warmth lingering well into the month. To the surprise of many, the water around Gotland gets quite warm in the summer – it can reach 80F and above in August and sometimes way into September as well. It is a lovely experience to go swimming when the water is warmer than the air and then treat yourself to a hot chocolate or a vin chaud afterwards.
But you can find quiet spots with very few visitors all over the island even in July (with varying degrees, or lack, of nightlife). There are several other ports around the island well worth a stop: Lickershamn (about 13 miles north of Visby), a small fishing village with a few beaches, restaurants and shops, and the highest rock formation (of which there are many) on Gotland called “Jungfrun”. Lauterhorn on Faro (a small island just north of Gotland, which Ingmar Bergman used to call home) has a large area of rock formations, an old viking harbor, bike rentals, and one restaurant, bar, cafй and shop. Farosund, the northernmost village on Gotland, is a tad more lively with a few restaurants and shops. Slite, on the east coast, is often overlooked by tourists since it’s mainly known for its Cement factory, but the town (the second largest on the island after Visby) also has a nice, sandy beach, tennis club, and a few stores and restaurants, although not much in the way of nightlife.
Katthammarsvik, further down on the east coast, is an old fishing village with a locally famous seafood smoke house (try the smoked shrimp), several restaurants, cafes, shops and sandy beaches. A bit further down the coast lies Ljugarn, one of the most popular vacation spots, and the one with the most active nightlife, on this coast. Ljugarn has a beautiful white sandy beach, a few museums and several restaurants, pubs and cafes. If you go all the way down the coast and head back up on the west coast, you arrive in Burgsvik, the southernmost village on the island. Burgsvik has a nice, sandy beach, a few shops and restaurants, a farmer’s market every Saturday in the summer, and several artisans with shops. A bit south of Burgsvik is one of the most well known rock formations on Gotland, Hoburgsgubben (The Hoburg Man), who, according to one American friend, looks like Richard Nixon.
Gotland is also a popular biking destination, and most towns have bike rentals (in Visby you can also rent cars, scooters and motorcycles) so if you want to see more than the coastal areas, that’s a fun way to do it.
There are of course many more harbors and beautiful places to visit, both in the Stockholm archipelago and on Gotland, but these are some places to start with, and I hope I have inspired you to explore the Baltic on your next yacht charter vacation.
The Baltic might not be the first place that comes to mind when considering a luxury yacht charter vacation, but during the short Scandinavian summer, it’s a magical place with warm breezes and almost 24 hours of daylight. The best time to visit is June to September, and like everywhere else in Europe, July and August are the most crowded. For a totally Swedish experience, visit during Midsummer (usually around June 20th), the longest day of the year (even as far south as Stockholm, summer nights never get completely dark, the sky just takes on a deep blue tint for a few hours before the sun comes back up again) and one of the most celebrated holidays in Sweden. To avoid the crowds, visit in September (or even at the end of August) when the warmth of the summer still lingers and you will have more space.
Begin your trip by spending a few days exploring Stockholm, the beautiful capital of Sweden, before heading out on your yacht. The Stockholm Archipelago is about 150 miles long by 50 miles wide and contains around 30,000 islands and islets, some verdant with luxury hotels, shops and restaurants, others just a bare rock. You don’t have to go far to get to Fjдderholmarna (the Feather Islands). These 4 islands lie 25 minutes from Stockholm, and you might be tempted to keep cruising since you only just started, but they are well worth a stop. Fjдderholmarna is home to several restaurants, cafйs, a seafood smokehouse (with a restaurant and take-out shop), shops, local artisans, an outdoor theatre, and Mackmyra whiskey distillery, where you can tour the facilities and try their products.
Vaxholm, about an hour by boat from Stockholm, was founded in 1647 and has been an archipelago hub since the late 1800s when it was discovered by wealthy Stockholmers who built vacation homes on the island and started spending their summers here. Today, Vaxholm has about 10,000 year-round inhabitants and many visitors, especially during the summer. The harbor is right in the center of this very walkable town, so you can easily stroll around and take in the sights. There are several shops, restaurants, cafes, a few grocery stores, a liquor store and a pharmacy. Notable sights include Bogesund Castle (built in the 1640s) and the Vaxholm Citadel (built 1833-1863) which is no longer used for military purposes but instead houses a museum, shop, bistro and B&B.
Grinda lies about 2 hours from Stockholm and its several sandy beaches and rocky outcrops make it a popular swimming destination for Stockholmers. The island is small, only a 15-minute walk across, and has a pub, grocery store, and a well-known hotel and restaurant, Grinda Wдrdshus, housed in an Art Noveau building from 1908. There are kayaks available for rent from the hotel, and they can also arrange activities such as rock climbing or archery.
Sandhamn (Sand Harbor) on the island Sandцn (Sand Island) is your last stop before heading over to Gotland. It is also the “yachting capital” of Stockholm’s archipelago – the Royal Swedish Yacht Club (KSSS) built their club house here in 1897 (still in use) and their many annual races attract sailors from around the world. The most well known is perhaps the 2-day race “Gotland Runt” (Round Gotland). This particular event is also famous for the many parties taking place in Sandhamn both before and after the race. The town has many restaurants, bars and shops, as well as a few hotels and museums. There are also several sandy beaches on the island, and the largest, Trouville, is only a 20-minute walk from downtown.
With more than 60 guest harbors in Stockholm’s archipelago, there are many more places to visit and sights to see, but we are heading out on the open sea to explore the island of Gotland. In my next article, I’m going to talk about some of the harbors and sights on Gotland.
It’s difficult to find areas not overly developed for tourists these days. As soon as one is discovered, the world finds out about it and before long, it has lost its charm.
Fortunately, there are still a few places that are untouched by mass tourism, where you have a chance to experience local life to the fullest. The Lakshadweep Islands, off the Malabar Coast in Kerala, India, is one of those places. The local government has made it their mission to keep it that way too, by promoting tourism only on islands that can sustain it, and keeping it all as eco-conscious as possible: high-rise buildings are banned, only bio toilets are allowed, rain water is collected to conserve fresh water, electricity is supplied by solar power, and they even go so far as to encourage tourists (and locals) to burn coconut husks instead of using pesticides to fight off mosquitoes and other pests (Bravo! I say. If only governments everywhere could follow suit).
The islands, atolls and reefs of Lakshadweep are actually the mountaintops of a submarine volcanic range, the Chagos-Laccadive Plateau (which also includes the Maldives and Chagos). The name suggests that there are many islands in the group (the Malayalam word Lakshadweep translates to “a hundred thousand islands”) but in reality, there are only 36. Ten are inhabited, but, in keeping with the effort to limit tourism, foreign visitors are only allowed on 3 of those: Bangaram, Agatti and Kadmat, and you will need a permit from the Indian Government to be able to visit.
There are a couple of yacht charter companies on the mainland, and you have the option of flying over to Agatti Island (a 1.5 hour flight) from Cochin and meeting up with your boat and crew there, or starting out from Cochin and sailing across, which takes around 3 days. Bareboat charters are hard to find here, but skippered and crewed are readily available.
Lakshadweep has a monsoon tropical climate, and the best (driest) time to visit is December to March. The air temperature remains in the 80s and 90s, and the water in the upper 70s to low 80s year round. All the other ingredients that make up a paradise getaway are here too – white sandy beaches shaded by coconut palms, aquamarine lagoons, sparkling coral reefs and an abundance of colorful marine life. Food and drink, however, is not a major reason to visit – the islands are not exactly known for their cuisine, and being 95% Muslim, alcohol is not permitted (except for on Bangaram, and the Bangaram Island Resort boasts a well stocked bar). The main reason people come to visit is the ocean and all activities related thereto: scuba diving (the islands are recognized as one of the best diving spots in the world), snorkeling, kayaking, canoeing, swimming and sunbathing.
The westernmost island in the group, Agatti, is home to the only airport and one of the two resorts (Agatti Island Beach Resort) in Lakshadweep. It has one of the most beautiful lagoons in the area, a museum of Lakshadweep’s history, and a mosque built in the 16th century.
Bangaram is uninhabited, except for the staff and guests at the aforementioned Bangaram Island Resort. Spend an afternoon here snoozing on a sandy beach to the soothing sound of the ocean, or, if you want more action, get in it. The diving here is fantastic and you can expect to see sharks, rays, moray eels, turtles and a myriad of colorful coral reef fish – angels, clowns, butterflies, surgeons. If you’re new to diving and want to give it a try, the diving center at the resort offers courses.
Diving is also a popular pastime on Kadmat, the only island in the group with has lagoons on both sides. There is a Water Sports Institute and Dive School here which, in addition to diving, offers windsurfing and parasailing and also rents out kayaks, pedal boats and glass bottomed boats. Kadmat, which only allows 48 tourists at a time, is becoming increasingly popular with honeymooners looking for privacy in paradise.
Mediterranean is an enamoring part of the world that is filled with immense beauty and mesmerizing charm. Spending time and leisure in Mediterranean and that too in a luxury yacht is like an ultimate dream come true.
When you come to the Mediterranean, you cannot straightway charter any yacht that claims to be good. After all, you have come here for enjoying to the max and this can only be fulfilled by chartering best yachts available in the Mediterranean.
And for this you do not need any mathematics but just smart customer tactic can let you charter the magnificent yachts available in the Mediterranean.
“Yacht Chartering in the Mediterranean: How to make your trip the best”.
The best yacht managers and management can truly make the throughout journey comfortable and enjoyable. But finding the best is not so easy; you just need to affirm these factors:
Authentic and Reliable:
The very first thing you must be consoled of is that you do not have to worry about legal documents and papers. You must enjoy your holiday completely being legal and approved by the administrations.
Infrastructure:
You must go with the managers who can provide you the best infrastructures. Equipments, luxurious interiors, lights or anything else, keenly check the infrastructure modernity.
Facilities and Services:
You must have the most excellent facilities. Services for cuisines, accommodation, celebrations or any other, you must ask the best from your host.
Affordable:
If your hosts are professionals, they must be providing their services at the prices you can afford. Package options and budget options let you have ample of choices to select from.
Serve till the end:
The job of professional does not end just by handling you the yacht but dish up themselves as a complete guide. Package or anything else, professional managers can help you the best. So, have someone that can be with you all along.
The South Pacific is truly the stuff dreams are made of. It is what we all wish for when we’re sitting in our fluorescent-lit offices on a dull, grey March day, looking out on the piles of dirty snow on the sidewalk, longing to be somewhere else. Palm-fringed beaches with soft white sand, azure, incredibly clear water, tranquil aquamarine lagoons with fish in amazing colors, volcanic islands with flower-scented breezes and overwater bungalows – simply paradise on earth.
Tahiti is the largest of the 118 islands and atolls known as French Polynesia. It is located in the Society Islands archipelago, which includes other vacation destination favorites such as Moorea, Raiatea and Bora Bora. Tahiti is the most populated, with 178,133 inhabitants, and home of the capital, Papeete. The island is volcanic with high mountain peaks, deep valleys, rivers, waterfalls, and lush rainforests. The north east coast has black sand beaches, and the south west side has white sand. There are several yacht charter companies on Tahiti, and all charter varieties are available – fully crewed, skippered or bareboat. Raiatea, a 40-minute flight from Papeete, is the base for most charter companies. The best time to visit is March to November, with April, May, June and September being the top choices. During those months, you can expect moderate trade winds blowing from the East at 10 to 15 knots, air temperatures in the mid 80s and water temperatures around 80. January and February bring heavy rains, and, as is the case in so many places, July and August are the height of tourist season and therefore more crowded.
If you want to experience something a bit off the beaten path, head northeast from Raiatea to the Tuamotu archipelago. This chain of atolls, the largest in the world, is about the size of Western Europe with 78 sparsely populated and wonderfully undeveloped islands. The Tuamotus is not a common tourist destination, and you can expect a true south seas getaway here. You can choose to charter your yacht on Raiatiea and cruise over, or fly to Rangiroa, the largest atoll, and pick up your yacht there.
Rangiroa lies about an hour’s flight from Tahiti and is known for its pearl farming, superlative diving, and quite surprisingly, its local wine, Vin de Tahiti. Rangiroa Vineyard was created by French wine enthusiast Dominique Auroy in 1992 by shipping in the appropriate type of soil from Tahiti and vines from France and Italy, and today the vines produce two harvests per year.
Diving and snorkeling, however, is the primary reason people visit Rangiroa; it is considered one of the world’s best diving spots. The 240 tiny islets, all below 3 feet in elevation and separated by 100 small channels, create a huge, crystal clear lagoon (with 150-foot visibility in the water) in that impossible turquoise-jade green color you think, until you see it, must be photoshopped. Whether you prefer snorkeling, scuba diving, or the view from a glass-bottomed boat, you can expect to see dolphins, black tipped, lemon, nurse, and grey reef sharks, red snapper, napoleon fish, surgeon fish, barracuda, tuna, jackfish, moray eels, various rays, several sea turtle species and sometimes even Manta rays. The two deep passes connecting the lagoon and ocean (Avatoru and Tiputa, which are also the names of the two villages on the island) are where most of the marine action is, and don’t miss the adrenaline-pumping daily event called “shoot the pass” when you (and the fish) are rushed with the tidal water through the pass at a very high speed.
After all this excitement, a great way to end your day is by getting a massage at the Kia Ora Hotel (near the Tiputa pass) followed by a pre-dinner drink on their glass-bottomed, above-water bar before heading into the open-air restaurant for a traditional Polynesian meal, perhaps paired with one of the local wines!
The French island of Corsica, 110 miles south of the Riviera and just north of Sardinia is an exceptional choice for a luxury yacht charter vacation. With a mountainous, dramatic landscape featuring rivers, gorges, waterfalls, lush valleys, rocky cliffs, vineyards, picturesque towns, 16 ports, and 620 miles of coastline surrounded by clear water in all shades of blue, the surprisingly uncrowded Corsica has it all. The rugged coastline, with more than 200 beaches, is especially alluring to those of us traveling by boat – there are many areas you can’t get to any other way and you may find a beach you can have all to yourself. Because of its geography, rising from sea level to almost 9,000 feet, Corsica’s climate is quite varied. The island is divided into three major ecological zones: the coastline and valleys enjoy a maritime Mediterranean climate (hot summers and mild winters); in the lower mountains, at 2,000 – 6,000 feet, you will find the cooler and wetter mountain Mediterranean climate; and at 6,000 feet and above, the climate is alpine, with snowcapped mountains and even small glaciers at the highest altitudes.
Corsica’s average of 250-300 days of sunshine per year (April – October being the sunniest) is the highest in France, and as a general rule, the northern part of the island is warmer than the south. You can find all types of yachts to charter on Corsica – bareboat, skippered, crewed, catamaran, sailboat, motoryacht and luxury yachts. The island is easy to get to. There are 4 airports – the Campo dell Oro Airport in Ajaccio, Poretta Airport in Bastia, Calvi (in Calvi), and Figari (in Figari) – as well as ferry service from France (Marseille, Toulon and Nice) and Italy (Genoa and Livomo). Of course, if you charter a yacht in France or Italy, you’ll be arriving on your own boat. Corsica is about a day’s sail, or 3-4 hours by motor yacht, from the French Riviera.
Port towns on the island include Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte and the capital of Corsica. It is located on the west coast and home to the both the largest airport and harbor on the island. Bastia, on the northeastern coast, is Corsica’s largest. The old town was built around the harbor and it is the most picturesque port on the island. Bastia is also known for its wines. Porto Vecchio on the south coast is the most sophisticated resort on Corsica and sees many Italian tourists in the summer months. It is known for its quaint, Genoese walled old town and its many, beautiful beaches. Calvi (rumored to be the birthplace of Christopher Columbus) on the east coast is simply stunning with its beautiful port (lined with bars and restaurants), towering citadel and 4-mile sandy beach where jet skiing, windsurfing, waterskiing and paragliding are popular pastimes. There are also plenty of private little coves if you are looking for something a bit more intimate. Bonifacio, just 7.4 miles north of Sardinia, sits high on a limestone peninsula at the southernmost tip of Corsica, and absolutely has to be approached from the sea in order to fully appreciate its jawdropping setting. There are plenty of sandy beaches, grottoes and caves in this area, and don’t miss the opportunity to explore the Lavezzi islands, which are part of the nature reserve “Bouches de Bonifacio”.
There are of course many, many more ports, towns and villages to explore all over the island, but these will give you a starting point, and hopefully inspiration to start planning your next chartered yacht trip to Corsica.
