About The Western Mediterranean
    Sample Yacht Charter Itineraries
    Western Mediterranean Maps
    Complimentary Western Mediterranean Yacht Charter DVD
    Western Mediterranean Charter Yachts

About The Western Mediterranean

Away from the glitz and glamour of the Riviera there are a number of beautiful distinctive islands awaiting the more adventurous yacht charterer, ranging from Corisca and Sardinia over to the party island of Ibiza and the Balearics.

Corsica's small fishing villages and unspoiled harbors are interspersed along a dramatic western coastline that has changed little since the ancient Roman Empire . Sardinia and its Maddalena Islands have also retained their rustic natural beauty and provide numerous lovely and protected anchorages.

After leaving Sardinia behind, guests can choose to sail north to the picturesque Portofino or south to the inspirational Bay of Naples .

The Isle of Capri , the Blue Grotto, Ischia , the spectacular Amalfi coast and the artist community of Positano all have their special allure.

Superb food and fine wine are as abundant here as the blue skies. Whether you desire a waterfront café or secluded hillside, swank restaurant or historic site, your skilled crew is at hand to make the best of your excursions.

Small enough to be classified as an island but big enough to be a universe unto itself, Sardinia lies about 120 miles west of the Italian peninsula. Its coastline is probably Europe 's most spectacular. Its waters teem with fish and shellfish. Its broad valleys turn into golden oceans of wheat in summer. Its rugged mountains, pocked with caves, are home to large flocks of sheep that feed on pungent wild herbs and produce a cheese your palate will never forget. Nestled into its silent olive groves are some of the continent's oldest archaeological remains, dating back to 1700 BC. Its people speak a language incomprehensible to all other Italians, celebrate more saints' days than anyone else in the nation, and love to dress up in elaborate costumes at the drop of a finely-embroidered hat.

Balzac described Corsica as 'a French island basking in the Italian sun', but the island has a singular character that is entirely its own. This beautiful, wild playground is the ultimate combination destination - physical exertion in the elements by day, French wine and cuisine by evening.

Corsica has been French for only 200 of its 4000-year history, and has many indigenous traditions - gastronomic, musical and cultural. It is beautiful, wild, rugged, unspoilt and a touch old-fashioned. The birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte, Corsica is not short on either bonhomie or national pride.

The sea around the Balearic islands (Majorca, Minorca and Ibiza ) is characterised by its steep cliffs, its bays, sandy beaches, small deserted coves and varied seas You'll find beaches in the small coves of Sant Augusti, Ca's Catala and transparent waters in Ses Illetes. Palma Nova and Magalluf are the main tourist resorts including Santa Ponsa on the East, where the sunsets are memorable. Portals Vells at the tip of the small peninsula is a more quiet spot offering some lovely views and walks. Inland, be sure to visit Calvia, a beautiful exemple of an authentic Majorquin village.

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Sample Yacht Charter Itineraries

Sample Yacht Charter Itinerary - Elba & Corsica

Day 1:
You will meet your floating holiday aboard Viola at Punta Ala , which is located on the coast of Tuscany . Once your luggage is safely stowed and you have been properly introduced to yacht and crew, we will slip the dock lines off and have a short, comfortable sail to Giglio, one of the smaller islands of the Tuscan Archipelago. Boasting superb scenery and abundant bird life, there are three tiny villages on Giglio, including Giglio Castello, a medieval town which is well worth exploring.

Day 2:
After a leisurely breakfast, we will head northwest to Elba . Though best known for the famous prisoner it was home to for a very short time, Napoleon Bonaparte, the scenery with its spectacular mountains and numerous beaches are what draw over two million visitors to this island every year. You will want to try some Aleatico or Moscato, Elban wines which are two of Tuscany 's best!

Day 3:
Leaving the hustle and bustle of Elba behind, we again set sail toward the northwest, soon reaching our destination of the island of Capraia . This lovely island was once used as a penal colony, but the attraction the many Roman ruins and the vistas of the stunning cliffs makes it a popular destination for us to visit.

Day 4:
You will probably awake early with the excitement of the day enticing you from your bed. Today we take a longer sail, leaving Italy behind and heading to France . Well, Corsica , which is French, none the less! Approaching Corsica from the north, we will sail down the coast of the Cape Corse penisula, dotted with tiny fishing ports nestled between maquis-covered headlands. Our destination for the day is St. Florent, located on the southwest side.

Day 5:
Lingering to enjoy the beautiful bay at St. Florent and its magnificent beach, you are eager to sail on to Calvi, further on down the coast. A thriving little town, it is guarded by two giants: the citadel and Monte Cinto. It closely resembles many of the smaller towns along the French Riviera, and therefore often exhibits a liveliness that might not be evident any where else on Corsica !

Day 6:
A beautiful day for a lovely sail. Today we will sail back up and around Cape Corse , to Bastia , located on the southeast side of the peninsula. The leading commercial town on Corsica, Bastia is a fun place to explore, with its narrow streets and odd byways. Hiking around Terra Vecchia, the oldest section of the city, or Terra Nova with its buildings sporting ochre, red, yellow and green facades is a grand way to work up a thirst that you can slake, sitting at a café by the Place St. Nicolas.

Day 7:
A quiet breakfast, reflecting on the sights you have embraced for the past week. Then it is time to leave Bastia behind for a lovely sail back to Punta Ala. You return, safe, sound, relaxed and refreshed. This was the sailing holiday you have always dreamed of: unhurried, but varied enough to make you eager to return next year.for two weeks!

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Sample Yacht Charter Itinerary - Balearics

Day 1: Palma

Palma de Mallorca - the capital city of the Balearics - is one of the most beautiful, cosmopolitan and interesting citites in the world -day and night. It is a very good place to start a sailing holiday, which can be combined with sightseeing, good restaurants, shopping etc. There are lots of small bays, coves and marinas dotted all around Mallorca , which makes the island a yachties paradise.

Day 2: Andratx

Andratx is a large village, full of charm and holds a colourful market each Wednesday. Puerto de Andratx is an inviting little fishing port lodged in a small and narrow bay from which you can reach the Cabo de Sa Mola and see the cliffs sharply falling into the sea.

Dragonera the island is 4 km. long, up to 1 km. wide covering an area of 300 hectares, it is 700 metres from the mainland and is separated from this by a channel 'Es Freu', Owing to its strategic situation, Sa Dragoner has been used throughout its history by pirates and smugglers, generating many legends.

Day 3: Soller

Sóller shares its valley with the village of Fornalutx and the hamlet of Biniaraix, the combined population is around 12,000, and the valley is famous for its orange groves and terraces of ancient olive trees. The village of Deia is just down the coast.

The valley and its surrounding mountain range, the 'Serra de Tramuntana', is a favourite destination for people from all over the world, especially those who enjoy walking, nature, ecotourism, swimming or simply a peaceful rest away from the hustle and bustle of the better-known tourist traps.

Day 4: Pollensa

The city of Pollenca , created by the population of Alcudia in the 13th century to escape pirate raids is today a place for artists and presents every year an international music festival of high quality. Puerto Pollenca is an old fishing port which nowadays is dedicated to tourism. It is well known for it's long and narrow bay which is simply superb.

At the tip of the peninsula is the Cap Formentor, from which you'll experience the most breathtaking views. On the other side of the bay is the oldest city of the island, Alcudia, founded by the Phoenicians and once the capital of Majorca .

Day 5: Cala Ratjada

White sand beaches, caves and countryside roads bordered by small stone walls, caracterizes this area as one of the most diversified on the island.Next to the National Parc of S'Albufera, Ca'n Picafort, created in the 1960's as a tourist resort offers all the pleasures of the beach. Arta on the other end is a much more quiet town dating back to the Middle Ages with many old and beautiful buildings. Cala Ratjada and its surrounding area has many charming beaches in a very jagged coastline, some of which are the most well preserved of the island.

Day 6: Cala Figueres

The Eastern coast of Majorca has a series of small coves of fine white sand, the "Calas". This area is also a series of small and peaceful fishing villages: Cala Figuera, Porto Colom and Porto Cristo which is one of the oldest ports, already active during Roman time. Its nearby cave Cuevas del Drach, with its underground lake, one of the largest in the world, is a site not to be missed.

Day 7: Colonia Sant Jordi

The south east coast of Majorca has the least touristic beaches of the island and its salt marshes are a bird's heaven.

The long stretch of Es Trenc is one of the nicest and best preserved beaches. Colonia Sant Jordi is where you can take the boat to go to the island of Sa Cabrera ,and also get to the beautiful little beaches nearby which can only be accessed by sea.

Day 8: Palma

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Western Mediterranean Maps

     Mediterranean Sea
                   

       Map of Balearic Isl.
                   

  Map of Corsica & Sardinia
             

Complimentary Western Mediterranean Yacht Charter DVD

To obtain your complimentary Western Mediterranean yacht charter dvd or additional information about yacht charters in the Western Mediterranean and around the world, please call us on 1-877-3YACHTS (392-2487) or (202) 882-2127.

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