While sailing a yacht in crystal blue waters is as exhilarating as it sounds, it’s the destination that can make the trip even more memorable.
We decided to search for some of the best, yacht-friendly places around. And we think you just may love them as much as we do.
From the New England charm of Rhode Island to the limestone cliffs in Thailand, each option is an alluring picture in its own unique way — offering peace, freedom and as much adventure as you want.
Pink Beach in Bonaire
The ABC Islands
North of Venezuela, nestled in the southern Caribbean and aligned outside of the hurricane belt, sits Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, also referred to as the ABCs.
All three islands are within 50 miles of one another, so you don’t have far to sail to enjoy each one.
The first island — Aruba — has lured sailors and kitesurfers for years because of unobstructed trade winds from the Eastern Caribbean. But the island is also known for its luxurious resorts, its thriving nightlife and the celebrated Eagle Beach, which is said to be one of the finest beaches in the world due to the island’s constant breeze and the soft white sand along its crystal blue waters.
The other two islands — Bonaire and Curaçao — have reputations of their own. Both are known for incredible diving waters, and each island offers a little something special. In Curaçao, limestone formations line the inside of the Hato Cave, which is available to tour, while a marine park and Pink Beach are highlights of Bonaire.
Rose Island Lighthouse
Newport, Rhode Island
Known as the “Sailing Capital of the World,” Newport, R.I. is where people go to immerse themselves in classic New England charm. And that, of course, includes sailing.
The town has many layers of sailing history, dating back to the 1800s when it was the site of an international maritime trading center. The United States Naval Academy temporarily made Newport its home in the mid-1800s and by the end of the 18th century, the town became a haven for the wealthy and those prominent American families like the Vanderbilts moved into stunning mansions, and they brought their yachts with them.
Today, Newport is home to the world’s largest fleet of America’s Cup 12 Meters, which are racing yachts built specifically to win the prestigious America Cup trophy. The competition happens every three to four years in different locations across the globe. Some of these racing yachts are even available to charter the waters of Narragansett Bay.
If Newport is your yachting destination, you could plan your arrival around one of the many sailing races held here. And be sure to see the historic lighthouses. If you’re up for a night away from your yacht, the Rose Island Lighthouse is available to rent as a bed-and-breakfast.
The Heart Reef in the Great Barrier Reef
Whitsunday Islands, Australia
There are many reasons why sailing in Australia’s Whitsunday Islands is amazing, but we have to start with the infamous heart reef.
This sea of coral that was naturally formed into the shape of a heart sits in the Great Barrier Reef. Strict laws protecting the reef from tourists means it can only be admired from afar so hopping on a seaplane or helicopter is the best way to see this incredible piece of nature in all its glory. While you’re in the sky, you could also admire some of the 74 Whitsunday Islands that sit off the northeast coast of Queensland.
Drop anchor and stay a while: the area is a playground for tourists who want to hike, explore rainforests or try water sports. Others simply want to dip their toes in the sand at Whitehaven Beach, touted as having the softest sand in the world according to Condé Nast Traveler. The reason? Geologists say the sand is millions of years old and that mother nature’s wrath has stripped away the dirt and pollutants over time, leaving behind the purest sand around.
You can also discover ancient rock art at the Nigaro Cultural site in the Whitsunday Islands National Park, one of the oldest indigenous sites on Australia’s east coast.
Coco-de-mer, Sychelles' national fruit
Seychelles Islands
In the western Indian Ocean, you will find the island nation of Seychelles, made up of 115 islands of which most are uninhabited.
Islanders say it’s the world’s most eco-friendly destination because almost half of the islands are set aside for conservation, making it a paradise for hikers, divers and adventurers who enjoy exploring areas like the mountain rainforests of the Morne Seychellois National Park.
The islands are home to eclectic species and wildlife, including the giant Aldabra land tortoise and the carnivorous pitcher plant, which eats insects trapped in its liquid-filled cups.
This area, particularly Praslin Island, is also a paradise for bird lovers who relish spotting rare birds like the fruit pigeon, the turtle dove and the black parrot (which, by the way, is actually brownish-gray, not black).
Seychelles is also home to the coco-de-mer, also known as the double coconut. The double coconuts contain the world’s largest and heaviest seed and serve as Seychelles’ national fruit. And because they are on the endangered list, the seeds, which have been compared to the size of three bowling balls, are often locked up in cages to prevent poaching. Though it is said that the coconut tastes sweet with a hint of citrus, the double coconuts are not allowed to be picked or eaten due to its protective status.
Ko Tapu, aka one of the James Bond Islands in Thailand
Thailand
If you’re a James Bond fan, then you’re going to want to include Thailand on your bucket list of places to sail.
The limestone islands of Ko Khao Phing Kan and Ko Tapu have been referred to as the James Bond Islands since 1974, when production crews from “The Man With the Golden Gun” used the islands on the west coast of Thailand as a filming location. But it’s not just the iconic movie series that’s made this area popular, it’s also the limestone cliffs that tower 66 feet above the waters.
While boats are not allowed to get close because the cliffs sit in a protected marine area, you can admire these islands from afar from the comfort of your yacht, or hire a canoe or longboat to get a closer look.
In Thailand, you can also snorkel with turtles, go cliff diving and appreciate the wild monkeys, which are so revered by the town of Lopburi in central Thailand that they hold an annual monkey festival on the last Sunday of November (Lopburi Monkey Festival) honoring these animals and drawing tourists to their community.
Darwin Island, Galápagos
The Galápagos Islands
Made famous by naturalist Charles Darwin in the 1800s, the Galápagos Islands sit 600 miles west of Ecuador and are home to an array of animals, both in the water and on land, including 26 species of native birds. Of those 26, 14 are called Darwin’s finches. They are the fastest-evolving vertebrates in the world.
Comprised of 13 large islands and six small ones, they are also known as the Enchanted Isles and all offer exceptional wildlife viewing. Because there are no natural predators, wildlife do not perceive people to be a threat and on occasion even interact with them. How amazing would it be to get up close and personal with sea lions, turtles and even penguins?
The Galápagos area is such a special place that the islands themselves and the waters around them are protected as a national park, and the area was declared a whale sanctuary. The islands truly are a nature lover’s dream, and those who have spent time here have called it a trip of a lifetime.
Gates to Hindu temple in Bali, Indonesia
Indonesia
It’s one of the few places on this Earth where you can sip champagne from the comfort of a gorgeous yacht while watching smoke billow from an active volcano.
Indonesia’s popularity for yachting is growing as more people are eager to include adventure in their sailing expeditions. Visitors can explore many of Indonesia’s estimated 17,000 islands, some of which sit in a part of the ocean that scientists call the global epicenter of marine biodiversity. With 600 species of reef-building corals and more than 3,000 types of fish and sea turtles, this part of the world is a diver’s paradise.
On land, the islands are just as diverse.
Three of the larger islands are home to Komodo National Park, where visitors can see Komodo dragons roaming the grounds. Bali, also called the Island of the Gods, is home to thousands of Hindu temples, that are so beautiful each one is a work of art. Seek adventure? Swim with the whale sharks in Cenderawasih Bay. Want to wind down? Relax in an Indonesian canoe called "jukungs" and then make your way back to the yacht that brought you here, where you can escape once again to your own private paradise.