Bareboat | Skippered | Luxury Crewed

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General - Calabria, situated in the southern Tyrrhenian Sea, is a great yacht charter area. In addition to a typically Mediterranean climate you have the history and culture of Italy and fine dining opportunities abound. From any of our bases in Calabria; Reggio Di Calabria, Tropea, Vibo Valentia and Lipari, you can explore the SW of Italy's mainland, the fascinating island of Sicily and the Aeolian islands. Sailors enjoying a more lengthy Calabria yacht charter can also visit Palermo, the capital of Sicily, and the Egadi Islands to the west of Sicily.

A Calabria yacht charter is well within the reach of sailors who have basic skills in coastal navigation. The tidal range is just one to two feet and therefore tidal currents are not a concern outside of the straits of Messina.

Regardless of the itinerary, Calabria offers a fine blend of magnificent sailing, snorkeling in crystal clear water, scenic hiking trails, upscale dining, boutique shopping, and intriguing sightseeing in picturesque towns with roots dating back to ancient Greece and Rome. It is guaranteed to inspire fond memories for years to come.

Reggio Di Calabria, one of our charter bases, is located on the Strait of Messina directly opposite near-by Sicily. Reggio is a perfect embarking harbour to reach eastern Sicily; Catania, Siracuse and the Eolian Islands. It was described as "Italy's most beautiful mile" by the Italian poet Gabriele d'Annunzi. Reggio as the locals call it, is the largest and the oldest city in Calabria and one of the oldest in Italy. Originally being founded by the ancient Greeks as a colony, it is known as the "city of Bronzes" due to the famous Riace bronzes made here or the "city of Bergamot" for the plant that is exclusively cultivated here. Visit the Cathedral, the largest in Calabria, the Aragonese Castle, the walls of the old city, the old Roman baths, the church of Saint Gaetano Catanoso and the Museum of Musical Instruments, which features an amazing collection of more than 800 musical instruments of various styles and from different eras.

Tropea, one of our charter bases, is situated on a reef in the gulf of St. Euphemia. The town is a famous bathing place and having almost completely preserved its XVIth century planning it is both historically and architecturally fascinating. The Tropea marina was built in 2005 with all facilities for those on a yacht charter; supermarket, bar, showers and wifi. It is to the south of Vibo Valentia and to the north of Ricadi and Capo Vaticano. The Aeolian Islands, a must on any Calabrian or Sicilian yacht charter, are only 30 miles from Tropea

Vibo Valentia, one of our charter bases, is a charming town, which lies in Sante Venere bay, at the foot of Mount Castelluccio. It is the best harbour, in terms of both shelter and facilities, between Salerno and Reggio Calabria. Vibo Valentia marina is protected by an outer and inner wharf.

It is easy to cruise the Aeolian Islands, also known as the Lipari Islands. They lie just to the north of Sicily and include Lipari, Vulcano, Salina, Stromboli, Filicudi, Alicudi, Panarea and Basiluzzo. The islands are the result of volcanic activity and the one on Stromboli is still active. The volcanic activity of hot springs and thermal baths can be seen on most of the islands. The islands were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000.

Lipari, one of our charter bases, is the largest of the seven islands. Visit the museum, in addition to sections relating to the human history of the entire Aeolian Islands from prehistoric to classical times, it also covers vulcanology, marine history, and the paleontology of the western Mediterranean.

Stromboli's Serra Vancori is the second largest active volcano in Europe, rising 3,031 feet from a brilliant blue sea as a perfect triangle. It has been erupting continuously for roughly 2,000 years, not often in enormous blasts, but little by little. From sea and at island anchorages the smoke and steam rising from its summit is clearly visible by day, and by night the molten lava flowing slowly down the slopes glows red. A guided tour of the volcano is a must during any Calabria sailing vacation. The island is home to two villages, clusters of white set against a black backdrop interspersed with green vegetation. There are restaurants and bars for dining or enjoying cocktails ashore, and spectacular black-sand beaches for snorkeling, swimming, and sunbathing.

Panarea is a favorite vacation destination among Europe's more discerning elite, Panarea packs plenty of cache into its 2.1 square miles and three villages. The magnificent beach of La Spiaggetta is a popular place for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling. Walking the paths to explore the fumaroles at the northern tip of the island, where the volcanic hiss of steam issuing from the ground marks the presence of molten lava below the surface, is another engaging activity. Exploring the archaeological site of Punta Milazzese, a Bronze Age village, is intriguing. There is a gorgeous anchorage nearby just to the east. But perhaps the greatest appeal of Panarea is its fine restaurants and nightclubs, sophisticated, chic, and always delightful.

The Franata dell'Arcipelago offers snorkeling in the clear waters along vertical rock faces that plunge into the depths, in ocean caves, and off the beaches in the Aeolian Islands is an unforgettable experience because of the unique sea floor sculpted and shaped by millennia of volcanic activity. It is possible to see the hot gasses bubble from openings in the bottom, white pumice sands, and twisted black basalt in strange forms amid the myriad species of colorful fish. Scuba aficionados will find many interesting sites as well, especially in the waters around Lipari and Vulcano. La Franata dell'Arcipelago is among them. It is situated in a channel between Lipari and Vulcano, where the sea floor descends gradually to a plateau, then drops off abruptly to reveal a maze of volcanic rocks deposited during an ancient landslide. Local dive centers can arrange guided scuba tours for all skill levels.

Vulcano is about 25 km north of Sicily and the southernmost of the eight Aeolian Islands. You can smell the sulphur and enjoy a free wellness treatment in the sulphur mud that collects in enclosed basins.

Salina, the second largest island in the archipelago, has two ports, Santa Marina and Rinella. Salina is wonderfully green. More than 400 different types of plants grow here and the cultivation of grapes, olives and capers are basically a rite. Above all, there is Malvasia, a famous white wine that is only produced on Salina. Malvasia is golden in colour and has an intense, delicately sweet bouquet.

You can anchor off Filicudi and then explore the island on foot. Pecorini has a limited number of berths and is a good anchorage.

You can anchor off Alicudi and then discover the islands on foot via many stairs. There is only one restaurant on the island, and the menu depends greatly on what fish the local fishermen have caught, or what food supplies the hydrofoil brings.

Ustica, the western-most of the islands offers a secure harbour for yachts.

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What You Need - Experience, Qualifications, Visa Requirements, etc. - Visas
For bareboat charters one member of your party should hold a sailing licence. One crew member will need a VHF licence

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Charter Season - The main charter season runs from April through to the end of October. July and August are the most popular months and also the most expensive. It is possible to find boats available for charter year round although the choice is limited.

Climate - Summer temperatures range between 25°C to 32°C. Gentle and warm summer winds from the northwest average between 8 and 12 knots. Land and sea breezes develop daily. In late afternoon when more southerly winds can be expected. Spring and autumn sailing is also quite pleasant.
For a detailed forecast for the Calabria area click here

How to Get There - Click the following link for a list of Airports serving the Yacht Charter area of Calabria. Information includes a list of carriers together with their points of departure. Or fly to Sicily and then take the ferry from Messina to Reggio Di Calabria. The ferries arrive here at the rate of one every hour, except on Sundays, when the frequency is reduced to one about every 2-3 hours.

Time Difference - GMT +1

Currency - Euro. ATMs are plentiful. Major credit cards are excepted almost everywhere

Language - Italian.

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Food & Drink - The Calabrese cuisine is simple yet healthy and delicious, pasta and vegetables with an abundance of olive oil and aromatic sauces made with herbs make the bulk of the dishes. Yacht Charter visitors can also enjoy desserts such as the famous Italian gelato or ice-cream arancia calabrese, a special kind of orange that grows only here and has its skin boiled and candied to make sweets and pastries.

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Suggested Itineraries & Routes - Click the following link for a selection of suggested yacht charter itineraries in Calabria

Marinas - Detailed reports and information on Yacht Marinas, Harbours and Anchorages in the Calabria region can be found in our Cruising Guide

Feedback - We would welcome any comments you may have about your charter in Calabria. Contact us here

History of the Area - Coming soon

Terms & Conditions -These vary depending on the individual boat. Normally a deposit is required at the time of booking with the balance due a month before the date of your charter. Please contact us if you require further information.

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Get a quote for your yacht charter here. Or contact us by email