Yacht Charter Itinerary San Tropez – Portofino – Genoa
Written by Missy Johnston
San Tropez
Join your yacht in San Tropez, a busy cosmopolitan “village”. Once a sleepy fishing village, San Tropez is now a center of the chic and the arts. Many artists find the lighting in San Tropez unlike anywhere else in the world. This is a place to spend time shopping as between the couture and the unique little shops, San Tropez has it all. Hit the streets and many little alleyways of this dynamic village. And for a refreshing break, step into the Pan Dei Place Hotel in town, an oasis behind tall walls, for a drink. This is the town that never sleeps. As night falls, the street cafes come alive with the nightlife of this quaint village of the very chic. This is a great spot to enjoy and see the night life of the French Riviera.
Le Club 55 Lounge Area
After breakfast cruise around the headland to the famous Pampelonne beach. Take a swim and enjoy the sun as you relax before lunch. Be sure to take the ship’s tender ashore to visit Le Club 55 even if only for a drink to see who is there. After lunch cruise to Les Iles d’Hyères a beautiful group of islands overnight in an anchorage on the island of Port Cros, which is mainly a national park, filled with bicycling trails and walks.
Cannes Old Port
Leave early in the morning to enjoy breakfast anchored off Cannes across from the famous Croisette. The old town of Cannes has beautiful cobbled streets, to explore shopping for gourmet food specialties and trendy clothes. For lunch head to Antibes to dine at the infamous Eden Roc on Cap d’ Antibes. After lunch perhaps visit the Picasso Museum in Antibes, and wander the old city, before heading for a late afternoon cruise to Nice. Enjoy a drink ashore before the sun sets. Have dinner on board or ashore.
Walking Streets of Eze
Cruise to Villefrance early in the morning. Once in Villefrance, visit Cap Ferrat, in the morning, perhaps taking a tour of the Rothschild Mansion, Villa Ephrussi, and enjoy the special and varied gardens surrounding. In the afternoon have a car to go to Eze an enchanted medieval walled village perched at the top of a mountain, and wander the little winding walking streets. Perhaps have dinner at the Restaurant Chevre d’Or.
Monte Carlo
Leave to cruise to Monte Carlo and back into the hub of life along the Cote d’Azur. Old City Monte Carlo, known as Monaco-Ville, is just a short walk from the port and is the location of the Grimaldi Family Palace and grounds. 15 rooms are now open for viewing as well as the gardens and don’t miss the changing of the guards at 11:55am. Spend time in Monaco-Ville as located here is also the Romanesque/Byzantine Cathedral of Monaco, the burial location of Princess Grace and other important members of the Royal Family. Also be sure to visit the Musee Oceangraphique et Aquarium, once headed by Jacque Cousteau, for a maritime history of the area. The aquarium is extremely well known and is considered one of the best aquariums in Europe with over 4000 fish species in tanks on display.
In the evening enjoy cocktails and dinner on deck under the stairs and then head out in Black Tie for an evening at the Casino and other top night spots in Monte Carlo.
Portofino
Leave for Portofino very early in the morning and anchor off of Portofino for the afternoon and night. Often called the “Pearl of the Riviera” Portofino has long been fashionable with what was once called ‘the jet set’. Originally a billet for Genoa’s merchant seamen, by the turn of the twentieth century it was a quiet, though very beautiful, fishing village. To add to its mystique, Portofino has a history buried in myth. Pliny the Elder claimed the Romans founded the town, naming it Portus Delphini, or Port of Dolphins, because of the large number that frolicked in the Tigullian Gulf.
Discovered by German and British holidaymakers in the 1920s, by the 1950s tourism had supplanted the fishing boats. Portofino thus became a favorite with, among others, Princess Grace and Richard Burton and Liz Taylor. Set within an area of stunning natural beauty, the protected Parco Naturale Regionale di Portofino, the town today is a chic berth for yachts and offers exclusive boutiques, wonderful outdoor restaurants, and beachside cliffs that are speckled with pastel-colored villas.
Camoglia
Explore Santa Margherita, and then head to Camoglia and enjoy this little fishing village, home to the largest frying pan, used to Bless the Fishermen every May. Overnight in the Camoglia area in a nice quiet anchorage for a final night on board.
Genoa
Disembark in Genoa.