Top 3 Rising Destinations for Charter in the Americas

The yachting map is changing. New destinations are opening up all over the globe as luxury yachting vacations become ever more popular, and as those who have been chartering for many years start looking for fresh destinations to explore.

Normally, these kinds of ‘new yacht charter destinations’ articles focus on remote, blue-water cruising to far-flung places like Patagonia, Thailand or the sunny islands of the South Pacific. They’re very exciting indeed and we’ll cover them another time—but for those wanting a shorter flight, there are exotic new charter destinations popping up all over the place, some within a hop, skip and a jump of the US.

1. Puerto Rico & the Spanish Virgin Islands

The case of Puerto Rico is surprising. When you look at its many wonders— from some of the best beaches on the planet to its ancient rainforests and innovative food scene—you have to wonder why it’s taken so long for the superyacht set to realize the magical appeal of this tiny archipelago. But realize it they have, and Puerto Rico, ‘The Island of Enchantment’ is now undergoing a superyacht revolution, with modern yacht marinas springing up and a luxury travel experience firmly on the agenda.

San Juan is in the midst of a cultural revival, where the old world of cobbled streets and mighty Spanish forts meets a vibrant renaissance of cutting-edge galleries and delicious street food. If the refined life is more your style, Puerto Rico is also a sophisticated mecca of designer boutiques, fine dining and glamorous beach clubs, with some world-class golf courses and health spas for added relaxation.

Out in the undeveloped Spanish Virgin islands, you’ll discover an earthly paradise of deserted white sand beaches, quiet fishing villages, and sapphire waters so crystal clear that you can see every grain of sand on the sea floor as you swim with the friendly sea turtles. Visit the breathtaking Playa de Flamenco beach where a military tank rusts slowly into the sapphire sea, or sit in the natural Jacuzzi rock pools at Bahia Tortuga, looking across to St Thomas in the distance. After sunset, head to Bio Bay in a kayak to see one of the most miraculous natural sights on earth- an explosion of bioluminescence so extraordinary it is as if a galaxy of stars have fallen from the sky into the water.

Often called the ‘Island of Enchantment’, Puerto Rico is a sensational spot for a yacht charter.

Added bonus: Puerto Rico is U.S. territory so you don’t have any of the hassles of passports, customs or long-haul flights to join your yacht charter. You can also easily incorporate the Spanish Virgin Islands into a U.S. Virgin Islands yacht charter.

2. Costa Rica

Costa Rica is rising. This Caribbean country is one of the most magnificent emerging charter destinations on the planet, with jungle-covered mountains rolling down to sugar-white beaches and turquoise seas. Whether sportfishing, diving coral reefs, or looking for white-faced monkeys and black jaguars deep in the cloud forest, Costa Rica has definitely earned its place on the superyacht map.

On your Costa Rica yacht charter you can soak in volcanic hot springs, kayak through a flooded forest, or watch a volcano throw red lava into the night. Swim with dolphins, enjoy a yoga class at an eco-lodge, or take a boat trip through the forest canals of Tortuguero’s National park. In the jungle you’ll find waterfalls thundering into deep forest pools, while back on the coast you’ll cruise past waterfalls tumbling off cliffs right into the sea.

At Whale Bay you can watch the calves gambol alongside their mothers, or you might climb high into the mountains to windsurf at altitude at one of the world’s best windsurfing locations, Lake Arenal. Costa Rica has both Caribbean and Atlantic coastlines only 200 kilometres apart, meaning that you can easily take a day trip to surf the great breaks on the wild Atlantic beaches before returning to the coral reefs and calm waters of the Caribbean side.

With a strong emphasis on eco-tourism, luxury travel, and once-in-a-lifetime experiences, tropical Costa Rica is definitely becoming one of the new ‘it’ destinations of the yacht charter world.

Added bonus: Costa Rica is in the midst of building world-class marinas to accommodate superyachts, including the exciting Golfito Marina Village under construction in the magnificent wilderness of the Osa Peninsula.

3. Cuba

It’s difficult to overestimate how excited the yachting industry is about US and Cuba reopening diplomatic channels, while the recent news about possible US-Cuba flights has brought this excitement to a fever-pitch.

Cuba, previously only open to foreign charter yachts and non-US guests, is an extraordinary place to travel by luxury yacht. While its yachting infrastructure is still in its early stages, there are over 4000 islands, truly epic diving, and countless stunning beaches of waving palms and turquoise water. With superb sportfishing, colonial architecture and spectacular scenery, Cuba really ticks the boxes for exotic yacht travel – as long as you’re not expecting ultra-luxury marinas and 7-star services. They’re coming, but it’s not St. Barths just yet.

That said, chartering a yacht in Cuba now is like experiencing time-travel, as you journey back to a hidden Caribbean, which is in many ways still stuck in the 1950s. From Soviet-era cars cruising past old men sitting at Formica-topped tables playing dominos and smoking cigars, to the remote, sand-swept tropical paradises of the outer islands, Cuba offers something that nowhere else in the world does, which is beyond rare these days.

Times they are a-changing, and there’s already been special licenses granted to small cruise ships and a lucky few charter yachts.  The government is actively encouraging marina development. These green shoots signal that change has begun that the American charter yacht industry has been waiting for.

Added Bonus: You can say you went to Cuba when it first opened its borders, in these times when saying “I just got back from Cuba” still elicits envious looks. Get there before Cuba changes forever. Call us to find out more about yacht charter and travel restrictions in Cuba.

Of course, this is far from all the rising yachting destinations in the Americas, but with these three destinations you can find something extraordinary and fresh, right in America’s backyard.

Contact Yacht Charter Manager Jackie Guenther for more information: