Best Yacht Charter Destinations For Nature Lovers & Wildlife Enthusiasts

Sailing is one of the best ways to spend time in nature and see amazing animals. By boat, you have access to the most remote and wild places. This is your chance to discover underwater worlds and unique coastal ecosystems.

Skipper a boat yourself or hire a crewed yacht and get up close to animals in their natural habitat. Here are the top yacht charter destinations for nature and wildlife enthusiasts.

Madagascar, Africa 

Madagascar is in the Indian Ocean on the east coast of South Africa. This small island has some of the world's richest biodiversity. Sailing here gives you a chance to come face to face with weird and wonderful creatures. 

Most yacht charters embark from Nosy Be. This is a one-hour flight from the capital of Antananarivo. From here, you can also arrange trekking excursions with expert guides.

Look out for the many different species of lemurs, chameleons, and giant tortoises. Dock your boat to explore groves of baobab trees and deserts on this island of diverse habitats.

The islands of Nosy Komba, Nosy Sakatia, and Nosy Tanikely are ideal for scuba diving. Parrotfish and unicorn fish are two of many rainbow-colored species in these warm waters.

Zanzibar, Tanzania

Zanzibar is just off the coast of Tanzania. This is your opportunity to merge a sailing vacation with an African wildlife safari. Discover the Spice Islands and see the big five, in one vacation.

Rent a sailboat and explore some of the Indian ocean's most enchanting islands. Mafia and Pemba islands are ideal for diving and snorkeling. Around 180 coral species thrive in these waters. It is easy to find octopus, mantis shrimps, and elaborate nudibranchs.

Bottlenose and humpback dolphins often play around the boats.

Zanzibar is one of the world's top locations to see whale sharks. Plan your visit for September to December when they are around.

Galapagos, Ecuador

The Galapagos Islands are famous for swimming iguanas, giant tortoises, and blue-footed boobies. This wildlife paradise has 19 main islands to explore which are best accessed by boat.

Stop to Snorkel with Green turtles, Galapagos penguins, sea lions, rays, and seals. In summer, humpback whales feed around the islands. 

Galapagos is a prime birding destination. 45 of the 56 native species are found nowhere else in the world. Genovesa Island is known as 'Bird Island'. It gets this name from thousands of boobies and magnificent frigate birds that roost here. 

On island Isabela, watch flamingoes on the lakes or visit the tortoise breeding center. You can also follow a foot trail through the swamplands and mangroves. Punta Espinoza has one of the largest colonies of marine iguanas in the Galapagos.

Antarctica

The untamed landscapes of Antarctica are ideal for wildlife enthusiasts. Animal sightings are frequent in this magnificent world of glaciers and icebergs.

This is one of the best places on earth to whale watch. Some of the species you could see here include; blue whales, humpbacks, and minke whales. Elephant seals are common as are families of Orcas.

If you love penguins, this is the place to be. Adelaide penguins are easy to find on rocky outcrops around the coast. Head to Deception island to see chinstraps or Plenuae island for gentoo penguins. Emperor penguins hang out on the sea ice. 

Waters here can be rough and conditions are chilling. This is a destination for the adventurous at heart. To reach Antarctica, book a yacht charter expedition from Chile or Argentina.

Costa Rica

Costa Rica boasts a whopping 6% of all earth's biodiversity. This is a prime destination for nature-loving sailors.

Rent a boat from Quepos and sail the shoreline of Manual Antonio National Park on the Pacific Coast. These tropical forests are home to scarlet macaws and toucans. Monkeys including howlers, Spider monkeys, and white-faced capuchin monkeys feast on abundant fruit. Scan the canopy for sloths. If you are very lucky, you may even see a jaguar.

While in Costa Rica, we recommend taking a night tour. Discover fascinating reptiles, poison-dart frogs, armadillos, and other nocturnal creatures.

Tortuguero National park on the Caribbean coast is a famous turtle nesting site. Green, olive ridley, and leatherback turtles lay their eggs between July - October. Seeing the hatchlings emerge is a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

New Zealand

New Zealand has no end of bays, fjords, straits, and lakes to choose from. Sail from Auckland Harbor which opens into the Hauraki Gulf and the Bay of Islands. There are 144 islands to explore in this archipelago.

Waiheke Island is perfect for a day sailing trip. Look out for whales, dolphins, and rare seabird species. Waiheke is also known for its stunning beaches and enchanting forests.

More adventurous sailors can sail across Cook Strait to South Island. Don't miss Abel Tasman National Park. Here you can walk the world-famous coast track. Stretch your legs on part of this 37-mile trail. Snap some pics of little blue penguins and fur seals