Mediterranean Yacht Cruises In Winter: Where To Go?

The Mediterranean may not be your first choice when you think about where to holiday in the winter months, but perhaps it should be. While it may not have the balmy weather of the typical haunts of the winter yachting season - such as Dubai and the Caribbean - Mediterranean yacht cruises in the quieter months offer a chance to explore the charms of the Med without the crowds. To have your pick of the secluded beaches and to leisurely enjoy cultural attractions. To eat at locals’ restaurants and have hiking trails all to yourself. 

Here’s where to go on a winter yacht sharing escape in the Mediterranean.

Mediterranean yacht cruises in winter: Best destinations to explore

Elba

For those of you not familiar with Elba, this beautiful Italian island will not disappoint. Equally as stunning and perhaps even more enchanting than the better-known tourist spot of Santorini and Sicily, what many people don’t know is that Elba is a great place to visit all year round. 

From November until early March temperatures drop to around 8°C/46.4°F and there is a breeze from the south. However, these are also the driest months, with the sun shining almost every day and highlighting spectacular colours across the landscape. There will be no shortage of things to do as the weather turns cooler - there will simply be fewer people to compete with for space while enjoying these activities. 

Elba’s local produce is incredible all year round, but visiting in winter will tempt you to sample some of its richer offerings, from wild boar to fresh chestnuts, and not forgetting the island’s ‘ drunken cake’ Schiacciata Ubriaca - a unique speciality of Elba enriched with the island’s own red dessert wine, Aleatico. Speaking of wines, Elba’s sprawling vineyards ensure that there is a range of local wines to please everyone - best enjoyed from the aft deck of your yacht.

Those looking to relax and unwind may be disappointed about the lack of lying on the beach on Mediterranean winter vacations, but not for long. Portoferraio, the first town you will see when arriving by yacht on Elba, has excellent spa facilities where treatments from aromatherapy massages to mud and seaweed wraps will help to bring you peace.

For more active holidayers, Elba’s landscape is ideal for running, hiking, diving, snorkelling and more. Trek between quaint villages and towns to discover their unique customs and traditions, or climb Mount Capanne to admire Elba’s beauty from above. 

The winter months are arguably also the best time to really get to grips with Elba’s dramatic history, from the Medici’s family’s influence to Napoleon’s exile. Historic monuments, fortresses and churches are typically open throughout winter, along with Ginevro mine - the only underground mine on Elba that tourists can still visit - and you will be able to soak up this information at your leisure, before heading back to your yacht for a cosy evening in waited on by your staff, or for an evening out revelling in Elba’s nightlife.

Balearics 

When visiting the Balearics in winter, yacht guests can enjoy delightful mild temperatures of around 15°C/59°F, and the daily amount of sunshine will increase the later in winter you go, starting from four hours a day in December and rising to six hours in February. The number of tourists visiting the Balearics in winter has been slowly increasing over the last few years, with people catching on to the charm of visiting off-season, but these islands are still blissfully empty compared to the summer months.

From September to May, Mediterranean winter vacations in the Balearic Islands can offer culture, sport, heritage and art, excellent gastronomy, nature and hiking, bird watching, and more. Divers have their pick of incredible spots, from the UNESCO Ses Salines Nature Park and Es Freus Marine Reserve, to the Don Pedro shipwreck and the La Seca de Santa Eulalia, a dive site that features two sunken lighthouses.

If you’re here over Christmas you will also delight at the Balaerics’ festive decor, which sees pretty narrow streets dressed with sparkling lights and several religious festivals occurring over the yuletide period. 

Exploring the four main Balearic islands - Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca, Formentera - has never been easier than by yacht, allowing you to hop between all the best spots in a leisurely and luxurious fashion. 

Menorca moves at a particularly slow pace during the winter months, but this will be bliss for those who seek relaxation. Head to one of its dazzling yet low-key beaches, such as the beach of Turqueta, where a stroll can be combined with a picnic of local meats and cheeses and perhaps a glass of wine from a nearby vineyard. This is the simple life at its best. 

To book a Mediterranean yacht cruise for winter 2020 or 2021, contact our team today.