West Coast North American Yacht Charters

Yacht charter in and around the Canadian city of Vancouver offers a wide variety of experiences. Itineraries can include Vancouver itself, which includes the recently constructed Olympic Village, as well as the city of Victoria, which offers shops, restaurants, and historic hotels within easy walking distance of luxury charter yacht marinas. In between those cities are British Columbia’s Gulf Islands, some of which are a national park preserve. The region is filled with charming seaside villages, playful seals, and various species of nesting shorebirds.

The southern archipelago of Canada’s Gulf Islands connects to the U.S.-owned San Juan Islands, which are within easy cruising distance of Seattle, Washington. In the San Juans, luxury yacht charter guests will find small towns such as Roche Harbor for dining and shopping, as well as quiet coves and hiking trails on Sucia and Orcas islands. Fishing and crabbing are among the most interesting activities here, with catch often being harvested in plain view of a snow-capped mountain range.

During the winter months, many of the luxury charter yachts from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest move south to the western coast of Mexico and the Sea of Cortez, which is sometimes called the Gulf of California because of its proximity to that U.S. state and the Baja California Peninsula. The body of water is so unique that in 2005, nearly 250 of its islands and coastal regions were declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Among its listed attributes are that it offers “rugged islands with high cliffs and sandy beaches, which contrast with the brilliant reflection from the desert and surrounding turquoise waters.” A luxury yacht charter paradise, indeed.