Sail the Unexpected: Yacht Destinations to Watch in 2026

With 2025 soon coming to a close, now is the perfect time to start planning your next yacht charter. While there’s plenty to love when it comes to sailing the Greek Islands, the French Riviera, the Virgin Islands, and other popular spots across the globe, if you’re looking for something a bit different, you might want to consider more of the up-and-coming yachting destinations to visit in 2026.

There are plenty of extraordinary places that go beyond that well-beaten path, from less-visited sun-soaked archipelagos in the Caribbean to the wilds of Chilean Patagonia. Among these enticing voyages, you’re sure to find inspiration for booking.

Montenegro

Montenegro is often overshadowed by its more visited neighbors, but this up-and-coming yachting destination brings the chance to immerse yourself in stunning scenery that includes dramatic fjord-like bays and sandy beaches, as well as explore intriguing historic landmarks. As it’s slowly being discovered, development is increasing, with new openings in its yachting hub, Porto Montenegro. This waterfront area is like a town within the town of Tivat, offering a large marina for superyachts, upscale boutiques, and fine-dining restaurants. AURA Beach, its new beach club with a luxury, bohemian-style vibe, opened in the summer. In early 2026, two more venues, Folie and Attiko, are scheduled to open. 

Yachts typically cruise to the spectacular Bay of Kotor to explore Kotor’s medieval Old Town before visiting beaches along the Adriatic coast, including the Budva Riviera. Some of the other highlights include the traditional village of Bigova, renowned for its seafood eateries, and Perast, featuring 16 beautifully preserved Baroque palaces and Our Lady of the Rocks, a unique man-made islet topped by the enchanting Our Lady of the Rocks Church.

Elaphiti Islands, Croatia

Croatia has become a top destination for yachting, but most sail between Dubrovnik and Split, visiting popular islands like Hvar and Korcula in between. For something different and a chance to escape the crowds, consider the Elaphiti archipelago. Made up of 13 islands and islets, three of which are inhabited, Sipan, Lopud, and Kolocep, they lie just seven nautical miles northwest of Dubrovnik. Most depart from Dubrovnik, making it easy to explore Croatia’s most popular city before sailing into tranquility. 

You might begin with Kolocep, the southernmost inhabited island, with just two settlements, both offering authentic charms with pedestrianized cobbled streets to wander. The beaches are the star attraction, tucked into secluded coves, all boasting stunningly clear turquoise water for swimming or snorkeling. Car-free Lopud is covered with lemon trees and pine forest, while picturesque bays line its shores. Sunj is one of the most famous beaches, as one of the few made up of sand instead of pebbles, with water that’s calm and safe for children to splash around. Sipan is known for its rich history, with the ruins of a Roman villa, but it also offers shady, peaceful coves with postcard-perfect beaches and lagoons. 

Belize

Belize is an excellent alternative to the typical crowded Caribbean yachting destinations. Ideal for island-hopping, there are more than 400 islands and coral atolls. You’ll also have access to the Belize Barrier Reef, the world’s second-largest reef system. It brings the opportunity for world-class snorkeling and diving among vibrant coral, abundant marine life like rays, sea turtles, manatees, and all sorts of tropical fish. The famous Blue Hole, a top destination for divers with unique underwater cave formations and several species of sharks, can be explored here. There are also well-preserved Mayan ruins that are easily accessible from the coast and a rich cultural heritage that includes a blend of Mayan, Creole, and Garifuna cultures. 

Most seven-day yacht itineraries sail round-trip from Placencia, focusing on the sheltered waters inside the barrier reef, with access to islands, cayes, and marine reserves. Ranguana Caye is renowned for its beaches, while Silk Cayes and Laughing Bird Caye offer outstanding snorkeling and diving. The Gladden Split area is known for world-class fishing for species like Mahi Mahi and Wahoo, while Lighthouse Reef is typically visited on longer trips, home to the Blue Hole. 

British Columbia, Canada

It may not be a place for sunbathing and swimming with hot summer temperatures, but British Columbia offers wild and untamed nature with some of the world’s most pristine islands and coastlines. Many itineraries sail from Victoria, the B.C. capital on Vancouver Island.

June through August offers the best conditions for sailing with daily high temperatures averaging around 70 degrees. 

Victoria is an ideal departure point for the Gulf Islands, bringing the chance to hop between destinations like Salt Spring with its thriving art scene and markets, and Galiano with unique geological features like the sandstone formations at Bellhouse Provincial Park. Mayne Island is also worth visiting, offering peaceful anchorages. The more adventurous might journey further north to the Broughton Archipelago and Johnstone Strait, one of the best destinations for viewing orcas, humpbacks, and all sorts of other wildlife. 

Egypt

An emerging superyacht destination, the Red Sea borders Egypt’s eastern coast, offering a mostly untapped gem for luxury and adventure that often includes world-class diving. Popular itineraries typically focus on the northern route, with departures from Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh. You might explore Tawila and the Giftun Islands, with stops for diving, snorkeling, and relaxing on the beach. 

Tiran Island is particularly renowned for its diving sites with abundant marine life like schools of barracuda, dolphins, sea turtles, and various reef sharks. From June through September, you’ll have a good chance of spotting hammerhead sharks too. Elphinstone Reef near Marsa Alam is also home to an impressive array of marine creatures and vibrant coral. It’s also possible to include some land excursions to ancient sites like the Valley of the Kings near the Nile River city of Luxor.

The Fjords of Patagonia, Chile

Located in the southern hemisphere, the Patagonian fjords along the southern spine of Chile are best explored between December and May. It’s an ideal destination for yachters who want to immerse themselves in one of the most rugged, remote wilderness regions on Earth, accessed only by air or water. It’s home to iconic national parks like Torres del Paine with granite spires towering over 6,500 feet, carved out by glaciers that sweep down to valleys and hang over cliffs. You can go glacier trekking, paddle in a kayak beneath the dramatic cliffs, take a guided horseback ride, or hike to breathtaking viewpoints, and spot elusive wildlife. 

Many itineraries begin in Puerto Natales, sailing through the fjords while watching for wildlife like swans and condors along the way before continuing to Bernardo O’Higgins National Park to see Balmaceda Glacier. A Zodiac can bring you along the Serrano River for stunning views of waterfalls and the Torres del Paine massif. 

The Azores, Portugal

Lying in the middle of the Atlantic between the Portugal mainland and the U.S., the Azores are made up of nine major islands with dramatic volcanic landscapes and lush scenery. While they’re not a busy destination for a yacht charter, they’ve become increasingly popular with so many things to see and do, including hiking volcanoes, mountain biking, admiring geysers, and soaking in natural hot springs.

Popular itineraries often connect the central islands of Pico, Terceira, São Jorge, and Faial. Pico is one of the best for whale watching, home to Portugal’s tallest mountain, as well as being a UNESCO-listed site for its unique vineyards. Highlights on Terceira include the UNESCO World Heritage city of Angra do Heroísmo, swimming in the Biscoitos natural pools, and visiting volcanic wonders like the Furnas do Enxofre. São Jorge has a volcanic cave, dramatic cliffs, and natural pools for swimming, while Faial is famous for Horta Marina, a famous stopover with colorful murals. 

Lofoten Islands, Norway

Northerly latitudes have been gaining popularity in the yacht scene with dramatic landscapes that include everything from deep fjords to towering peaks. The Lofoten Islands are an ideal pick with opportunities to kayak in sheltered waters, embark on epic treks, witness wildlife like orcas, seals, and puffins, and visit charming villages with classic red-painted robuer (traditional Norwegian fishermen’s cabins). 

You might start your journey in Reine, a small village perched at the edge of the Reinefjord looking out to jagged mountain peaks, before continuing to the island of Værøy for a hike to view sea eagles and puffins. The traditional village of Nusfjord, part of the inner islands, has a harbor with historic wooden buildings, museums, and a lighthouse. Unstad is famous for surfing, with lessons available for those who want to learn, while a hike to the top of the small island of Skrova delivers panoramic views. Trollfjorden is another highlight with sea eagles often spotted, while Svolvær makes the perfect conclusion as the largest town in the Lofoftens, tucked between the mountains and the sea. 

Cocos Islands, Costa Rica

The remote Cocos Islands lie 340 miles off Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast and are renowned for world-class diving. Most yacht itineraries are focused on the underwater world, with multiple daily dives at sites like Big Dos Amigos and Alcyone. There are no permanent residents in the archipelago, with only park rangers staying in the national park, along with the occasional researchers and volunteers. That means you’ll have to spend your nights onboard, occasionally disembarking to visit lush, mountainous islands with cloud forests to hike or swim at waterfalls. 

The islands are surrounded by waters that are packed with marine life, including whales, dolphins, giant mantas, eagle rays, whale sharks, and numerous shark species. White-tip reef sharks are very common, with large numbers often seen resting on the sandy bottom at sites like Lobster Rock. But many come for the hammerheads, with Cocos famous for its massive schools, especially at sites like Dirty Rock and Manuelita.

Japan

Japan is probably not a country that comes to mind as a yacht destination, with few superyachts gracing its waters, but with more than 7,000 islands and the opportunity to sail year-round, an increasing number are discovering the delights of cruising here. You’ll have many choices, like Okinawa and the Yaeyama Islands, an archipelago often compared to the Maldives without the crowds. Best explored from March through November, you can look forward to plenty of warmth and sunshine for swimming, snorkeling, and diving. Its crystal-clear blue waters and coral reefs are inhabited by a wealth of marine life, while chalk-white sand beaches provide the perfect place to relax. 

The Seto Inland Sea is ideal for art lovers, home to islands renowned for their modern art, like Naoshima, as well as their scenic anchorages, surrounded by citrus groves and lush hills. This is also where you’ll find Maabeshima, with quiet, rustic charm, quaint fishing villages, and a traditional atmosphere. But it may best be known for its feline population. One of the 11 “cat” islands in Japan, there are several dozen often hanging around Honura Port.