The Amalfi Coast is one of the most spectacular destinations in the entire Mediterranean. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1997, its 50 kilometers of coastline feature villages perched on vertical cliffs plunging into deep blue waters, cascading terraces of lemon groves, medieval cathedrals, and some of the finest cuisine in Italy.
From a superyacht, the Amalfi Coast reveals a beauty that the land route—narrow, winding, crowded in summer—can never offer. The SS163, the Strada Statale that runs along the coast, is considered one of Italy’s most dangerous roads during high season. From the deck of a superyacht, the same coastline unfolds in absolute silence and serenity—the colorful facades of Positano awakening at sunrise, the cliffs of Amalfi illuminated in late afternoon, the turquoise waters of coves inaccessible by road.
International Yachts Charter and Brokerage XXIII offers superyachts available for charter on the Amalfi Coast—with stops in Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, and Capri, STCW-certified crew, MYBA contract, and complete APA estimate within 48 hours.
The coast has been inhabited since ancient times—the Romans built their summer villas here, whose ruins are visible underwater in certain areas. In the 11th century, Amalfi was one of the four most powerful Maritime Republics in the Mediterranean, rivaling Genoa, Pisa, and Venice. Its table of measures—the Tavola Amalfitana—was the first maritime code of the Mediterranean, used until the 16th century.
Today, the coast concentrates within 50 kilometers several of the most photographed villages in the world, dozens of starred and Michelin restaurants, some of the most exclusive hotels in Europe—Le San Pietro di Positano, Villa Cimbrone in Ravello, Il San Pietro—and an irreducible Mediterranean quality of life.
Positano is the most photographed village on the Amalfi Coast—its colorful houses cascading from the clifftop down to the pebble beach, its zigzagging staircases, its bougainvillea spilling over the alleyways, its shops selling handcrafted artisanal sandals.
Anchoring off Positano at sunrise—when golden light illuminates the colorful facades and the village gradually awakens—is one of the most powerful visual experiences in the entire Mediterranean. This view—impossible to replicate from the road—is accessible only from the sea.
The tender drops you directly at Spiaggia Grande—a two-minute walk from Piazza dei Mulini and its restaurants. Spiaggia Grande is Positano’s central beach—black and white pebbles, colorful umbrellas, beach service. For those seeking more tranquility—Spiaggia del Fornillo, west of the village and accessible in 15 minutes on foot or 2 minutes by tender, is considerably quieter.
Positano’s finest tables:
Amalfi is the town that gives its name to the entire coast—and concentrates its richest history. Its Cathedral of Saint Andrew—founded in the 9th century, rebuilt in the 11th and 12th centuries in a unique Arab-Norman style—dominates the port from its 62 white marble steps. The Cloister of Paradise, adjacent to the cathedral, is one of the finest examples of medieval Mediterranean architecture.
The port of Amalfi welcomes tenders—superyachts anchor in the bay. The town can be explored entirely on foot from the port in 2 to 3 hours. The lemon-scented alleyways—the terraced agrumeti overlooking the town—and the shops selling limoncello and artisanal ceramics make this as much a gastronomic stop as a cultural one.
Not to be missed in Amalfi:
Ravello is perched 350 meters above the Ionian Sea—accessible by taxi from the port of Amalfi in 20 minutes. This altitude gives it a perspective on the coast that even coastal residents don’t have—the villages of Maiori, Minori, and Amalfi seen from above, the sea stretching to the horizon.
Its Villa Rufolo—built in the 13th century by a family of Amalfi merchants—and its Villa Cimbrone—transformed into one of Europe’s most exclusive luxury hotels—offer gardens and terraces that constitute two of the most spectacular views in all of Italy. Richard Wagner, D.H. Lawrence, Virginia Woolf, Greta Garbo—Ravello has attracted the most influential figures in recent history.
The Ravello Festival—July and August—is one of the most exclusive musical events of the Italian season. Open-air concerts in the gardens of Villa Rufolo, with the sea as backdrop.
Praiano and Furore are two villages less known than Positano—less crowded, more authentic, with coves accessible only by sea or by hundreds of steps from the road.
Praiano—a fishing village whose white houses cling to the cliff—hides in its rocks Cala del Gavitello and Marina di Praia, two small coves accessible by tender from the anchorage off the village.
Furore—the “village that doesn’t exist” according to its inhabitants—is carved into a cliff fissure. Its fjord—the Fiordo di Furore—is a rock crevasse where a river plunges into the sea. A tender anchorage in this fjord is one of the most surreal experiences on the Amalfi Coast.
Capri is 30 minutes by sea from Positano—and 45 minutes from Amalfi. The Amalfi Coast + Capri itinerary is the most requested Southern Italy charter—a week combining the wild beauty of the coast and the sophisticated elegance of Capri.
Typical 7-day itinerary:
Day 1—Arrival Positano. Anchorage off the village. Dinner at Il Tridente. Day 2—Positano. Spiaggia del Fornillo in the morning. Praiano in the afternoon. Fiordo di Furore at sunset. Day 3—Amalfi. Cathedral, Museo della Carta, market. Taxi up to Ravello. Dinner in Ravello. Day 4—Cruise to Capri. Anchorage off the Faraglioni. Grotta Azzurra by tender. Day 5—Capri. La Piazzetta. Marina Piccola. Dinner at Il Riccio. Day 6—Return to Positano. Secret coves between Capri and Positano—Li Galli (Rudolf Nureyev’s private islets). Day 7—Amalfi. Morning stroll. Departure late morning.
Pompeii and Herculaneum—the two Roman cities buried under the ashes of Vesuvius in 79 AD—are accessible by car from the port of Salerno or Naples, 1.5 hours by sea from Positano. Our captain coordinates the land transfer from the port.
Pompeii is one of the most important archaeological sites in the world—20 hectares of intact Roman city beneath the ashes, with houses, shops, frescoes, and baths preserved. A full day is needed to tour it.
The coves between Positano and Amalfi—Cala del Gavitello, Marina di Praia, Grotta dello Smeraldo—are accessible only from the sea. Snorkeling in the clear waters of the Punta Campanella marine reserve—at the western tip of the coast, facing Capri—reveals exceptional marine biodiversity.
Our crew accompanies guests snorkeling from the tender. For scuba diving, our captain knows the local PADI-certified centers.
The Grotta dello Smeraldo—east of Amalfi—is a sea cave whose waters glow with an intense emerald green, an optical effect similar to Capri’s Grotta Azzurra but accessible by tender directly from the anchorage. Entry is by rowboat inside the cave.
Naples—1.5 hours by sea from Positano—offers one of the densest concentrations of cultural heritage in Europe. The National Archaeological Museum (Pompeii collections), the UNESCO-listed historic quarter, the pizzerias of Spaccanapoli (authentic Neapolitan pizza), the Royal Palace. Our captain coordinates transfers from the port of Naples.
| Yacht | LOA | Draft | Highlights | Low Season Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABELY | 33 m | 2.00 m | Access to secluded coves | €28,000/wk |
| RAY | 32 m | 2.71 m | Shallow draft, Fiordo di Furore | €90,000/wk |
| ASCENSION | 37 m | 2.50 m | Speed, Capri transit 30 min | €100,000/wk |
| ANNAMIA | 43 m | 3.00 m | 12 guests, prestige | €120,000/wk |
| RILASSATA | 49.8 m | 2.25 m | Optimal draft, ultra-premium | €210,000/wk |
| Category | LOA | Low Season | High Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Yacht | 20-25 m | €10,000 – €22,000/wk | €18,000 – €40,000/wk |
| Motor Yacht | 25-35 m | €22,000 – €60,000/wk | €40,000 – €100,000/wk |
| Superyacht | 35-45 m | €55,000 – €130,000/wk | €90,000 – €220,000/wk |
| Mega Yacht | 45-55 m | €110,000 – €250,000/wk | €190,000 – €400,000/wk |
Estimated APA: 25 to 28% of base rate. Port fees on the Amalfi Coast are moderate—anchorages in the bays of Positano and Amalfi are inexpensive compared to Monaco or Porto Cervo.
May and June—the absolute recommendation for the Amalfi Coast. The SS163 road is still manageable without summer traffic jams, restaurants have availability without weeks-ahead reservations, the light is exceptional, the water is already 20-21°C. The lemon trees are in bloom—the fragrance that fills the coast in the morning is unforgettable.
July-August—high season. Positano and Amalfi are very crowded from land—but from a superyacht, the land-based crowds disappear. The coves remain accessible only from the sea, anchorages are available. The sea is 25-26°C. Restaurant reservations well in advance essential.
September—the choice of connoisseurs. Water still at 24°C, summer crowds gone, restaurants available, magnificent autumn light. The sfusato amalfitano lemon trees—IGP-certified—are in full production. Artisanal autumn limoncello is the best of the year.
October—end of season but still beautiful. Water at 22°C, coast nearly deserted, low-season rates. The Ravello Festival sometimes extends into October.
| Yacht | LOA | Draft | Highlights | Low Season Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ABELY | 33 m | 2.00 m | Unrestricted Portofino port access | €38,000/week |
| RAY | 32 m | 2.71 m | Explorer, Cinque Terre accessible | €90,000/week |
| ASCENSION | 37 m | 2.50 m | Monaco → Portofino in 5h | €100,000/week |
| ANNAMIA | 43 m | 3.00 m | 12 passengers, prestige, Santa Margherita | €120,000/week |
| RILASSATA | 49.8 m | 2.25 m | 4,000 NM range, Sardinia transit | €210,000/week |
| Category | LOA | Low Season | High Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor Yacht | 20-25 m | €10,000 – €22,000/week | €18,000 – €38,000/week |
| Motor Yacht | 25-35 m | €22,000 – €60,000/week | €40,000 – €90,000/week |
| Superyacht | 35-45 m | €55,000 – €120,000/week | €90,000 – €200,000/week |
| Mega Yacht | 45-55 m | €110,000 – €230,000/week | €190,000 – €385,000/week |
Estimated APA: 25 to 28% of the base rate — port fees in Portofino and Santa Margherita are moderate compared to the French Riviera.
May and June — the absolute recommendation for Portofino. The vegetation is lush, the light is exceptional, the port is calm, and restaurants are available. Water temperature 18-20°C — perfect for snorkeling in the marine reserve. Low season rates.
July-August — high season. Portofino is livelier but retains its elegance. Berths are in high demand — early morning arrival is mandatory. The Cinque Terre are crowded during the day — prioritize early morning visits from the tender.
September — the connoisseur’s choice. Water still at 24°C, summer crowds gone, restaurants available, magnificent autumnal light on the colorful facades. The marine reserve anchorages are free. Mid-season rates.
Yes—the bay of Positano offers a well-protected anchorage from prevailing winds. Vessels up to 50 meters anchor comfortably. In high season—July-August—arrival before 10 AM is recommended to secure the best position off the village.
The Grotta dello Smeraldo is accessible by tender—entry by rowboat inside the cave is managed by locals. Our captain coordinates the visit from the anchorage.
Absolutely—this is our most requested Southern Italy itinerary. Capri is 30-45 minutes from Positano. One week allows you to cover Positano, Amalfi, Ravello, the secret coves AND Capri without rushing.
Yes—navigation is excellent in summer on the Amalfi Coast. The prevailing wind—the Maestrale—can blow in the afternoon but remains manageable for superyachts. Our captain adjusts the itinerary according to weather forecasts.
The Amalfi Coast in May and June offers exceptional value. July-August should be booked 3 to 4 months in advance. September is often available at short notice with low-season rates.
