Catamaran Charter in French Riviera

A catamaran vacation on the French Riviera is the ideal choice for those looking for the right mix of delightful towns with attention to every detail, bucolic views surrounded by lavender, and a dreamy sea in a thousand coves with Mediterranean charm. In fact, this stretch of sea is home to some of Europe's most beautiful marinas such as Nice, Cannes and Saint Tropez, but also heavenly bays among the archipelagos Lerins and Hyeres, not forgetting the overwhelming and little-known beauty of the Calanques.

Monte Carlo to Cannes

The starting point of the French Riviera is not geographically well defined, so we choose to begin the description from one of the most famous cities, Monte Carlo. The Principality of Monaco has succeeded in attracting capital, making it one of the states with the highest per capita wealth in the world, and this wealth is reflected in the city's clean streets. A visit to the Prince's Palace and its collection of classic cars is not to be missed, while in the evening you can suit-up like James Bond and place your bets in the historic Monte Carlo Casino.

What really makes the French Riviera special are its small towns, with their distinctive charm and teeming with life. Nice, the first in order of appearance, overlooks the sea from the characteristic Promenade des Anglais. The city is ideally divided into two equally beautiful parts by its central square, Place Massena: on the one hand the ancient alleys that we find in so many seaside towns, and on the other an elegant 19th-century neighborhood. Even the nearby Antibes lives with a contrasting duality; the port is the capital of French boating (you will find some of the world's largest super-yachts) while the old town has remained as it was a hundred years ago, with its pastel-hued facades and flower-decked balconies.

Finished the Film Festival that draws the eyes of the world in May, Cannes goes back to being a beautiful town to be discovered. In summer, most of the activity moves to the Croisette, squeezed between luxury boutiques and the deep blue water of the bay. Just a few minutes into the catamaran ride, the scenery changes dramatically in the Îles des Lerins, a tiny, sparsely populated archipelago full of pristine bays surrounded by maritime pines. In the isalnd of Sainte Marguerite you can walk among the bougainvillea and visit the impressive Fort Royale where the story of the Iron Mask is set, while on Saint Honorat stands a secluded monastery, where Cistercian monks produce delicious wines and spirits using traditional methods.

Saint Raphael to Porquerolle

We will continue the French Riviera catamaran cruise sailing under the Esterel Massif, which changes the landscape by dyeing the rocks bright red. Dozens of bays await you here, some small and secluded while others with long sandy beaches, surrounding the beautiful little harbor of Saint Raphael. Walking along its typical markets you will have the perfect opportunity to buy lavender flowers, perfumes and natural soaps.

A few miles of sailing away we will stop at Saint Tropez, the hangout of many VIPs from all over Europe. The town overlooks a sheltered natural harbor, and is filled with high-class boutiques and restaurants, immersed in the typical Provençal atmosphere. The same bay is home to Port Grimaud, the Venice of the French Riviere, with its many canals outlining its marina.

From here on, the beaches are many and varied. We mention the famous Pampelonne, in which you can dance the evening away in the many waterfront clubs , and Cap Taillat, with much smaller and quieter bays punctuated by the rocks and the ubiquitous mediterranean scrub.

Among the places not to be missed we definitely include the Iles Hyeres, a true natural paradise. The largest and most famous is Porquerolle, where in the eponymous village one can savor a rare atmosphere of quiet, given the total absence of cars. The beaches on the northern side are the most sheltered (but busy) ones, such as the spectacular Plage d'Argent, while to the south are a myriad of smaller, wilder coves. The other two islands in the archipelago are no different, Port Cros is an integral nature reserve rich in biodiversity, while theIle du Levant is divided between an unreachable military part and a beautiful bathing part on which stands a large naturist village.

Marseille and the Calanques

Passed Cassis, a characteristic fishing harbor, we cross an uninhabited stretch of coastline surrounded by greenery in which we can explore dozens of coves known as Calanques, which run for hundreds of meters among the sheer cliffs above the sea. Sormiou is the deepest, in which you can explore a now-submerged cave containing cave paintings dating back some 30,000 years, while the Calanque d'En Vau will enrapture you with its turquoise water and spectacular rock formations.

Concluding our catamaran vacation on the French Riviera we find Marseille, the Naples of France, very chaotic but with undoubted charm. The old port is a crossroads full of cafes and all sorts of places, immersed in the daily hustle and bustle. Behind it you can explore the neighborhood Le Panier with its maze of alleyways typical of any large city facing the sea, combining the popular and more artistic souls of the city. Finally, to conclude, we recommend admiring the view of this intriguing metropolis from the Cathedral of Notre Dame de La Garde.

Catamarans for Charter in French Riviera

The following catamarans are available for your catamaran cruise on the French Riviera:

Catamaran charter info in French Riviera

• When: Year-round.
• Catamarans: Lagoon 40, Lagoon 400 S2, Lagoon 42, Lagoon 450 F.
• Prices: Pricelist.
• Where: Check-in and check-out at Port Grimaud or Bormes-les-Mimosas, near Hyeres
• Duration: Weekend (except June to September) or weekly charter with embarkation on Saturday at 6 p.m., disembarkation the following Saturday at 9 a.m.
• Crew: Catamaran charter on the French Riviera with skipper and hostess, or in bareboat
• Reservations: email to info@mistralsailing.it or call the number +39 347 949 8966 (Luca)

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