Top Yachting Activities in San Diego

As you board your yacht charter in San Diego, begin sailing down the Embarcadero. On one side, you will find the walkable harborfront filled with shops, small parks and a San Diego skyline view. On the other side, you’ll see Coronado Island and the Naval Air Station North Island.

Sailing through San Diego Bay provides you with a different perspective of the city. You can view the San Diego-Coronado Bridge from the water; spot wildlife like pelicans, herons and sea lions; and cruise by landmarks and ships immortalized in movies and popular culture.

Just past the San Diego-Coronado Bridge, you’ll find what is probably the best-known rendezvous point for yachts in San Diego — Glorietta Bay and the grand Hotel del Coronado. On any given weekend, you’ll find dozens of yachts anchored in the bay and tied up together. You can jump from the swim platform into the shallow water and party with friends or relax on the flybridge in what is usually a high-energy atmosphere. It’s not uncommon to see people take their jet skis to visit nearby yachts or race along the coast. For dining, we recommend docking at the Bluewater Boathouse Seafood Grill for the best fresh local menu seafood in the area.

If you are interested in naval aviation, tender ashore to visit the USS Midway, the longest-serving aircraft carrier in the world. It is the largest museum dedicated to aircraft carriers and naval aviation. The USS Midway was commissioned in 1945 and served in the Vietnam War and Operation Desert Storm. It is now permanently moored at San Diego’s Embarcadero.

Before reaching Point Loma, you will sail past Broadway Pier, where you will find several fantastic dining options. As you sail out of San Diego Bay, you will arrive at Point Loma, a long, rugged, and historically important peninsula; this was the landing point for the first European expedition to what we now know as the West Coast of the United States.

Cruising north from San Diego Bay, you will reach La Jolla, home to an upscale oceanfront community. Here you will find luxury boutiques, waterfront restaurants, the world-renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course, and some small beaches where seals and sea lions relax on the sand.

The best part of this area is the water-related activities you will be able to engage in. Drop anchor to:

• • Enjoy the water and your private yacht charter’s slide
• • Go paddle boarding or kayaking along the La Jolla shores
• • Snorkel in San Diego’s coastal waters
• • Enjoy a guided snorkel adventure tour of La Jolla Cove
• • Explore the marine life at La Jolla Cove while scuba diving
• • Swim and snorkel with the leopard sharks at La Jolla
• • Venture to one of the San Diego sea caves
• • Take a sunset sail along La Jolla’s coast, where you will be able to watch some great surfing in action

As you continue sailing north, you will arrive at Mission Bay, a 4,235-acre aquatic park. It is one of the world’s largest man-made saltwater bays and is full of many protected marinas, sandy beaches and water activities. A channel connects the bay to the Pacific Ocean, allowing for boats and yachts to navigate in and out of the area freely.

This is the biggest San Diego hub for water activities. Visitors can experience everything from stand-up paddle boarding to jet skiing. A boat rental in Mission Bay will provide you with the best of both worlds: You will be able to explore the mesmerizing canals and step ashore to visit the bay’s numerous land-based attractions, such as the Sea World.

One of the perks of a private yacht charter in San Diego is the ability to explore one of Southern California’s natural beauties: the Channel Islands — an eight-island archipelago along the Santa Barbara Channel in the Pacific Ocean. It’s the perfect spot for a charter vacation.

Rent a yacht in San Diego to begin your vacation, and sail to one of the Channel Islands, Catalina Island. Catalina Island is known for its wildlife, dive sites, and Mt. Orizaba. Drop anchor at the resort town of Two Harbors for a fun day snorkeling in clear waters to observe Catalina’s thriving marine life, take the jet ski out for a spin, or step ashore at Descanso Beach in Avalon Bay.

The cruise from San Diego to Catalina Island should be for an overnight boat rental, as the cruise will take a couple of hours.

San Diego is one of the best places to celebrate Independence Day, as the city puts on a fantastic fireworks show over the bay. The display is one of the biggest in the country, and it is the perfect activity to be enjoyed with family and friends.

The best view of San Diego on the 4th of July is from the water, where you will be able to watch the fireworks on Mission Bay. You could also choose to enjoy the 4th of July celebrations in San Diego Harbor. But wherever you choose to watch the San Diego fireworks from, being on the water will provide you with undisturbed and private views of the show.

A yacht charter in San Diego is an experience not to be missed. It will make for lifelong memories for you and your guests. With a private boat charter you will enjoy this part of the world as it was meant to be seen — from the water. Explore the diversity this region has to offer, from Mission Bay to Coronado Island to its impressive natural beauty in the Channel Islands. 

Lounge aboard your luxury boat rental as you bask in the year-round sun and experience the exclusive Californian lifestyle.