San Diego Bay

Glorietta Bay

The USS Midway

Point Loma

La Jolla

Mission Bay

Channel Islands

July 4TH

Chartering in San Diego

San Diego is an ideal destination for sun seekers due to its beaches and warm climate. You can spend the day soaking in the sun at Coronado Beach, yacht to the La Jolla Cove or take the water toys out. You can also paddle around the largest man-made aquatic park in the United States, Mission Bay, and jet ski in the San Diego Bay.

San Diego, California, situated on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, is known as “America’s Finest City.” San Diego is famous for its amazing weather; miles of white-sand beaches; its immense Balboa Park, home to the well-known San Diego Zoo; art galleries and studios; museums; gardens; its deep harbor that boasts a large active naval fleet and the USS Midway, a war aircraft-carrier turned into a public museum; and the world’s largest man-made seawater aquatic park, Mission Bay.
Your YachtLife charter specialist will assist in planning your bespoke itinerary, so the below should be considered as inspiration for your yacht charter in San Diego. We have created a seven-day Southern California yachting itinerary you may enjoy.


Sail through San Diego Bay

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.


Drop Anchor at Glorietta Bay

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.


Step aboard The USS Midway

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.


Admire Point Loma

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.


Lounge in luxury at La Jolla

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

Cruise to Mission Bay

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.


Discover Catalina Island and the Channel Islands

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.


Watching the July 4th Fireworks aboard a Private Yacht

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.


How to Charter a Yacht in San Diego?

Chartering a private yacht in San Diego should be simple and stress-free.

Whether we are working with you to create the perfect itinerary or procuring water toys or provisions, at YachtLife, we do our absolute best to ensure your yacht charter in San Diego will be one to remember.

We focus on the smallest details so you can focus on what matters most — enjoying your San Diego charter vacation.

If you are looking to charter tomorrow or planning your next vacation, YachtLife is here to help you find the perfect yacht for any occasion.

Go to our website or mobile apps (Android and iOS) and browse our hand-selected inventory of yachts to charter in San Diego. View photos, specs and pricing, and reserve without having to call a broker.

If you have any questions or need help planning, our team of professional yacht brokers is more than happy to assist in finding the perfect yacht for your charter vacation.