Porto Cervo is the capital of the Costa Smeralda, developed in the 1960s under the direction of the Aga Khan and now the most celebrated superyacht destination in the Mediterranean. Its deep-water marina accommodates vessels up to 90 metres at pontoons moments from the Piazzetta, the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda and a dense cluster of restaurants and boutiques that attract an international crowd throughout the summer season. Motor yachts available for charter here cover a broad range, from sporty 25-metre flybridge cruisers to flag-ship vessels above 60 metres with beach clubs, helipads and onboard cinema rooms. The fleet skews toward high-specification Italian and Northern European construction, with many yachts built by Benetti, Sanlorenzo, Feadship and Perini Navi. Crews of five to twelve are common, and provisioning quality matches the harbour context. Weekly charter rates for motor yachts in Porto Cervo range from around 60,000 to over 1,000,000 euros before running costs. Demand at peak season is high, so advance booking of six to twelve months is routine for the best vessels. The advance provisioning allowance of roughly 30 percent covers fuel, food, drinks and the above-average berth fees Porto Cervo charges during July and August. From Porto Cervo the itinerary options spread across the northern Costa Smeralda. Capriccioli and Liscia Ruja are within 20 minutes by tender, offering broad sandy beaches and clear shallow water. The La Maddalena Archipelago opens to the northeast, with the anchorage at Cala Garibaldi on Caprera giving shelter when the maestrale blows. South along the coast, Cala di Volpe and Cala Petra Ruja are favoured lunch stops for shorter day runs.
