Villasimius and the Capo Carbonara Marine Protected Area in south-east Sardinia offer family yacht charter in some of the calmest and clearest coastal water on the island. The protected marine reserve limits boat speed and anchoring in certain zones, but creates an environment where fish, sea turtles and grouper are abundant enough for children to observe without diving equipment. The beaches fringing the reserve are shallow and sandy, easy for young swimmers. Family yachts departing Villasimius range from motor catamarans with wide cockpit nets for children to larger flybridge motor yachts with multiple twin-berth cabins and a crew of four or five. The relatively calm south-east coast means passages between anchorages rarely produce the north coast maestrale swell, which children and families new to yacht travel appreciate. The Villasimius town beaches are within tender distance of the main anchorages. Charter rates for family yachts at Villasimius run from around 60,000 to 500,000 euros per week before the advance provisioning allowance of approximately 30 percent. The marina charges moderate berth fees, and families often anchor overnight in the outer reserve zones at no cost. Provisioning from Villasimius market or the larger Cagliari hypermarkets keeps weekly food costs manageable. June and September offer sea temperatures above 22 degrees with the summer crowds gone. A week from Villasimius for a family divides naturally into the marine reserve circuit and a coastal run. The first days anchor around Capo Carbonara, visiting Punta Molentis sandy spit, Isola dei Cavoli and Isola Serpentara, where the water clarity allows children to snorkel from the yacht ladder without fins. Mid-week the boat moves west to the Chia lagoon beaches, where a flat-water estuary full of flamingos is a consistent draw. Nora Roman site near Pula rounds out the cultural dimension of the week.
