Cannes Yacht Day-Trip Itinerary Along the Riviera
Depart from the Vieux Port and cover roughly 30 nautical miles of coastline, from the sheltered Lérins anchorage east to Cap d'Antibes and back along the Esterel shore.
From the port outwards
- 01
09:30 · Cast off — Vieux Port de Cannes
Board at the Vieux Port's Quai Laubeuf where your skipper briefs the day's route. Morning departure avoids the ferry wash that builds after ten. The tender is already lowered for island drop-offs. Grab an espresso from the galley as the crew clears the harbour entrance and turns south toward the islands.
- 02
10:15 · Swim and snorkel — Île Sainte-Marguerite
Anchor on the north side of Île Sainte-Marguerite where the sandy bottom holds well in 4 to 6 metres of depth. The water is clear enough for snorkelling along the Posidonia beds. Take the tender ashore to walk the eucalyptus-shaded trail to the Fort Royal, then return for a freshwater rinse on the swim platform before the next leg.
- 03
13:00 · Waterfront lunch — Restaurant de Bacon, Cap d'Antibes
Cruise east past Golfe-Juan toward Cap d'Antibes. The crew radios ahead for a quayside table at Restaurant de Bacon, known for its bouillabaisse and direct sea views. Anchor in the small bay just off the point; the tender ride to the restaurant jetty takes under three minutes. Allow ninety minutes for a full Provençal lunch.
- 04
16:00 · Coastal cruise and aperitivo — Plage de la Croisette
Head back west along the Cannes seafront. The captain slows past the Croisette beach clubs so guests can take in the waterfront from the sea side. Drop anchor 200 metres offshore, lay out the paddle boards, and have the hostess serve chilled rosé with local tapenade on the aft deck as the afternoon light warms the limestone façades.
- 05
19:00 · Sunset and nightcap — Esterel anchorage, Calanque de Maubois
The final leg runs 8 nautical miles west to the Esterel massif. Tuck into the Calanque de Maubois where red porphyry cliffs catch the last sun. The bay is sheltered from the evening breeze and deep enough for yachts up to 35 metres. Linger for a nightcap as the sky shifts colour, then cruise back to port under navigation lights, arriving by half past nine.
About Cannes
Cannes sits at the centre of the western Riviera's finest cruising ground. From the Vieux Port or Port Pierre Canto, a private yacht charter puts the Lérins Islands just fifteen minutes off the bow. Head east and you reach Antibes within an hour, Nice in under two, and Monaco in roughly three. Westward, the volcanic red cliffs of the Esterel massif unfold across a coastline with deep, sheltered bays ideal for anchoring. The core season runs from May through October, with peak demand concentrated around the Cannes Film Festival in May and the height of summer in July and August.
The local fleet ranges from agile 12-metre day boats suited to a half-day swim stop, up to 40-metre-plus motor yachts equipped for multi-day coastal passages. Most vessels Med-moor stern-to along the quays, so boarding is quick and discreet even on busy weekends. Sea conditions inside the Golfe de la Napoule stay relatively calm through summer, though a light afternoon swell can build when the Mistral pushes south. Ashore, the Marché Forville provides fresh Provençal produce that an onboard chef can turn into a lunch spread while guests swim off Île Sainte-Marguerite.
Couples looking for a quiet afternoon at anchor, families with children who need water toys and shade, corporate groups hosting clients during the Lions festival — each profile finds a vessel and route that fits. A compelling first charter from this port is a full-day loop: depart at nine, swim off Île Saint-Honorat, lunch at anchor near the Esterel's Calanque du Petit Caneiret, and return along the coast as the light softens. Talk to our brokers to shape a yacht rental itinerary around your dates and group size.