Capri to the Amalfi Coast — A Week's Charter the Right Way

Capri and the Amalfi Coast are the most-photographed week in the Tyrrhenian. The route is short — barely thirty nautical miles end to end — but the density of viewpoints, ravines and cliff villages is the highest in the Mediterranean. The week is more about restraint than movement; the office's version slows the calendar down, stays at the Faraglioni for two nights, and lets Positano be a long dinner rather than a stop on a list.

The embark — Naples or Castellammare

Most charters embark at Naples Mergellina, the private-yacht marina ten minutes from Naples Capodichino airport (NAP / LIRN). Castellammare di Stabia, fifteen miles south, is the alternative for larger hulls (45m+) and for direct embarks off a Sorrento private villa. The office picks based on yacht size and on whether the brief includes a Sorrento night ashore.

Capri — the two-night anchor

Capri is the visual centre of the week. The Marina Grande berth on the north side carries yachts up to about 50m on the outer quay; bookings are placed through the harbourmaster weeks ahead. For larger hulls and for the office's quieter clients, the anchorage off Marina Piccola on the south side or directly under the Faraglioni delivers the better view and the calmer night.

• Marina Grande (north) — alongside, walk to the town funicular and Piazzetta, ferries and day-tripper traffic until 18:00
• Marina Piccola (south) — anchorage, tender into the bay, the Da Luigi club lunch, the Faraglioni view from the dinner table aboard
• Faraglioni anchorage — east of Marina Piccola, drift through the natural arch in the middle stack, sheltered by Mount Solaro from the north winds
• Anacapri end — the west side, anchor at the Blue Grotto and Punta Carena for the lighthouse sundown

The Amalfi side — Positano, Amalfi, Ravello

The Amalfi Coast is a 25-mile cliffside between Positano and Salerno. The yacht moves slowly along the coast each day; the guest disembarks for lunch ashore. The standard table rotation is Le Sirenuse Champagne and Oyster Bar (Positano), Da Gemma or Da Adolfo (also Positano), the Belvedere of Hotel Caruso (Ravello, overland from the boat at Amalfi port), La Caravella (Amalfi town), and the chef tasting at Don Alfonso (Sant'Agata, overland from Marina di Cassano).

• Positano — anchor 100–200m off the beach, tender into the pontoon, walk into town. The single-photograph village.
• Amalfi town — small harbour, accessible to yachts under about 35m alongside; larger hulls anchor outside
• Ravello — overland from Amalfi by car, lunch at Hotel Caruso or Belmond Hotel Caruso's Belvedere Restaurant
• Praiano — quieter alternative to Positano, the Africana cave lounge for sundown drinks
• Conca dei Marini — the Emerald Grotto, half a mile west of Amalfi town

The wider route — Ischia and Procida

A week is enough time to also visit Ischia (the larger volcanic island across the Bay of Naples) and Procida (the smaller pastel island made famous by the Talented Mr Ripley). Ischia has thermal waters at Negombo and Sorgeto; Procida is a quiet half-day stop. The office adds these when the brief is "Capri but less crowded."

The seasonal window

May and early June: cooler water (19–22°C), reliable light, the Amalfi coast in flowers, fewer day-trippers. Late June through August: warm water (25–26°C), crowded ferries, restaurants at saturation. September is the office's favourite window — warm water, quieter Capri, the chestnut and citrus harvest in Ravello. October sees swell from the south-west and the season closes by mid-month.

The aviation routing

Naples Capodichino (NAP / LIRN) handles jets up to G650 on the published slot system. Salerno-Costa d'Amalfi (QSR / LIRI) is the small alternative on the east end of the coast — useful for Sorrento or Salerno embarks but limited slot windows. For the office's clients arriving from northern Europe, NAP is the standard; for the southern turnaround toward Sicily or Greece, the routing splits.

The week as the office books it

• Sat — embark Naples Mergellina, slow run to Capri, anchor Marina Piccola for the night
• Sun — Capri day — the Faraglioni swim, lunch at Da Luigi or Il Riccio, sundown drinks at La Fontelina
• Mon — Anacapri end and Blue Grotto, lunch aboard, evening into Capri town from Marina Grande
• Tue — eastbound to Positano, anchor off the beach, lunch ashore, dinner at Le Sirenuse
• Wed — Amalfi town and Ravello overland, lunch at Caruso, dinner aboard
• Thu — quiet day at Praiano or Conca dei Marini, swim, lunch aboard, sundown at Africana
• Fri — return westbound, Ischia day at Negombo thermal baths, dinner ashore or aboard
• Sat — disembark Naples