As the global fleet grows, quiet spots are becoming
more difficult to find in popular cruising grounds

A continent-sized island between the Arctic and Atlantic oceans, this misunderstood land mass isn’t forgotten, but seldom considered a prime superyacht destination.

With swathes of icy tundra, midnight sun, the Northern Lights, small settlements of gable-roofed timber dwellings and gargantuan icebergs bobbing off its serrated coast, Greenland seems designed for the intrepid explorer. Considered one of the last remaining wildernesses, the vast glacier-strewn country has a reputation for a gruelling climate and challenging terrain – a slightly harsh and misconceived perception, but coupled with indirect travel routes, it has dissuaded many visitors.

Greenland’s craggy coastline is awash with Arctic nature, with polar bears, musk oxen and Arctic foxes scampering along the ice and 16 species of whales in the depths. But in spots like Ilimanaq, a small settlement within a UNESCO World Heritage Site on Greenland’s west coast, you can stay ashore in luxurious lodges in a seemingly uninhabited part of the world.

The chances of stumbling across other tourists here are slim, and given its vast size of 2.16 million square kilometres and population of just 56,600 (as of 2021), it’s unlikely you’ll come across many locals either. Greenland is, however, likely to experience something of a tourism surge after the start of direct US flights and an international airport scheduled to open in 2024, so it’s a good idea to start planning now. And the best way to experience this raw, nature-rich destination is, of course, aboard a superyacht.

Stretching along the western edge of South America, Chile is an aquatic paradise with 6,400 kilometres of Pacific coastline. Yet few visitors travel far enough down the continent to behold its mountainous grandeur.

Mild southern hemisphere summers, striking blue glacial lakes and a twisting fjord system await superyacht discovery along Chile’s long and peaceful coastline, which welcomed just 28 superyachts in 2022. Vessels are perhaps discouraged by rumours of ruthless weather and legends of Cape Horn – but there are charter yachts here, primed to showcase the country’s desert-like north and the icy realms of its Patagonian south.

Before things get a little brisk in Chile’s southern region, the green valleys surrounding Chile’s capital, Santiago, are heaving with vineyards, including the Maipo Valley – red wine territory. Further south, Chilean cruising encompasses the peaks of the Bernardo O’Higgins National Park and the Torres del Paine National Park, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and voted the eighth wonder of the world. Here glacial lakes are luminous turquoise, and the region hosts an abundance of wildlife, including guanaco, condors and pumas.

Perhaps most infamously is Cape Horn, where the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans meet at the country’s southernmost tip. Crossing this point promises an adrenaline-fuelled expedition. With year-round high waters and powerful westerly winds, it should be attempted with extreme caution and experienced crew. But for the intrepid, it represents the ultimate sailing challenge, and there are some charter yachts that are up to the task. It’s unlikely that you’ll cross paths with many superyachts here, though you can call into the most southerly yacht club in the world, Yacht Club Micalvi.

Besides the obvious draw of abundant wildlife, luxury tourism in the country has been on the rise, which means that it’s well equipped to cater to superyacht-based visitors in search of some luxurious land-based pursuits. For this, the Papagayo Peninsula on the country’s north Pacific coast is the spot to visit, with 13 rainforest-flanked golden beaches, resorts such as The Four Seasons and brand-new Andaz Resort and the Peninsula Papagayo Marina for yachts up to 76 metres.

Free from political boundaries and largely devoid of humans, the bottom of the world is perhaps our final frontier. It’s a fight against the ice here, but well-equipped superyachts offer a comfortable way to visit.

What is it about the ice that drives people wild? Antarctica is becoming an increasingly desirable destination for those who want to go off-grid somewhere few of us will have the chance to experience. But with only a handful of charter vessels available in these wintery waters (just 15 visited Antarctica in 2022, according to BOATPro data), Antarctica remains the perfect spot to escape the masses.

Solitary skiing across snowy ridges, polar plunges in the ice-pocked ocean or cruising in view of rumpled gorges: the continent of Antarctica, it’s said, is like no-where else on the globe. And while it may sound austere, its vast population of penguins, orcas and whales demonstrate that there is much to see by way of wildlife, thriving perhaps due to the lack of human life here, with barely any permanent population.

It’s unlikely, therefore, that you’ll stumble across many people during an expedition – and as for yachts, the chances of spying another one are slim, seeing as you’ll already be on board one of the few that can actually make it down here.