6 Places You Can Access Only By Boat
Discoveries
6 Places You Can Access Only By Boat

The old saying, “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey” may seem less apt when most of the journey is standing in line at airport security or creeping through stop-and-go traffic. But a journey by boat ... now that’s an adventure. Airlines and automobiles have their place, but there’s something special about a destination that can only be reached by water. Whether you’re sharing a beer with new friends on a ferry or sipping champagne on your own private sailboat, here are six places where getting there is half the (watery) fun.

Aeolian Islands, Italy

Docked boat in Marina Corta in the town of Lipari, , the largest of the Aeolian Islands.
Credit: Marco Rubino/ Shutterstock

Homer chronicled the adventures of Odysseus through this lonely archipelago, and the Aeolians (“islands of the wind”) still attract seafarers drawn to the dreamy beaches and sapphire-blue seas that circle these seven islands off the coast of Sicily. Visitors who arrive via ferry or private boat can explore hidden coves, bathe in mineral-rich mud baths and hot springs, and feast on cuisine that marries Italian and Greek flavors while making the most of the local seafood, capers, herbs and wine.

Wonder at the ever-illuminating Stromboli — one of only six continuously erupting volcanoes on the planet. The island of Panarea boasts a Bronze Age village along with jetset amenities like cutting-edge nightclubs and several chic hotels. Lipari, the largest island in the chain, is home to an impressive archaeological museum, while Salina was made famous in Il Postino, the Academy Award-winning film chronicling the Aeolian exile of Chilean poet Pablo Neruda.

Isle Royale, Michigan

Rock Harbor Lighthouse on Isle Royale, Michigan.
Credit: Steven Schremp/ Shutterstock

Located in the cold, crystal-clear waters of Lake Superior and the largest of a 450-island archipelago, Isle Royale is an untouched boreal wilderness boasting shipwrecks, lighthouses, 150+ miles of hiking trails, and more wildlife than people, including gray wolves, moose and otters. The Ojibwa people called Isle Royale “Minong” (the good place) and the island is both protected as a U.S. national park and listed on the National Register of Historic Places as The Minong Traditional Cultural Property. Fishing, kayaking, and scuba diving are popular, and the island is a paradise for bird watchers.

Isle Royale and its surrounding islands are closed to all visitors from November 1 through April 15th, and permits are required for overnight stays. Mid-July through mid-September is the high season, and the island’s 36 campgrounds (accessible only by boat or on foot) will be crowded. Bring your bug spray but leave pets at home — only licensed, registered and permitted service dogs are allowed into this fragile ecosystem.

Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Aerial view of Raja Ampat, Indonesia.
Credit: mbojobackpacker/ Shutterstock

Located between the Indian and Pacific Oceans, this archipelago of about 1,500 mostly minuscule islands off the western shore of New Guinea takes its name from the four largest, which are known as the “Four Kings” (Raja Ampat in Bahasa Indonesian). The coral-studded waters and jungle-draped islands are a holy grail for nature lovers, especially scuba divers and snorkelers who come to explore the world’s most diverse marine environment.

While the waters teem with more than 600 species of hard coral — 75% of the world’s known varieties — there are also whales, turtles, pygmy seahorse and countless species of fish. Above the seas, there is rich birdlife — including two species of bird-of-paradise along with prehistoric paintings in caves and on coral cliffs.

Santa Catalina Island, California

View of Catalina Island intlet.
Credit: Henry Skinner/ Shutterstock

More commonly referred to simply as “Catalina,” this 22-mile-long island almost 30 miles off the coast of Long Beach is a refreshing retreat from normally car-centric California. Settled around 9,000 years ago, the easternmost of the Channel Islands was claimed by Spain in 1542. Today almost 90% of the island is controlled by a conservancy, and the year-round population stands at around 4,000 residents. Motor vehicles are tightly regulated, and there’s currently a 25-year waiting list to bring a private car onto Catalina.

Visitors can take a one-hour ferry voyage and explore by golf cart, bicycle, on foot, or by making use of one of the island’s taxis. While day trips from the mainland are a popular excursion, Catalina also has a number of elegant lodgings and historic hotels for an overnight stay. In Avalon, take in an event (or at least take a walking tour) of the 1929 casino — the magnificently restored Art Deco edifice contains the world’s largest circular ballroom. On the west side of the island, the village of Two Harbors offers outdoor activities like mountain biking and snorkeling, or just lounging under a palapa at one of the relaxing beach clubs.

Rendezvous Bay, Montserrat

Rocky beach on Rendezvous Bay in Montserrat, West Indies, Caribbean
Credit: Alistair Homer/ Shutterstock

The colony of fruit-eating Antillean bats that nest in two caves on this Caribbean island is only one of the attractions at Rendezvous Bay. Boasting the island’s only white sand beach, Rendezvous can technically be accessed via a steep hike, but kayaking or boating to this secluded spot is definitely the way to go. The beach has no facilities, so be sure to pack your own picnic and bring plenty of drinks to enjoy in this idyllic bay.

The tiny British overseas territory of Montserrat is part of the Lesser Antilles, and a mecca for scuba divers, snorkelers and nature enthusiasts who appreciate the island’s laid-back charm. Lava lovers won’t want to miss visiting the observatory monitoring the Soufrière Hills volcano, which began its current eruption in 1995.

Svenner, Norway

Svenner Lighthouse and houses on island.
Credit: Maria Foerner/ Shutterstock

Norway is famous for its fjords, and has more than a thousand of the deep, glaciated valleys, offering no shortage of spots accessible only by boat ... and even then, only accessible when waves and weather cooperate. Off the coast of the Skaggerak coast at the mouth of five-mile Lvarikfjord lies a small group of islands. Called Svenner, the archipelago is noted for its historic red lighthouse. First lit in 1874, the current cast iron structure was erected in 1900.

Only two hours from Oslo, Svenner is a popular destination for boaters who come to explore the golden cliffs and observe the wide variety of birds that nest on the islands or rest and feed on the rocky beaches during their migration. In the summer season, visitors and volunteers who maintain the lighthouse can stay overnight in one of the six rustic cottages. The nearby town of Larvik is the home of famed Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl.

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