The French island of Corsica, 110 miles south of the Riviera and just north of Sardinia is an exceptional choice for a luxury yacht charter vacation. With a mountainous, dramatic landscape featuring rivers, gorges, waterfalls, lush valleys, rocky cliffs,

vineyards, picturesque towns, 16 ports, and 620 miles of coastline surrounded by clear water in all shades of blue, the surprisingly uncrowded Corsica has it all.

The rugged coastline, with more than 200 beaches, is especially alluring to those of us traveling by boat - there are many areas you can't get to any other way and you may find a beach you can have all to yourself.

Because of its geography, rising from sea level to almost 9,000 feet, Corsica's climate is quite varied. The island is divided into three major ecological zones: the coastline and valleys enjoy a maritime Mediterranean climate (hot summers and mild winters); in the lower mountains, at 2,000 - 6,000 feet, you will find the cooler and wetter mountain Mediterranean climate; and at 6,000 feet and above, the climate is alpine, with snowcapped mountains and even small glaciers at the highest altitudes.

Corsica's average of 250-300 days of sunshine per year (April - October being the sunniest) is the highest in France, and as a general rule, the northern part of the island is warmer than the south. You can find all types of yachts to charter on Corsica - bareboat, skippered, crewed, catamaran, sailboat, motoryacht and luxury yachts. The island is easy to get to. There are 4 airports - the Campo dell Oro Airport in Ajaccio, Poretta Airport in Bastia, Calvi (in Calvi), and Figari (in Figari) - as well as ferry service from France (Marseille, Toulon and Nice) and Italy (Genoa and Livomo). Of course, if you charter a yacht in France or Italy, you'll be arriving on your own boat. Corsica is about a day's sail, or 3-4 hours by motor yacht, from the French Riviera.

Port towns on the island include Ajaccio, birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte and the capital of Corsica. It is located on the west coast and home to the both the largest airport and harbor on the island.

Bastia, on the northeastern coast, is Corsica's largest. The old town was built around the harbor and it is the most picturesque port on the island. Bastia is also known for its wines.

Porto Vecchio on the south coast is the most sophisticated resort on Corsica and sees many Italian tourists in the summer months. It is known for its quaint, Genoese walled old town and its many, beautiful beaches.

Calvi (rumored to be the birthplace of Christopher Columbus) on the east coast is simply stunning with its beautiful port (lined with bars and restaurants), towering citadel and 4-mile sandy beach where jet skiing, windsurfing, waterskiing and paragliding are popular pastimes. There are also plenty of private little coves if you are looking for something a bit more intimate.

Bonifacio, just 7.4 miles north of Sardinia, sits high on a limestone peninsula at the southernmost tip of Corsica, and absolutely has to be approached from the sea in order to fully appreciate its jawdropping setting. There are plenty of sandy beaches, grottoes and caves in this area, and don't miss the opportunity to explore the Lavezzi islands, which are part of the nature reserve "Bouches de Bonifacio".

There are of course many, many more ports, towns and villages to explore all over the island, but these will give you a starting point, and hopefully inspiration to start planning your next chartered yacht trip to Corsica.