One of the greatest advantages of cruising by catamaran is the freedom to explore beyond the marina. With shallow draft, generous living space, and a comfortable platform for extended time at anchor, a Leopard opens the door to secluded beaches, vibrant coastal towns, protected bays, and remote islands around the world.
From the turquoise waters of the Bahamas and Caribbean to historic Mediterranean harbors and quiet anchorages along the U.S. coastline, some destinations are worth building an itinerary around. Whether you’re looking for clear water and snorkeling, easy access to shore, protection for an overnight stay, or simply an unforgettable view from the cockpit, these are some of the best anchorages to add to your cruising list.
Cruising note: Anchorage conditions, regulations, mooring availability, depths, and shoreside access can change. Always consult current charts, weather forecasts, Notices to Mariners, and local regulations before entering or anchoring.
Best Anchorages in the Bahamas
With shallow banks, protected cays, clear water, and hundreds of islands to explore, the Bahamas are practically made for catamaran cruising.
Williams Bay — Little Exuma
23.76145° N, 76.08617° W
Williams Bay combines the things cruisers come to the Exumas for: clear water, sandy beaches, good holding, and plenty to explore without ever straying far from the boat.
Depths generally range from approximately 5 to 12 feet depending on where you settle, with protection from the northeast through southeast. The sandy bottom makes it an appealing option for catamarans, while nearby beaches, hiking, snorkeling, and wildlife can easily turn an overnight stop into a multi-day stay.
Why cruisers love it: Excellent beaches, clear water, shallow-water snorkeling, and a quiet atmosphere away from busier Exuma destinations.
Manjack Cay — Abacos
26.82055° N, 77.36675° W
For cruisers who prefer quiet anchorages and undeveloped surroundings, Manjack Cay is an easy favorite. The spacious anchorage offers room to spread out, with a sand-and-grass bottom and protection from the northeast through southeast.
Once the anchor is down, explore the nearby mangrove creeks by dinghy or paddleboard, walk the island trails, snorkel, or spend the afternoon on the beach.
Why cruisers love it: Plenty of room, beautiful natural surroundings, mangrove exploration, and an uncrowded feel.
Honeymoon Harbour — Gun Cay
25.59137° N, 79.30241° W
Just across the Gulf Stream from South Florida, Honeymoon Harbour is known for brilliant blue water and close encounters with marine life. Rays frequently cruise the shallows, and nurse sharks and other sea life are commonly spotted around the anchorage.
Its proximity to Florida can make it especially popular on weekends, so cruisers looking for a quieter experience may prefer arriving during the week.
Why cruisers love it: Crystal-clear water, rays, snorkeling, and a tropical setting within relatively easy reach of South Florida.
Sand Dollar Beach — Stocking Island
23.51300° N, 75.74490° W
Located across Elizabeth Harbour from George Town, Sand Dollar Beach gives cruisers a great balance between peaceful anchoring and convenient access to one of the Exumas’ major cruising hubs.
The anchorage offers access to Stocking Island’s beaches, trails, snorkeling, blue holes, and coral formations. George Town is just a dinghy ride away for provisioning, restaurants, and other necessities.
Why cruisers love it: A relaxed setting that’s still close to George Town, making it ideal for longer stays.
Sandy Cay — Abacos
26.40107° N, 76.98856° W
Sandy Cay is less about settling in for several nights and more about having one of those unforgettable days on the water. The surrounding reef system is known for healthy coral and abundant marine life, including tropical fish, rays, turtles, and small sharks.
Conditions around the reef can change significantly with wind and tide, so timing your visit appropriately is important.
Why cruisers love it: Some of the Bahamas’ most memorable snorkeling and abundant marine life.
Best Anchorages in the Caribbean
Anse de Colombier — St. Barthélemy
17.92411° N, 62.86956° W
Tucked into the northwestern end of St. Barthélemy, Colombier offers a completely different experience from bustling Gustavia.
The bay is surrounded by hills and accessible primarily by boat or hiking trail, helping preserve its secluded character. Moorings and anchoring options provide access to clear water, excellent swimming and snorkeling, hiking, and frequent sea turtle sightings.
Why cruisers love it: A secluded setting, beautiful swimming conditions, sea turtles, and an escape from busier parts of St. Barth.
Culebrita — Puerto Rico
18.31880° N, 65.22848° W
Small, undeveloped Culebrita is one of Puerto Rico’s cruising gems. Clear water, white-sand beaches, sea turtles, and hiking trails make it easy to spend an entire day exploring.
A hike inland leads to the ruins of the historic Culebrita Lighthouse, while the surrounding waters offer excellent swimming and snorkeling. The area can become busier with tour boats and weekend visitors, and northerly swell can affect conditions.
Why cruisers love it: Spectacular beaches, clear water, snorkeling, hiking, and an untouched island atmosphere.
Best Anchorages in Florida
Cayo Costa — Southwest Florida
26.68903° N, 82.24348° W
Cayo Costa offers something increasingly difficult to find along Florida’s coastline: miles of largely undeveloped shoreline accessible primarily by boat.
Pelican Bay provides access to the island’s beaches and trails, with opportunities for swimming, shelling, fishing, birdwatching, and wildlife spotting. The approach requires careful navigation, making current charts and local knowledge especially important.
Why cruisers love it: Natural Florida scenery, beaches, wildlife, and a peaceful anchorage away from developed waterfronts.
Garden Key — Dry Tortugas National Park
24.62673° N, 82.87225° W
Roughly 70 miles west of Key West, Dry Tortugas National Park feels genuinely remote. Garden Key provides access to massive Fort Jefferson as well as some of the region’s clearest water and most interesting snorkeling.
The anchorage is exposed compared with many protected bays, so weather planning is essential. Cruisers who make the trip, however, are rewarded with an experience unlike almost anywhere else in Florida.
Why cruisers love it: Remote cruising, Fort Jefferson, clear water, snorkeling, stargazing, and a true off-the-grid feel.
Best Anchorages on the U.S. East Coast
Port Washington — Long Island, New York
40.82807° N, 73.71397° W
Set inside Manhasset Bay, Port Washington makes an excellent stop for cruisers heading through the Long Island Sound and New York City area.
The protected harbor offers access to town for provisioning, restaurants, supplies, and transportation. One of its biggest advantages is its proximity to New York City, allowing cruisers to leave the boat behind for a day and reach Manhattan by train.
Why cruisers love it: Good protection, excellent provisioning, cruiser-friendly amenities, and easy access to New York City.
Cumberland Island — Georgia
30.77064° N, 81.47075° W
Few East Coast stops combine cruising and wilderness quite like Cumberland Island.
Located just off the Intracoastal Waterway, the anchorage provides dinghy access to Cumberland Island National Seashore. Once ashore, cruisers can explore miles of beaches, maritime forest, historic ruins, and areas frequented by the island’s famous feral horses.
Why cruisers love it: Wilderness, beaches, history, wildlife, and convenient access from the ICW.
Solomons Island — Maryland
38.33953° N, 76.45890° W
For Chesapeake Bay cruisers, Solomons offers a comfortable place to stop, provision, and spend time ashore. Protected creeks around the harbor provide several anchoring possibilities, while the town offers restaurants, marine services, groceries, and attractions.
Its location near the mouth of the Patuxent River also makes it a practical waypoint for cruisers moving north or south through the Chesapeake.
Why cruisers love it: Protection, marine services, provisioning, and a convenient Chesapeake location.
Seguin Island — Maine
43.71124° N, 69.75622° W
Seguin Island offers the quintessential Maine cruising experience: rocky coastline, sweeping Atlantic views, hiking trails, and a historic lighthouse.
Because anchoring restrictions and mooring conditions can apply around the island, cruisers should confirm current requirements before arriving. When conditions cooperate, however, Seguin makes a memorable stop along the Maine coast.
Why cruisers love it: Classic Maine scenery, hiking, lighthouse views, and an adventurous day-stop atmosphere.
Best Anchorages in the Mediterranean
Trikeri — Greece
39.15386° N, 23.07612° E
At the southern end of Greece’s Pelion Peninsula, Trikeri combines a protected cruising stop with the character of a traditional Greek village.
Spend the day wandering cobblestone streets, visiting historic churches, hiking, or settling into a waterfront taverna. Nearby Paleo Trikeri Island adds even more opportunities to explore ashore.
Why cruisers love it: Traditional Greek atmosphere, tavernas, hiking, history, and beautiful surroundings.
Puerto de Cabrera — Spain
39.14906° N, 2.93345° E
Cabrera Archipelago Maritime-Terrestrial National Park lies south of Mallorca and rewards cruisers with one of the Mediterranean’s most pristine island environments.
Anchoring is heavily regulated, and visiting yachts generally need to use designated moorings with authorization arranged in advance. Those logistics are worth it for the clear water, wildlife, hiking, historic castle, and relatively untouched scenery.
Why cruisers love it: Protected natural beauty, exceptional water, wildlife, hiking, and a feeling of isolation despite its proximity to Mallorca.
Vinišće Bay — Croatia
43.48613° N, 16.11398° E
Vinišće offers a quieter alternative to some of Croatia’s better-known cruising destinations. The village sits along a naturally protected bay with restaurants and a relaxed waterfront atmosphere.
It’s well positioned for exploring the Dalmatian Coast while giving crews somewhere peaceful to settle in after a day underway.
Why cruisers love it: A protected bay, waterfront dining, relaxed village atmosphere, and convenient access to Croatia’s islands and coastline.
Despotiko — Greek Cyclades
36.97215° N, 25.02430° E
Neighboring popular Antiparos, uninhabited Despotiko feels worlds away from the Cyclades’ busier ports.
Clear water and an undeveloped landscape create a beautiful setting for swimming, relaxing onboard, and exploring the island’s archaeological sites. Once the day boats depart, the lack of development also makes the area particularly memorable after sunset.
Why cruisers love it: Clear water, archaeology, fewer crowds, peaceful evenings, and excellent stargazing.
Chiaia di Luna — Ponza, Italy
40.89249° N, 12.95031° E
Ponza’s dramatic cliffs and intensely blue water make it one of the most visually striking cruising destinations in Italy.
Chiaia di Luna sits beneath a towering crescent-shaped cliff that gives the anchorage its unmistakable backdrop. Restrictions around the cliffs and shoreline have changed over time due to rockfall concerns, so current local rules should be checked before planning a stop.
Why cruisers love it: Dramatic scenery, blue Mediterranean water, striking cliffs, and easy access to the character of Ponza.
More Anchorages Worth Adding to Your Cruising List
A list of great anchorages could easily stretch into the hundreds. Depending on where your Leopard takes you, a few more destinations deserve consideration:
- The Bight, Norman Island, British Virgin Islands — A classic BVI stop with snorkeling, hiking, restaurants, and easy access to The Caves.
- White Bay, Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands — Famous for its brilliant beach and lively shoreside atmosphere.
- Francis Bay, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands — Clear water, snorkeling, beaches, and access to Virgin Islands National Park.
- Wardrick Wells, Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, Bahamas — One of the Exumas’ signature cruising destinations, with spectacular water, hiking, snorkeling, and protected marine habitat.
- Shroud Cay, Bahamas — Known for mangrove creeks that can be explored by dinghy, kayak, or paddleboard and lead across the island to spectacular beaches.
- Hope Town, Elbow Cay, Bahamas — A colorful Abacos destination with easy access to restaurants, beaches, and the iconic Elbow Reef Lighthouse.
- Marigot Bay, St. Lucia — A scenic, sheltered Caribbean harbor surrounded by steep green hills.
- English Harbour and Falmouth Harbour, Antigua — Excellent bases for exploring Antigua’s maritime history, restaurants, beaches, and hiking.
- Îles des Saintes, Guadeloupe — A beautiful combination of French-Caribbean culture, clear water, protected bays, and colorful villages.
What Makes a Great Catamaran Anchorage?
The “best” anchorage isn’t always the most famous. Sometimes it’s the protected bay you discover after a long passage, a stretch of beach with nobody else around, or a place where the water is so clear you can watch the anchor settle into the sand from the bow.
Catamarans are particularly well suited to this style of cruising. Their shallow draft can provide access to cruising grounds that may be less practical for deeper-draft vessels, while expansive outdoor living areas make days spent at anchor part of the experience rather than simply a stop between destinations.
That freedom is a major part of Leopard ownership. From island hopping through the Bahamas to exploring the Caribbean or spending a season in the Mediterranean, your anchorage can become your front yard — and tomorrow’s view can be completely different.
Find Your Next Anchorage Aboard a Leopard Catamaran
The right cruising boat doesn’t just get you from one destination to another. It gives you the freedom to stay longer, explore farther, and make the most of every destination along the way.
With shallow-draft cruising capability, spacious outdoor living areas, comfortable accommodations, and designs created around life on the water, Leopard Catamarans are built for the kind of cruising where the journey and the anchorage are equally rewarding.
Ready to start planning where you’ll drop anchor next? Explore Leopard sailing catamarans and power catamarans and discover the model built for your cruising plans.
