Beautiful UNESCO world heritage sites to visit by boat

If you head to the Caribbean in the winter you are probably no stranger to the sheltered mooring offered by Antigua Naval Dockyard — known to most as Nelson’s Dockyard. This year, the area was named as one of the latest additions to the UNESCO World Heritage list thanks to its Georgian-style naval buildings and historical significance. The Dockyard was constructed using the labour of enslaved Africans at the end of the 18th century and was also central to the development of the sugar cane industry as European powers competed for the East Caribbean.

How to visit: You should plan a stop off at Nelson's Dockyard if you are spending a week exploring the Leeward Islands. If you are not able to get in head to nearby Falmouth Harbour, which has excellent superyacht facilities, and is a short drive or a walk away.

Adventures in the South Pacific don’t get much more remote than the 99 artificial islets off the south-east coast of Pohnpei that make up the Nan Madol. Sometimes known as the “Venice of the Pacific” the site is believed to have been built between 1200 and 1500. Nan Madol is thought to have housed ruling a elite caste of the Saudeleur dynasty and is the only ancient city to have been built on a coral reef.

This site has recently been added to the list of World Heritage in Danger as it is under threat due to the siltation of waterways and unchecked growth of mangroves. This also makes the site one of our recommended places to visit before they disappear.

How to visit: There is no infastructure for superyachts in the area but there are anchorages which are deep enough so you can moor nearby.

Gibraltar may be known as “the Rock” but it is also home to some rocks of archaeological and paleontological significance. Gorham's Cave is located on the south-east face of Gibraltar and was Gibraltar’s first site to be inscribed on the prestigious list. The complex consists of four caves and is one of the last known sites of Neanderthal occupation with archaeologists having discovered everything from prehistoric stone tools to abstract rock engravings.

How to visit: While Gibraltar may be best know as a logistical stop off, the British Overseas Territory is trying to encourage more superyachts to stay longer with plans for a new destination marina underway. In the meantime there are three existing marinas to choose from that can accommodate superyachts.

Another destination for the adventurous superyacht owner the Archipiélago de Revillagigedo is part of a submerged mountain range. It consists of four islands — San Benedicto, Socorro, Roca Partida and Clarion — and is a habitat for seabirds. The area is also home to whales, dolphins and sharks.

How to visit: The islands lie less than 400 miles off Mexico's western coast. They can provide an interesting stop off if you are cruising from Mexico to the Marquesas islands.