Why sail the Costa Brava
The Costa Brava is, to our minds, the most beautiful coast of the Spanish Mediterranean — red rock, pine and cork oak dropping into clear water, with medieval sea villages tucked into the folds. Its easy access from Barcelona makes it an ideal destination for sailing and water sports: leave the city in the morning and you are anchored in a cove by evening, and the coast just keeps getting wilder the further north you go.
Our Costa Brava charters depart from Barcelona, Marina Port Vell — fifteen minutes from the airport, in the heart of the city. Head north and the coast unfolds in three acts: the villages of the south, the coves and marinas around Palamós, and the wild headland of Cap de Creus at the top.
Anchorages we come back to
Barcelona to Cap de Creus — the route north
South: chartering from Barcelona, the first stop is Futadera cove, between two beautiful sea villages — Tossa de Mar and Sant Feliu de Guíxols. Tossa is the anchorage: sandy bottom, wind-free coast, a medieval town to wander after dark. Sant Feliu is not one to anchor at, but on a week’s charter its glamorous port is well worth a mooring to explore the seafront.
Centre: past central Costa Brava, plan to spend the night in Palamós bay — at anchor, or in Palamós Marina or Port d’Aro depending on your arrival time. Nàutic Costa Brava, Llafranc and Fornells are busy marinas in the summer months, so it is best to decide once you have arrived in Palamós. From here the coves come thick and fast: Castell, the Medes Islands, Calella, Aiguablava, Sa Tuna and Sa Riera are the ones we’d recommend.
North: sailing on, you will find it hard to choose among the beautiful seafront villages. Starting with the magical Cap de Creus, Cadaqués and its charming village, Dalí’s home at Port Lligat, and the wild coves of Cala Bona and Cala Taballera — you will wish you had chartered for longer. There are several safe anchorages for the night, including Cala Jugadora, Cala Junquet and Port Lligat, and if time allows you can carry on to Llançà or Portbou, almost at the French border.
Practical notes
- Season: May to October, with the best sailing in June and September. July and August are peak, and yachts run Saturday to Saturday; marinas fill early, so anchor where you can and book berths ahead where you can’t.
- Wind: The tramuntana can blow hard from the north, especially around Cap de Creus — the finest sailing breeze on the coast, and the reason to watch the forecast for the northern legs. Summer sea breezes fill in from the south-east through the afternoon.
- One way or return: A week comfortably reaches Palamós and back; two weeks lets you make Cap de Creus. Ask about a one-way charter north with a return by road.
- Bareboat: An ICC or equivalent licence and appropriate experience. No licence? Choose a Local Skipper or a fully crewed Hidden Secrets charter.
- Getting here: Barcelona airport is 15 minutes from Marina Port Vell; Girona airport serves the northern coast.
