Costa Brava North (l’Estartit) (7 days - 60 NM)

We will embark in the port of L’Estartit, a coastal town that belongs to the city of Torroella de Montgrí. Over the last few years, L’Estartit has become one of the most valued destinations in the world of scuba diving thanks to its proximity to the Medes Islands (Illes Medes in Catalan) located a mile off shore. The archipelago, declared a natural reserve, is made up of seven islets with rocky bottoms and underwater caves which make this the perfect place for scuba diving and snorkelling. Our sailing boat or catamaran charter will head out of the port with the Medes Islands to our right and will start making its way to the Montgrí coast, one of the steepest and most pristine parts of the Costa Brava. Here we will explore small gorgeous coves that are difficult to reach on foot, such as Ferriol Cove, Pedrosa Cove and Calella Cove. All of them are ideal spots for snorkelling.

Cala Montgó is the largest cove in this wild section of the Costa Brava. Although it's closer to the town of L’Escala, in terms of administration it belongs to the city of Torroella de Montgrí. Seafarers cruising in a sailing boat prefer to anchor in this cove. Unlike the other smaller coves that are mainly covered in pebbles, Cala Montgó has very fine sand. At the end of the beach there are various restaurants where you can eat paella or fish, and you can even take a walk to the port of L’Escala or go up to the top of Montgó Tower.

Exploring Montjoi Cove aboard a yacht (or any other type of boat) is a real privilege. Although you may find it hard to believe, this small and peaceful cove, located in the heart of the Cap de Creus Natural Park, has been the global centre of avant-garde cuisine for many years. Indeed, this is the location of Ferrán Adriá’s restaurant, El Bulli. In July 2011, the restaurant closed its doors to the public and was transformed into the Bulli Foundation, a foundation dedicated to researching creativity and innovation in gastronomic science. This beautiful spot in the Costa Brava may have ceased to be the mecca for gastronomists but it still remains an ideal place to spend a relaxing day enjoying the sea and landscape.

The Cap de Creus coast has many coves where we can anchor our boat charter, isolated places with incredible beauty where we can discover the real meaning of the word tranquillity. It also offers picturesque places such as Cadaqués whose seaside town charm has been well preserved because its residents lived in isolation until the end of the 19th century. Along its narrow and steep streets, you will find small souvenir shops and cosy restaurants. We recommend Casa Anita where you can taste quality fresh fish, sardines and grilled shrimp. In the beginning of the 20th century, artists such as Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse and Gabriel García Márquez fell in love with Cadaqués, but it was Salvador Dalí who really gave it international fame when he moved to Port Lligat, a cove near the centre of town. Today his house is a museum that’s open to the public; however, it’s advisable to reserve a visit ahead of time.

The next town for seafarers is El Port de la Selva, a small fishing town located in a round bay with views of the Rodes Sierra. Here visitors can visit an impressive Benedictine monastery that was erected in the 10th century. The lighthouse is to the right of the bay and can be reached from town by taking the parapet walk along the coast. If we anchor our sailing boat in Port de la Selva, we will have a choice of various restaurants specialised in fish and seafood as soon as we step foot on land. Just reading the menus will make your mouth water!

On the way back to L'Estartit, we will stop in Roses, a town with 3,000 years of history located in the centre of the bay bearing the same name. It is a large tourist centre with housing developments, hotels and other facilities as well as an infinite number of possibilities for entertainment and leisure. We can anchor our boat charter in its modern and fully equipped marina which services 485 vessels. The local culinary speciality is fish suquet. This traditional fisherman’s dish is a blend of fresh fish and potatoes that has been enhanced over time by adding other typical Mediterranean products. You can savour a suquet in the restaurants of Roses year round along with a wide choice of Denomination of Origin Empordà wines.

After seven days of cruising along the Northern Costa Brava aboard a boat, we will return to L'Estartit Marina, one of the safest and calmest ports in the area. Now is the time to get a closer look at the Medes Islands (Illes Medes) but you must respect the regulations for the protected area of the marine reserve which restrict the places where people can anchor and scuba dive. This is a beautiful setting to finish off your seafaring holiday.

*The itinerary is only a guideline. Errors in the content do not justify grounds for filing a legal complaint. If you want to visit other places, the itinerary can be modified according to your preferences. If chartering a boat with skipper, the skipper may decide to change the planned itinerary due to unexpected and/or unrelated causes to the organisation.