Costa Brava South (L'Estartit) (7 días - 90 mn)

Located right in the heart of the Costa Brava, L’Estartit Marina is an ideal starting point for any week long cruise aboard a bareboat sailing boat or a boat with crew. You can choose to cruise north towards Portbou or south towards Blanes, which is what we are going to do, enjoying all the comforts our boat charter has to offer. As we head out of the port, we will leave behind the Medes Islands (Illes Medes) to which this coastal town owes its fame as own of the most valued destinations in the world of scuba diving. On our way back, we will have the chance to experience up close the wealth of marine fauna these islands have to offer.

During the first part of our sailing boat or yacht cruise we will pass some of the most beautiful coves of the Costa Brava along the coast of Begur and Calella. This section of the coast is extremely rocky and craggy and full of small coves with crystal clear waters surrounded by pine forests. If we anchor our yacht charter in any of these coves, we are certain to continue the cruise in good spirits which will only be heightened as we arrive in Palamós, a town of 17,000 inhabitants that has become a first rate tourist centre. We can enjoy the main sandy beach or beautiful nearby coves such as Margarida Cove, a pebble beach with shallow waters surrounded by small fishing houses. In addition, Palamós has a long and peaceful seaside promenade, a bustling shopping centre and a lively nightlife in summer thanks to the pubs and bars which are concentrated in the port area. If it’s seafood we want for dinner then we can satisfy our cravings at Celler de la Planassa, located in one of the first fishing houses in the port which dates back to 1700 and boasting splendid views of the bay of Palamós. Seduce your taste buds with the exquisite fideuá. You won't regret it.

Continuing our cruise south and after leaving Aro Beach (Platja d'Aro) behind, we will arrive in Sant Feliu de Guíxols, an old seaside town that has become one of the most important centres in the Costa Brava today. It is said that this is where journalist and politician Ferran Agulló was inspired to create the name “Costa Brava” as he contemplated the views from the hermitage of Sant Elm located on a cliff 99 meters above sea level. In summer, this town celebrates the Festival de la Porta Ferrada which attracts the participation of many companies and artists of international stature.

Blanes is the first town in the Costa Brava coming from the south which is why it is known as the Portal to the Costa Brava. Its beautiful coves and beaches have transformed it into a very touristic place although not as famous as its neighbour Lloret de Mar. One of the main attractions in this town is the Marimurtra Botanical Gardens. Created by a German entrepreneur Carl Faust, the gardens are home to 3000 plant species from all over the world. The garden is very close to the port where we will moor our boat charter so there is no excuse not to escape awhile and visit this botanical paradise.

Aro Beach (Platja d’Aro in Catalan) is, along with Lloret de Mar, one of the most happening places in the Costa Brava although this does not interfere with more family-oriented forms of tourism. There is an endless series of bars and restaurants along the seaside promenade and the main street where you will also find shops with popular brand name clothes and accessories. Platja d’Aro is also a great place to enjoy a night out on the town thanks to its wide selection of nightclubs. Carnival festivities here are among the most renowned in the Costa Brava.

Continuing north, we will find Llafranc, one of the coastal centres of the town of Palafrugell. On the north end of the beach, there is a small marina with 140 berths where we can moor our yacht or catamaran charter. We can then take an excursion to the Sant Sebastià lighthouse which sits on top of the mountain towering behind the marina. Next to the lighthouse you will find a hermitage, an 18th century hospice that has been converted into a hotel and restaurant, as well as a magnificent viewpoint.

We can’t finish our seafaring holidays and go back to the port of L’Estartit without first getting a closer look at the Medes Islands. If we are fans of scuba diving and snorkelling, then we will love swimming in the waters around these islets which make up one of the most important flora and fauna reserves in the Western Mediterranean. After this unique experience we won’t want to disembark!

*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.