Beautiful Route Along the East Coast of Spain

Best time to make the sailing itinerary

The Mediterranean climate that prevails makes the Costa Brava a great year-round holiday destination. However, the best time to start the sailing itinerary is between the months of May to October. During these months, there are pleasant to warm temperatures with little to no precipitation, with the humid air bringing coolness. In summer, a southeast wind prevails, bringing dry and warm weather from Africa. Want to avoid the high season? Then we recommend going in mid-September.

Start the sailing route in Barcelona

You start yourBeCharter. Barcelona is a beautiful and vibrant city, with a perfect combination between bustle and tranquillity. It is a big city with lots of history, mountains and yes: beach can be found here too.

Find the hustle and bustle in the vibrant city centre with quaint streets, many shops and cosy terraces. Walk along ‘Las Ramblas’ and visit the ‘Mercat de la Boqueria’, where you can buy delicious fresh produce such as fruit, fish, meat and more. For great shopping, head to Passeig de Gràcia. Here you will find shops such as Levi's, Boss, Zara, Tommy Hilfiger, Nike, Prada, Chanel and you name it. You can also climb Montjuïc or rent a bike! You can quickly see a lot of Barcelona by bike, as there are beautiful cycle paths throughout the city. We especially recommend cycling along the coast with a nice cooling sea breeze.

A day of relaxing on the beach and being served delicious Spanish delicacies and cold drinks? Then Purobeach Barcelona comes highly recommended. It is located 3.2 kilometres from Port Olimpic. Remember to book your beds in advance, as the club is fully booked in high season! Ready to set sail for the next location on the cruise itinerary? Read on quickly.

Cruise to Palamós

Sail along the coast towards the northeast and, after about 8 hours of sailing, arrive at the port of Palamós. Palamós does have 2 ports. Southwest of the town is Club Náutico Costa Brava, a port with 223 moorings for boats up to 25 metres. And northeast of the city is Marina Palamós, with 862 moorings for boats from 7 to 30 metres. Both marinas are equipped with all kinds of facilities. Among them are Wi-Fi, showers, washing machines, a car rental service, electricity and fuel.

Palamós is a beautiful and rather quiet town with a lot of history and is very suitable for families. Therefore, this place was definitely not to be missed on the cruise itinerary. Walk through the narrow alleys of the old centre and visit the old fishing port with traditional fishing boats. There is also a museum about fishing on the Costa Brava, e.g. the ‘Gamba de Palamós’ (distantly related to shrimps) is a well-known delicacy. Don't forget to visit the imposing Gothic church of Santa Maria. There are also a number of nightclubs for a fun night out.

Prefer to enjoy nature and tranquillity? Close to the Club Náutico Costa Brava is a bay called Bahía de Palamós, where you can anchor your boat and enjoy sun, sea and beach. The beach is called Platja Gran de Palamós, is very centrally located and has a gently sloping shore. Along the beach is a nice promenade with all kinds of eateries. Order delicious seafood at Refugi de Pescadors or enjoy a tasty contemporary dish at La Tastaolletes.

Continue sailing to Sa Tuna

Hoist the sails and sail within 2 hours to the one of the Costa Brava's most beautiful bays, the picturesque Sa Tuna. The boat can be well anchored in the bay, where you won't encounter more than 4 anchored boats. The bay is shielded by the rocky and green coast.From the boat, you have a view of the picturesque village, with coloured houses set against the rocky wall. The village may seem small, but it has everything you need. You could also consider it little Catalonia. Take a lovely refreshing dip or go supping and explore the bay. Paddle straight to S'Eixugador beach. This beach is in the same bay, a bit further from the village and can only be reached by a walk along the rocky coast or, of course, just by boat!

Sailing to Cadaqués

We sail a little further north for the next destination on the itinerary, which is Cadaqués. From Sa Tuna, it takes about 3 hours of sailing to Cadaqués. This town lies in a bay on the Cap de Creus peninsula. Anchor in the well-protected bay of ‘Platja Ses Oliveres’ in the sandy bottom or, if the boat is no longer than 20 metres, at 1 of the 150 buoys. Here you have options for beach, water and snacks and a dock is available.

What to see/do in Cadaqués

Time to discover Cadaqués! Did you know that Cadaqués became especially famous when surrealist writers and painters, including Dalí and Picasso, came to settle here? For example, there is a statue of Spanish artist Salvador Dalí on the largest beach ‘Platja Gran’. The town is quickly recognised by the large white church ‘Església de Santa Maria’ and its quaint white houses. To reach the church, it first involves a good climb. You'll have beautiful views over Cadaqués and the bay, so it's definitely worth the effort. Prefer something less intense? Then walk through the historic quarter of the town. Here you will find cosy streets with museums, clothes shops and terraces with bars.

Culinary delights in Cadaqués

For an unforgettable lunch (or dinner), go to ‘Compartir’. Highly rated, this restaurant makes Mediterranean dishes whose texture and colour have been experimented with. This sounds dubious, but think foamed mozzarella in the form of tufts of whipped cream, for example. Book a table in advance, as this restaurant is very popular. Still fancy Spanish traditional dishes, such as delicious tapas? Then head to Maria de Cadaqués. Curious about Dalí's favourite restaurant? Then El Barroca is the restaurant of choice. A fun fact, Dalí designed this restaurant's logo. With plenty of bays, beaches, history and culture, you can enjoy the sailing holiday on Spain's east coast here! Then it's time to start the return journey of the sailing itinerary again.

Start the return trip and sail back to Palamós

It's time to return again. Within five hours, you'll sail back into Palamós harbour for one of your last evenings. Have another splash in the afternoon and get ready for a delicious dinner on the terrace, or of course cozy on board. Enjoy your rest to be fit for the rest of the return journey the next day.

End the cruise in Barcelona

Hoist your sails for the last time and set sail for Barcelona. After about 8 hours of sailing, you can recover from the sailing trip along the coast. Back to our little country!

Sail from the fine city of Barcelona to the lovely picturesque towns; Palamós, Sa Tuna and Cadaqués and discover the beautiful coastline full of wonderful beaches and coves. Anchor the boat here for a refreshing swim and sail on, or stay overnight and rinse off in the afternoon before enjoying culinary delights on the terrace with Spanish delicacies. Plus a nice refreshing drink - it is holiday after all! The choices are innumerable.

You can plan this itinerary yourself. For instance, you could stay a few days in Palamós or sail on to Sa Tuna after a day to visit this place, and so on. You could also stop off at Blanes or Lloret de Mar on the way to Palamós for the ultimate nightlife, and then rest at the following locations. No matter what the choice becomes, this cruising itinerary will definitely be worth it!