BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide
Renting a boat in Barcelona and the Costa Blanca: Valencia, Denia, Alicante
Barcelona, the Tabarca marine reserve near Alicante, the Balearic gateway at Denia: the guide to renting a boat on Spain's Mediterranean coast.
From Barcelona to Alicante, the Spanish Mediterranean coast strings together big harbour cities and quieter coves — a flexible route depending on the mood you're after.
Barcelona, the city and the sea
From Port Olímpic, cruise along the city's waterfront before heading to the wilder coves of Garraf to the south. Heavy summer traffic, but a very wide choice of boats.
Valencia and Denia, between lagoon and Balearics
Valencia opens onto the Albufera nature park, a large protected coastal lagoon. Further south, Denia has historically been the port from which Balearic ferry crossings depart — a practical base for combining a day rental with an island plan.
Alicante and the Tabarca reserve
Off Alicante and Santa Pola lies the island of Tabarca, Spain's first marine reserve: regulated anchoring and protected seabeds, but access allowed to visitors and swimmers in the areas set aside for it.
A calmer sea than elsewhere in the Mediterranean
The Costa Blanca is known for a sea generally less choppy than the Côte d'Azur or the Balearics, with a fairly regular afternoon thermal breeze in summer — good ground for a first sailboat or catamaran rental.
Budget
The usual ranges apply: €200-600/day for a RIB or motorboat, €300-700/day for a sailboat. Compare offers in Barcelona, Denia and Alicante.