BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide

Boat rental in Denia and Javea (Costa Blanca)

Hire a boat in Denia and Javea: the Cap de la Nao, Marina Alta coves, the Cabo San Antonio marine reserve, budgets and the best times to sail out.

Denia and Javea frame the most rugged stretch of the Costa Blanca, where the Cap de la Nao drops into water that is often glass-clear. Within a few miles you move from Denia's long sandy beaches to the red-rock coves of the Marina Alta. A boat changes everything here: many of the finest coves are reachable only from the sea, or after a long walk down from the road, and the day is shaped by anchorages rather than parking spaces.

Denia, Javea and the Cap de la Nao

From the harbour at Denia you first skirt the Cabo San Antonio marine reserve, a wall dive prized by snorkellers and divers, before rounding the point toward Javea. The Cap de la Nao closes the bay to the south; beyond it the coast turns wilder toward Moraira and Calpe, under the great Ifach rock. Round the cape early, as wind and swell tend to build there through the afternoon and the water is more exposed.

The best coves

Cala Granadella, regularly ranked among Spain's most beautiful, is best earned by sea: a clear-sand anchorage, turquoise water and wooded cliffs. Further north, Cova Tallada and Cala Ambolo reward slow cruising, along with the caves that pierce the cliff below the cape. On the Javea side, the Portitxol islet gives you sheltered water for snorkelling, with seagrass meadows visible just a few metres down. Most operators are happy to let you roam this coastal strip without difficulty.

Which boat, what budget

For a family day out, a 6 to 7 metre RIB most often rents for 200 to 600 € a day and easily handles a run of coves. A day-cruiser (250 to 900 €/day) adds shade and comfort for lunch aboard. Add a skipper (150 to 350 €/day) if you do not know the anchorages. The same boat can differ by 10 to 25 % between platforms, which is exactly what Boat-Comparator checks live across SamBoat, Click&Boat, GlobeSailor and Boataround, service fees of 0 to 9 % included.

Stops ashore

Denia is worth a pause: its old town below the castle, its lively fishing port and its famous gamba roja, the local red prawn, served on the harbour terraces. Javea, quieter, lines up its sandy arenal and an old village set back inland. Many operators offer a late-afternoon return, which leaves time for a final swim before you hand the boat back.

When to sail

From May to October the water is warm and the days long. The best window is the morning: flat sea, quiet coves and soft light on the cliffs. In the afternoon the sea breeze raises a short chop off the Cap de la Nao. In July and August, book early and aim to anchor before 11am to find space. Cancellation terms vary by owner, so check each listing, and the permitted sailing area, before you pay.

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