Spain luxury yacht charter
Spain’s vibrant cities and diverse cruising grounds are rich with culture and well-equipped for welcoming superyachts, with over 300 hundred marinas spread along the country's 8,000 kilometres of stunning coastline. A luxury superyacht charter in Spain offers guests the chance to enjoy the mainland’s yachting hubs like Marbella in Andalusia, with its famous megayacht-lined Puerto Banús, as well as electric cities like Barcelona and the former America's Cup venue of Valencia. From the mainland on the Iberian Peninsula, charter guests can cruise over to the sun-kissed Balearics to sample some of Europe’s finest island and Cala-hopping and world-renowned nightlife.
Spain yacht season and weather
The southern and eastern coasts of Spain have year-round balmy temperatures, with the Costa del Sol and the Balearic islands enjoying sunny days and temperatures in the low 20s even in November.
The Spanish charter season runs from May to October, when blue skies and warm weather prevails. Peak holiday months are July and August when average temperatures are between 25°C and 29°C, although temperatures regularly head into the 30s during the summer. During these peak months, resorts are bustling, nightlife is at its best but anchorages can be busy. Travel early or late in the season to miss the crowds and still enjoy plenty of sunshine.
Spain yacht charter itineraries
From Marbella on the Costa del Sol to Barcelona and the Costa Brava, Spain’s mainland coastline has a host of attractive options and facilities for visiting yachts.
On Spain’s southern coast, Puerto Banús marina has over 900 berths to accommodate yachts up to 50 metres (with the potential to accommodate larger craft if booking ahead) and has the pick of the glam nightlife right off the passerelle. Charterers on Spain’s sun-drenched south coast will find championship golf courses, chic beach clubs, traditional fishing towns and sweeping golden sandy beaches.
With the Costa Brava coastline littered with sandy bays and quaint, charming towns, and the enigmatic cities of Barcelona (teeming with Michelin-starred restaurants and incredible architecture) and Valencia (known for its museums and regatta racing history) lying in wait, plus artsy Sitges and historic sites such as the UNESCO listed Tarragona, it’s easy to spend a week or more exploring the colourful delights of Spain’s east coast.
Barcelona’s OneOcean Port Vell has berths up to 190 metres. Sailing yachts with masts higher than 55 metres must inform the marina as entry under the cable car line across the port will need to be arranged. Valencia Yacht Base offers berths for yachts up to 120 metres.
The Balearic Islands lie around 86 nautical miles west from Valencia and 100 nautical miles south of Barcelona and remain Spain’s most popular cruising destination, with Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza boasting a mix of irresistible calas, nature reserves and scintillating nightlife, with sleepy Formentera offering more spectacular coves.
Spain by superyacht
Getting to Spain
For the Costa del Sol, Malaga airport serves commercial and private jets. On the Costa Brava, Girona airport handles commercial and private jet traffic. Multiple airports in Barcelona and Valencia also serve commercial and private jets.
As foreign-flagged boats may not start or end charters in Spain, typical routes into the country for charters include crossing from the French-Spanish border.
Legal requirements
All boats from outside the EU must report to customs officials on entry into Spain.
Unlike in some EU countries, where VAT tax can be reduced depending on time spent cruising outside of the country, Spain has a flat rate of 21% for VAT. Commerical charter yachts can however receive a break from Spanish matriculation tax.
Generally, but not in every case, local maritime safety regulations dictate that a maximum number of 12 guests are allowed on board a charter yacht.