Gib to Cartegena

Nostrodamus

Nostrodamus

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In another few weeks it will be time to cast off the shackles of winter and get moving again.

We will be going up the Med Spanish coast to Cartegena before crossing to the Balarics.

Although I suppose we could do it in one hit it would be nice to break it up a bit.

Any suggestions of "Cheap" decent marinas between Gib and Cartegena, anywhere worth seeing or any anchorages.

Thank you for any replies.

Anyone along the coast with cool beers to say hello too?
 
Most people pop into Almerigrad for a fat boy breakfast and a couple of nights. Cheap but watch security as stuff like bikes can be attractive to some.

Used to be a good anchorage at Motril but a few years since I was there. Sod all in the port but the Club Nautico was very welcoming. They sometimes have available berths on the small pontoon.

Closer to Cartagena you can try Garrucha. Usually full when I was there but possible to anchor or tie up alongside fishing boats. They will direct you when you arrive.

Suggest you go Cartagena to Formentera and anchor there. Bliss.
 
I don't know if it still cheap since it was privatised but the marina at Bajadilla in Marbella is a nice little marina that used to be very affordable.
Almerimar is fine and cheap.
If you are prepared to go a few miles past Cartagena there is the Mar Menor which is a very safe anchorage.
 
After Gibralter we stopped at the marina in Caleta de Valez - stern-to on a lazy line. Pleasant enough but it did feel a bit like feeding time at the zoo as we ate in the cockpit stern to and passersby peered through the bars at us.

Having overwintered in Almerimar (nowhere near as bad as some make out) our next stop was Garrucha which proved to be a useful stopover on our way to Cartagena. Not the prettiest of ports but it is has plenty of depth and is well sheltered from most directions which meant we had a decent sleep after the longish stretch from Almerimar. We were able to pick up a buoy without difficulty or opposition - we still expected someone to come over to say the equivalent of "You can't stay here" like we'd experienced so many times before.
 
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Was in La Bajadilla last week, charges same as when it was Junta Andalucia.

Garrucha last September was about to open a large marina extension, loads a new berths.

Aguadulce is brill.

See you soon!
 
Gibraltar - Cartagena, no contest! Seriously, I guess Marina Del Este has some appeal if you like that sort of 'chic' place but in my opinion can be dangerous in any sort of weather, it is not a port of refuge and we have spent a couple of days anchored in Aquilas,which was OK.
 
Because of conditions when we attempted to round Cabo de Gata (we do not like it too bumpy) we nipped into Almeria for a couple of nights to wait for things to calm down, and thought it quite good. Nothing against Almerigrad (I like it!) but Almeria is just a bit smaller and a 'proper' town.
In the same neck of the woods, just around (east from) Cabo de Gata is San Jose bay where we anchored (different year) in delightfully clear water, little holiday-oriented village and very pleasant in the peaceful balmy summer conditions when we were there. Not so sure about shelter in a blow however, can't remember what the pilot says.
Yes, and Caleta can be a pleasant short stopover east of Malaga. Cartagena? Not to be missed!
 
There are several anchorages along the southern coast of Spain.

Fuengirola outer harbour is free, protected from south and west but open to the east.

Herradura, a horse shoe bay protected from east and west, a few miles east of Malaga.

Calla San Pedro, anchorage well protected but some wind at times, nude bathing.

Aguilas is a small fishing port with an anchorage for yachts, very protected from all but east.

Nearly always a small cove to anchor in along this coast, Mar Menor worth a visit, Santiago de la Ribera has a market.
 
Grehan said:
In the same neck of the woods, just around (east from) Cabo de Gata is San Jose bay where we anchored (different year) in delightfully clear water, little holiday-oriented village and very pleasant in the peaceful balmy summer conditions when we were there. Not so sure about shelter in a blow however, can't remember what the pilot says.
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I agree on San Jose, we did stop there last year, but in a 12mtr Catamaran there was certainly no space in the Marina for us, it is tiny (we went in to refuel) and quite shallow. Be good to anchor in reasonable weather though.
 
Nostrodamus said:
We will be going up the Med Spanish coast to Cartegena before crossing to the Balarics.
Although I suppose we could do it in one hit it would be nice to break it up a bit.
Any suggestions of "Cheap" decent marinas between Gib and Cartegena, anywhere worth seeing or any anchorages.
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Have you checked http://jimbsail.info/mediterranean/west-med/south-med-spain ?

Must sees: Ronda, Grenada - the Alhambra. And I guess the shackles of winter can't be removed quickly enough to reach the incredible Easter Festival in Cartagena. Other favourites are the delightful seafood restaurants along this coast. 200m east of Estepona marina - La Escollera. Just west of Malaga in the scruffy coastal suburbs, lots of places.
 
The whole of that southern bit of coast is somewhat uninspiring, costa-style and slightly chips with everything unless you look very carefully as per JB above, plus swathes of polytunnels growing fruit and veg ...up until Cabo De Gata, wild raw area where there are some nice anchorages juat north of the cape in settled weather with wind generally from west. Before that you can also throw yourself into the not-TOO-ghastly likes of Almerimar (or anchor out free is okay there too, which doesn't apply at many spanish marinas where anchoring out is sometimes treated as though you are camping out on an hotel's front lawn) and grab some culture in Cartagena when you get there (civil war air raid shelter etc) and later enjoy the more scenic anchorages of Formentera and Ibiza. Yes honest, Ibiza has some of the best cruising/anchoring coastline in the the world...
 
Thank you all for your replies.
I think almost everyone is of the same opinion that between Gib and Cartagena there is very little worth stopping for. We do want to see Cartagena before crossing to the Balearic's and as TCM suggests "doing a fair bit of anchoring". Just didn't want to miss anything on the way and break the sail up a little.
 
Nostrodamus said:
I think almost everyone is of the same opinion that between Gib and Cartagena there is very little worth stopping for.
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Erm, I think that's a little bit of an exaggeration. Marbella (Bajadilla, not Puerto Banus!) is moderately interesting, at least for a short stop. Malaga is an excellent city, although no marina there, you'd need to go into Fuengirola or Benalmadena and then get the local train (v.efficient). I also think Almeria is worth a look-see. Further on, Aguilas has a useful bay/harbour to anchor in although I don't remember the village amounting to much. Yes, there are some stretches of polythene covered coastline and some pretty empty coastlines but it's not all negative.

Have you been across to Morocco?
 
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Has anyone had there boat hauled out along that coast.
In La Linea they want about 450 euros for out, one day on the hard and back in. You can only work on the boat between certain times and you cannot live aboard whilst the boat is out. You can only have people working on the boat they approve of as well.
Any other suggestions of places to go or get a quote from?
 
Nostrodamus said:
Has anyone had there boat hauled out along that coast.
In La Linea they want about 450 euros for out, one day on the hard and back in. You can only work on the boat between certain times and you cannot live aboard whilst the boat is out. You can only have people working on the boat they approve of as well.
Any other suggestions of places to go or get a quote from?
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I know you may not like the place but in Almerimar, certainly as of 2011 you could work on the boat yourself and liveaboard while on the hard. Cannot remember how much the lift out and lift in was but do not think it was more than your figure, maybe less.
 
jordanbasset said:
I know you may not like the place but in Almerimar, certainly as of 2011 you could work on the boat yourself and liveaboard while on the hard. Cannot remember how much the lift out and lift in was but do not think it was more than your figure, maybe less.
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Mr Basset,
We heard the same and have e mailed them for a quote but are still awaiting a reply. As you know when you take away weekends, sickness, lunch hours and all the bank holidays the Spanish are only in the office for 32 minutes a year.
 
Nostrodamus said:
Mr Basset,
We heard the same and have e mailed them for a quote but are still awaiting a reply. As you know when you take away weekends, sickness, lunch hours and all the bank holidays the Spanish are only in the office for 32 minutes a year.
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With the Easter break you could be in for a wait:D
Hopefully some one there may be able to check for you - good luck and best wishes in the next part of your voyage
 
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