Spanish marinas

[ST840]

Hi
Anybody got experiences of the Denia and/or Xabia Marinas ?
cost wise , professionalism , cruising/fishing grounds. That sort of thing.
thoughts welcomed please.

 

[Hurricane]

Denia is nice and we like visiting there but didn't like it as a base when we first checked Spain out.
We are based about 100 miles north of Denia - at Sant Carles - probably one of the cheapest marinas of anywhere.

As far as I know, there isn't much in the way of local anchorages near Denia but it is one of the closest places to Ibiza that you will get.
Depends on your boat, of course, but Denia is less than 60 miles from the fantastic Ibiza anchorages where the water is clear and warm in the summer.

We consider that the islands are better cruising than the mainland but the cost of keeping a boat in the Balearics in eye watering.
Sant Carles suits us - we have a local 7 mile long lagoon right outside the marina where you can anchor if you don't want to travel and we are equidistant to all the islands.
Being an MDL marina, there is a great British community in Sant Carles as well.

 

[ST840]

Thanks for your reply. Santa carlas is a bit too far away from where we are considering a base (one of many locations but the only one in Spain). If we relocate it must be an area where I can take my boat or it’s a no no. Is Denia a costly marina for an 8.6m boat to stay ?

 

[kashurst]

Denia gets the wind and waves more than other Costa Blanca locations as it is North of Cabo de Nao. The afternoon sea breeze comes from the NW most summer afternoons. Lovely town and surrounds but not great boating.
Javea (Xabia) is pretty some good snorkelling diving and a couple of small calas/sheltered spots.
go @ 15 -20 miles south and you get to Moraira, Calpe, Campomanes/Greenwich Marina (very nice).
All easy to get to (ordinarily) from Alicante Airport. Go 40 miles south and you get to Alicante Marina.

 

[ST840]

go @ 15 -20 miles south and you get to Moraira, Calpe, Campomanes/Greenwich Marina (very nice).

Are these better areas for boating ? As in, less wind and waves or does the whole east coast of Spain suffer the same ?

 

[kashurst]

The areas I describe have pretty good boating. The thing to bear in mind is the afternoon sea breeze. Have a look at the Mar Menor and surrounds. Cheap flights, hotels etc over quite a wide area.
If you go further south past Cartegena towards Almeria, the coast is more protected but there is less there. Mazarron is a nice place - good for dolphins and whales (deep water) after that its a long way to Almeria and beyond. Have a look on google earth.

 

[petem]

Denia gets the wind and waves more than other Costa Blanca locations as it is North of Cabo de Nao. The afternoon sea breeze comes from the NW most summer afternoons. Lovely town and surrounds but not great boating.
Javea (Xabia) is pretty some good snorkelling diving and a couple of small calas/sheltered spots.
go @ 15 -20 miles south and you get to Moraira, Calpe, Campomanes/Greenwich Marina (very nice).
All easy to get to (ordinarily) from Alicante Airport. Go 40 miles south and you get to Alicante Marina.

As Kashurst says, the Altea, Moraira, Calpe, Campomanes/Greenwich Marina is very nice and we don't seem to suffer too badly with strong winds in the afternoon. If it is a bit windy then it's best to avoid the period between perhaps 4pm and 7pm when the wind is at its strongest.