A boat trip from Cádiz: between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean

People wanting to take a boat trip from Cádiz have several options to do so. The majority of these trips embark from the sailing club located near to the duty free area and the José León de Carranza bridge. You could also travel around the Bay of Cádiz aboard a catamaran, connecting the capital city of Cádiz with Rota and El Puerto de Santa María.

The latter is home to the biggest marina found anywhere on this stretch of the Cádiz coastline: Puerto Sherry. Many boat rental companies—both with and without a skipper—use this marina as a starting point for setting sail along the Cádiz coastline.

Many other marinas are also dotted along the coast. Just a short distance away, these berths are the perfect place to set off on a boat trip from Cádiz.

Boat rental in Cádiz

Taking a boat trip from Cádiz can be an unforgettable experience. In fact, the coast of the southernmost Andalusian province is one of the most impressive and varied stretches in the whole country from a landscape perspective.

There are several great ways of enjoying it, such as taking a trip aboard a catamaran, motorboat, yacht or sailing boat. The latter is possible thanks to the constant winds that batter the coastline.

In addition to its beautiful coastal towns, with their whitewashed houses and charming fisherman ports, the Cádiz coastline also stands out for its natural features: enormous beaches, peaceful coves and huge underwater biodiversity. All of this can be enjoyed on a boat trip from Cádiz.

These are some of the best routes that depart from the capital of the province:

• Around the Bay of Cádiz: This is, without a doubt, the most popular boat trip from Cádiz. Departing from the sailing club, the boat passes Puerto Real, the Playa de Valdelagrana and the rest of the beaches of El Puerto de Santa María, continuing past Puerto Sherry and Rota and docking up in Punta Candor. In total, this trip covers around ten nautical miles.
• Towards Guadalquivir: Approximately 31 nautical miles separate Cádiz and the town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda, home to the mouth of the Guadalquivir river. On your way, you will pass by the beaches of El Puerto de Santa María, Rota and Chipiona. We recommend docking next to the Doñana National Park.
• Trip to Tarifa: 70 nautical miles separate the capital of the province and Tarifa. If you don’t want to spend two whole days at sea, you can also opt to stop off at Barbate before returning to Cádiz.
• The Strait of Gibraltar: This is unquestionably one of the most memorable options for those looking to take a boat trip from Cádiz. There are 86 nautical miles between the city of Gibraltar and Cádiz. However, it’s worth noting that the 15 nautical miles between Tarifa and Gibraltar are subject to strong currents and winds. As such, we only recommend planning this trip if there is a positive weather forecast.
• Journey to Tangier: The Port of Tangier is the most common destination for those looking to take a boat trip from Cádiz to northern Morocco. Several companies offer this itinerary.

The Bay of Cádiz by catamaran

If you’re looking to take a boat trip from Cádiz, the cheapest option is to take a ride on one of the “shuttle” boats owned by the Consorcio de Transportes Bahía de Cádiz.

Their catamarans hold up to 200 passengers, with journey times of 25-40 minutes depending on the destination:

• El Puerto de Santa María: This is the shortest trip, covering only five nautical miles. Nonetheless, this remains a pleasant boat trip from Cádiz. This trip allows passengers to contemplate the city’s skyline. The boat passes very close to the famous Puente de la Constitución [Constitution Bridge]. There are 19 departures every weekday, with this number increasing in high season and decreasing on weekends.
• Rota: This trip covers eight nautical miles and, like the abovementioned route, it departs from the Cádiz marina. It docks in the Port of Rota, which is only a short walk from the historic quarter. There are ten departures every weekday.

We couldn’t mention the route between Cádiz and El Puerto de Santa María without bringing up the ‘Vaporcito’. This is the name given to the service provided by the succession of Adriano boats (Adriano I, II and III), which took passengers between the two towns. Such was its popularity that it became one of the most famous boat trips in Spain.

Unfortunately, after suffering a collision when entering the Port of Cádiz, the boat sank in 2011. Nevertheless, efforts are being made to re-establish this service, hoping to be able to offer passengers the same pleasant boat trip from Cádiz again.

Romantic dinner on a boat trip along the Cádiz coast

Whether departing from Cádiz itself or one of its nearby towns or villages, there are several companies that offer romantic dinners on the boat. These are often served aboard sailing boats and catamarans, almost always at night when the boat’s passengers enjoy the magnificent sunsets over the Cádiz sea.

Some of the most romantic boat trips along the Cádiz coastline depart from the Sancti Petri marina, in Chiclana. These trips allow passengers to enjoy the sun setting over the sea as well as the rocky outline of the Castillo de Hércules castle.

This option is offered by other companies with departure from the Port of Chiclana. But passengers can also find companies offering the opportunity to enjoy a romantic meal aboard a boat departing from other towns.

This service can be found in several marinas along the Bay of Cádiz: from San Fernando and Rota to Puerto Real and El Puerto de Santa María, tourists will find several options to hire a boat with a skipper and an on-board catering service.

One of the most romantic spots to enjoy a dinner with your partner, where the boat will remain remarkably still, is in front of El Puerto de Santa María’s Playa de la Puntilla beach. This experience may last up to five hours in total, including the sunset, dinner and after-dinner conversation.

Please note that most of the companies organising these romantic meals usually set a departure time of one hour before sunset. For this reason, the departure times vary throughout the summer months, setting off later in June and earlier as September comes around.