Do I need any experience to go sailing in Altea?

Not at all. Most people who come sailing with us have never been on a sailboat before. Our skipper handles the navigation, maneuvers, and safety. You just enjoy the day, swim in a cove, and ask as many questions as you like.

How long are the sailing trips?

The three standard options are sunset (2.5 hours, evenings), half-day (4 hours, morning or afternoon) and full-day (7–8 hours). All of them are private: the boat is just for your group, with a professional skipper on board.

What is the best time of year to go sailing in Altea?

From late April to mid-October the weather is generally warm and the water is pleasant for swimming. July and August are the busiest months; May, June and September often give you the best balance of warm water, long daylight and calm crowds. We sail year-round when conditions allow.

Where does the boat leave from?

We depart from Puerto Marina Greenwich in Altea (also known as Campomanes), about 5 minutes south of Altea’s old town by car. It is a well-equipped marina with parking, cafés and bathrooms, and the pontoon is only a short walk from the car park.

Will we see dolphins?

Dolphins are often seen along this stretch of coast, especially on longer trips and with calm seas, but sightings cannot be guaranteed. Our skipper knows the areas where pods are commonly spotted and will adjust the route when the conditions are right.

Navegaria · Praktische gids

Zeilen in Altea: wat je kunt verwachten en hoe je je dag plant

Thinking about a sailing day in Altea? This is what it actually looks like: where the boat leaves from, how long each trip lasts, what to bring, and what the coast is like between Altea and the Peñón de Ifach in Calpe.

Samenvatting

In Altea you can join a private skippered sailing trip along a particularly scenic stretch of the Spanish Mediterranean. Trips leave from Puerto Marina Greenwich (Campomanes) and run from 2.5 hours (sunset) to 7–8 hours (full day). No experience is needed — the skipper takes care of everything. When you know your dates, you can book directly on the booking page, or first see the options on rent a boat in Altea.

What sailing in Altea is actually like

Altea sits between the mountain of Sierra Helada to the south and the Peñón de Ifach (a tall rock you will recognise from postcards) to the north. From the water, you see white houses climbing a hill topped with a blue-domed church, steep cliffs dropping into clear water, and little coves with turquoise patches where the seabed is sand. It is the kind of coast where people switch off quickly.

A sailing day in Altea with Navegaria is private: the boat is only for your group, and a professional skipper is with you the whole time. You decide roughly how you want the day to go (more sailing, more swimming, a specific cove, a quiet corner), and the skipper adapts the plan to wind and sea.

If you want a shorter version, the sunset trip (2.5 hours) is the most popular for couples and small families. If you have a whole day, the full-day option gives you enough time to reach Calpe, swim, lunch on board and come back without rushing.

Where the boat leaves from

Boats leave from Puerto Marina Greenwich, also called Campomanes Marina, about 5 minutes south of Altea old town by car. It is a modern marina with parking (paid), a couple of cafés and restaurants, bathrooms and a pleasant walkway along the pontoons. You will get the exact pontoon location by WhatsApp the day before your trip.

Approximate driving times to the marina:

From central Altea: 5–10 minutes.
From Albir or La Nucía: 10–15 minutes.
From Benidorm: 15–20 minutes.
From Calpe: 15–20 minutes.
From Alicante airport: about an hour.

Please aim to arrive 15–20 minutes before the departure time so we can do a short safety briefing before heading out.

Typical routes: Altea, Calpe and the Sierra Helada

There is no fixed route when you go sailing in Altea. The skipper picks the best direction on the day depending on wind and sea state. Two common options:

Northwards toward Calpe. You sail past Mascarat and the cliffs of Morro de Toix, and on clear days you approach the Peñón de Ifach, the tall limestone rock jutting out into the sea. Great views and good anchoring coves for a swim stop.
Southwards along Sierra Helada. You follow the dramatic cliffs of the Sierra Helada Natural Park toward Albir and Benidorm. It is more sheltered on windy days, and you can often spot seabirds nesting on the cliffs.

On full-day trips, we usually combine a route with a longer swim stop and lunch on board.

When to go: best months and conditions

The sailing season in Altea runs, in practice, from April to the end of October. During those months the water is warm enough for swimming (from around 20°C in spring to 27°C in August), and the weather is usually stable. We also sail on calm winter days for people who prefer a crisp, quiet sea without the summer crowds.

You can always check live weather on the Spanish national agency’s forecast for Altea: AEMET forecast for Altea. If the forecast for your chosen day looks uncomfortable (strong wind, waves, storms), we will contact you in advance to reschedule or refund. We do not sail in conditions that would make the day unpleasant or unsafe.

What to bring and what’s on board

You do not need any special equipment. A small bag with these is plenty:

Swimsuit, towel, sun hat or cap, high-factor sunscreen.
Flat, soft-soled shoes (dark rubber soles can mark the deck).
A light sweater or windbreaker, especially for sunset trips.
Water and any food or drinks you want to bring.
Sunglasses and, if you use contact lenses, something to rinse eyes with.

On board you will find a large shaded cockpit with cushions, a swim ladder, a marine toilet, life jackets in adult and child sizes, a fridge with ice, and Bluetooth speakers for your own playlist.

If you’d like to learn sailing, not just ride

Some visitors come to Altea thinking about a skippered day and end up wanting more: a proper taste of sailing, or even a license. You have two paths:

Hands-on during the trip. Tell your skipper you would like to steer or help with the sails. Half a day is plenty to try it in a friendly, low-pressure way.
Our sailing school. We run certified courses in English for the Spanish nautical licenses (Licencia de Navegación and PER). See the sailing school page for an overview.

Some background on Altea

If you want a neutral, non-commercial overview of the town — its old streets, the whitewashed old town on the hill, the pebble beaches and the history — Wikipedia has a compact article: Altea on Wikipedia. It is a nice read before your visit and pairs well with a day on the water.

When you are ready, you can book a skippered sailing trip in Altea on the booking page. The earlier you book in summer, the easier it is to get your preferred time slot.

Veelgestelde vragen

Do I need any experience to go sailing in Altea?: Not at all. Most people who come sailing with us have never been on a sailboat before. Our skipper handles the navigation, maneuvers, and safety. You just enjoy the day, swim in a cove, and ask as many questions as you like.
How long are the sailing trips?: The three standard options are sunset (2.5 hours, evenings), half-day (4 hours, morning or afternoon) and full-day (7–8 hours). All of them are private: the boat is just for your group, with a professional skipper on board.
What is the best time of year to go sailing in Altea?: From late April to mid-October the weather is generally warm and the water is pleasant for swimming. July and August are the busiest months; May, June and September often give you the best balance of warm water, long daylight and calm crowds. We sail year-round when conditions allow.
Where does the boat leave from?: We depart from Puerto Marina Greenwich in Altea (also known as Campomanes), about 5 minutes south of Altea’s old town by car. It is a well-equipped marina with parking, cafés and bathrooms, and the pontoon is only a short walk from the car park.
Will we see dolphins?: Dolphins are often seen along this stretch of coast, especially on longer trips and with calm seas, but sightings cannot be guaranteed. Our skipper knows the areas where pods are commonly spotted and will adjust the route when the conditions are right.