Puerto Banús has more yachts over 24 metres than any port in southern Europe. Hiring one for a day looks simple. It is not.

Puerto Banús is the yacht capital of southern Europe. On any given August afternoon there are between 80 and 120 yachts over 24 metres moored at the marina, and another 50 anchored within sight of the breakwater. If you have been here in summer, you already know that hiring one for a day looks simple from the dock. It is not.

How yacht charter actually works in Puerto Banús

There are two markets running in parallel. The visible one is the dockside agents who hand out flyers along the marina front; their day-charter prices look fair (€2,500–€4,500 for a 15-metre boat) but the boats are over-booked, the crews are seasonal, and the fuel surcharge at the end can double the bill. The invisible market is the private brokerage network — about 20 firms, half of them based in Marbella, half in Mallorca and Monaco, who manage charter inventory for the owners of the boats you actually want.

The private market is where the 30-metre Ferretti you saw at the entrance is actually charterable. The same boat appears at three different brokers at the same time; the price will vary by 10–15% depending on who you talk to and whether the captain has heard of you.

What you are actually paying for

A day charter quote from a serious broker covers:

  • Boat and crew (captain + crew of 2 to 5 depending on size)
  • Fuel — usually included up to a soft limit (around 4 hours of cruising); excess metered at end of day
  • Water toys (jet skis, paddleboards, seabob, water skis) — usually included for 24m+
  • Soft drinks, water, beer, ice
  • Crew gratuity is NOT included; standard is 10–15% of the charter rate
  • Catering — chef on board is extra (around €120 per guest for a full lunch with wine)
  • VAT — 21% in Spanish waters, sometimes already in the quote, sometimes added at the end. Always ask.

Realistic day-charter prices (summer 2026)

Prices below are for a single day, 9 hours, summer high season (July–August), captain and standard crew included, before fuel surcharge and VAT:

  • Lagoon 50 catamaran (15 m, 10 guests): €3,400–€4,200
  • Princess 60 (18 m, 10 guests): €5,500–€7,000
  • Sunseeker 76 (23 m, 10–12 guests): €9,000–€12,000
  • Ferretti 92 (28 m, 12 guests): €14,000–€18,000
  • Pershing 108 (33 m, 12 guests): €18,000–€24,000

Off-season (October to May) prices drop by 30–50%. The boats are exactly the same; the weather is hit-or-miss in winter but September and early October are some of the most reliable months of the year.

The three classic routes

These three day trips account for around 80% of all charters out of Puerto Banús:

Puerto Banús → La Concha bay → Cabopino → return.

The most popular short day (5 hours). You leave the marina, hug the coast east towards Cabopino, anchor for swimming in front of Marbella town, head back. Comfortable, photogenic, no swell.

Puerto Banús → Sotogrande or Estepona for lunch.

Full day (8 hours). Cruise west along the coast. Anchor outside Sotogrande Marina, take the tender in for lunch at one of the polo-side restaurants, cruise back at sunset. The dinner-bound version of this route — leave at 4 PM, anchor at sunset for cocktails, dock at 11 PM — is what most clients book for August.

Puerto Banús → Gibraltar.

Full day, 10 hours, requires earlier start. Cross the bay of Algeciras, see the Rock from the water, lunch on board. Note: you can disembark in Gibraltar but customs is slow.

What to bring (and what is already on board)

On any boat 18 metres and above, you do not need to bring towels, sunscreen, beach mats, snorkel gear, or water. The crew has all of it. What you do want to bring:

  • Sunglasses with a strap
  • A light long-sleeve layer for the wind on the way back
  • Cash for the crew gratuity (€500–€2,500 depending on boat size)
  • Reservation confirmations for lunch ashore if you plan to disembark
  • A speaker only if the captain confirms you can use it; many boats now have their own integrated systems

Things people get wrong

  • Booking too late. The best boats in August are taken three months out. You can still find a boat 48 hours before, but it won't be the one you wanted.
  • Underestimating the day. Nine hours on the water with sun, salt and a full lunch is a real day. Most guests fall asleep on the way back.
  • Booking a boat too big. A 33-metre boat for 4 guests is over-staffed and feels empty. Match the boat size to your group.
  • Treating the captain as a taxi driver. The captains who work this coast for a living know which beach club has space, which restaurant has the best lunch this week, where to anchor when the wind shifts. Ask.

Beyond the day charter

If you want more than a day, the same brokers offer week charters with overnight stays. The Balearics (Ibiza, Formentera, Mallorca) are 8–14 hours across the Mediterranean from Puerto Banús — you can do it overnight if the weather is good. A full week on a 28-metre yacht for 12 guests in August lands between €110,000 and €160,000, including crew, fuel and catering.

If you'd like help comparing quotes from three vetted brokers in Puerto Banús — without the pressure — the Rosebud concierge will pull options for your dates and group size within 24 hours.

Reserve your access