Boat rental to explore the coves of Begur
The coves of Begur make most sense from the sea: deep seabeds of rock, sand and weed, and a coastline that zigzags between headlands. Begur has no marina for medium-sized boats; the small harbour at Fornells (Club Nàutic Aiguablava) only takes craft up to 5.5 metres. That is why the boats we list leave from Port Marina Palamós, about 7.8 nautical miles from Fornells by sea and about 20 km from the centre of Begur by road. It is a trip for a motorboat or a boat with a skipper, and for a full day.
Getting to the harbour
From the centre of Begur it is about 20 km to Port Marina Palamós, around 25 minutes by car without traffic. If you are staying by one of the coves, add the drive into the village. In summer, it is best to set off early.
The coves of Begur, from south to north
Leaving Palamós, Begur begins after Tamariu and Aigua Xelida, which still belong to Palafrugell. From there, in the order you will come across them:
- Aiguablava. The cove south of the Fornells headland. In summer it has a mooring field.
- Fornells. A sheltered anchorage with the little harbour on its northern side.
- Platja Fonda. The next cove north, before the cape.
- Cap de Begur. The cape that separates Platja Fonda from Sa Tuna.
- Sa Tuna. The deeper of the two coves between Cap sa Sal and Punta des Plom, with a beach at its head. You can drop anchor in about eight metres, outside the buoys.
- Aiguafreda. Sa Tuna’s neighbour, with a small jetty. Both are sheltered from the tramontana (the north wind) and the garbí (the south-westerly).
- Sa Riera. A large sandy beach where small fishing llaüts are hauled up. You can anchor in the middle.
- Illa Roja. The last cove in the municipality of Begur, next to Platja del Racó, where Pals beach begins.
Approximate times and distances
- To Aiguablava: about 7.3 nautical miles. By motorboat at 15–20 knots, between 20 and 30 minutes.
- To Fornells: 7.8 miles according to the table in the Costa Brava harbour guide.
- To Sa Riera: about 10 miles along the coast, rounding Cap de Begur. Between half an hour and 40 minutes by motorboat.
By llaüt, just getting to Aiguablava takes close to an hour and a half, and almost two hours each way to Sa Riera. It can be done, but the day goes on cruising. By motorboat there is time for two or three swims and lunch at anchor. Bear in mind that in summer the garbí usually picks up from midday and that the Marina Palamós harbour mouth faces south: the afternoon return can be bumpier than the outward trip.
Anchoring in Begur
- The seabed along this coast is deep, which is why buoys are laid in summer. If there is a mooring field, tie up to a buoy; you do not drop anchor inside it.
- At Fornells and Aiguablava the official guide recommends anchoring south of the harbour or on sand, in about eight metres.
- Never on Posidonia (seagrass): Real Decreto 191/2026 (a Spanish Royal Decree) prohibits it. The waters of the Muntanyes de Begur are part of the Litoral del Baix Empordà Natura 2000 site, and in summer environmental information officers patrol the area.
- No official figures have been published for 2026 on the number of buoys or the conditions for using them in Begur. If you cannot find a free buoy, look for sand outside the swimming area: 200 metres off beaches and 50 along the rest of the coast where it is not buoyed.
Which boat to choose, and prices
For this distance, the sensible choice is a motorboat with a bit of power. The Nuva M6 Open (8 people, 150 hp) can be skippered with the Licencia de Navegación (the basic Spanish boating licence) and starts at 362 € a day. For groups of up to 10, the Cap Camarat 9.0 WA, with twin 200 hp engines and a cabin with a toilet, from 784 €. If nobody in the group holds a licence, the Gozzo Positano 32 Open comes with a skipper, takes 12 people and starts at 1,199 € a day. Prices are per boat including VAT, and higher in July and August; fuel is usually paid separately, and on this route it adds up.
From 1 October 2026 you need at least the Licencia de Navegación to skipper the boat, and some models require more. If you do not have it, go with a skipper, who will also know where to anchor in each cove. Qualifications from the European Economic Area or the United Kingdom are usually accepted; check with us before booking.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hire the boat in Begur?
The boats we list leave from Port Marina Palamós. The harbour at Fornells is small and only takes craft up to 5.5 metres.
Can it be done in half a day?
It is too short. By motorboat you could get to Aiguablava and back, but with little time in the water. For half a day, the coves near Palamós are more enjoyable.
Which cove is the most sheltered?
Sa Tuna and Aiguafreda are protected from the tramontana and the garbí. Even so, if the forecast is for strong wind, the trip from Palamós can be uncomfortable: check with us before setting off.
Choose a boat from the list and book it from its page, or write to us via the contact page and we will suggest a plan for seeing Begur based on the weather that day.