A Day Charter West From Puerto Banús
This is the route we suggest most often when the day itself, not just the sunset, is the point: out from Puerto Banús, west toward Estepona, back before dark.
From the port outwards
- 01
09:30 · Cast off from Puerto Banús
Board from Avenida Julio Iglesias, the main embarkation point in the marina, and settle guest numbers with the crew before leaving; tender and toy setup gets checked here rather than en route, which saves time later.
- 02
11:00 · Swim stop off Estepona bay
The first proper anchor of the day, roughly 25 kilometres west of Puerto Banús, on a calmer stretch of coast than the marina's own beaches; check the forecast beforehand since the Costa del Sol takes southwesterly swell more than easterly.
- 03
13:00 · Snorkel near Punta de la Chullera
Quieter water than the bay stops closer to Marbella, with fewer boats around; this is where a Benetti Oasis 40 or Riva 130 Bellissima crowd usually spends the longest single stretch, so plan lunch on board around it rather than against it.
- 04
15:30 · Beach club call further along the coast
A shorter stop to break up the swimming with something on land; confirm timing with the crew in advance since access and turnaround depend on the day's other guests and the tender schedule.
- 05
19:00 · Sunset return into Puerto Banús
The run back east takes longer than it feels once the light starts dropping, so leaving the last stop by mid-afternoon keeps the marina return relaxed instead of rushed, with dinner options either on board or ashore.
About Marbella
Puerto Banús is the working centre of it: 1,100 berths, a fuel dock on the west side, and enough vessel variety that a half-day loop toward Estepona and a full week toward Sotogrande get planned from the same jetty. Fleet choice runs from small sport yachts and catamarans through to superyachts such as the Feadship Emerald and Oceanco The Wellesley, so a party of four and a group of twelve are solving different problems, not the same one at different sizes.
Season shapes the route more than the brochure does. June through September brings the steadiest afternoon breeze and the clearest water for a Gibraltar Strait run, while April, May and October trade some crowd density for lighter marina traffic and still-warm water; winter charters are possible on calm days with far less competition for a Puerto Banús slip. Guests staying near Marbella with children in tow tend to prefer the shallower stretches off Bahía de Marbella or Cabopino over the open push west, and that choice is discussed at booking alongside guest numbers, half-day versus multi-day format, and what the day rate actually includes.