Bareboat charter — taking the yacht out under your own command — is a small but real slice of the Marbella charter market. About 12% of our bookings go bareboat, almost all to renters with prior Greek, Croatian or Caribbean charter experience who want the same on the Costa del Sol. This page covers what bareboat looks like specifically from Marbella, the licence requirements, the routes available, and why Mediterranean bareboat charter from Marbella is a day-and-short-multi-day product rather than the 7–14 day flotilla model.
Why most 'Mediterranean bareboat' isn't from Marbella
When people search 'Mediterranean bareboat charter', they're usually picturing the Palma–Greece–Croatia–Turkey model: fly in, pick up a 12–15 m yacht for 7–14 days, sleep aboard, anchor in a different cove each night, return to base. That market is built on island chains and bays — the Balearics, the Cyclades, Dalmatia, the Aegean Turquoise Coast.
Marbella's coast is a single 90-mile line of beach with no island chain. There's nowhere to overnight at anchor in a sheltered cove that isn't a 50+ NM trip. The genuine week-charter Med bareboat is not Marbella's product — basing in Palma will serve that customer far better.
What Marbella offers instead: bareboat day charter (10am pick-up, 6pm return), and short multi-day to Gibraltar (24–48h), Sotogrande (24h), or Tarifa (48–72h whale-watching) for the brave / experienced.
What you can bareboat — Marbella fleet
| Yacht | Day rate (bareboat) | Licence required | Deposit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 m / 15 hp RIB (license-free) | €220–€320 | None (over 18, briefing) | €500 |
| 7–8 m motor boat | €450–€650 | PER or ICC + powerboat | €1,000 |
| 10 m motor yacht | €650–€950 | PER or ICC + powerboat | €1,500 |
| 12 m motor yacht | €900–€1,400 | PER or RYA Day Skipper | €2,500 |
| 10–12 m sailing yacht | €550–€850 | PER + sail or RYA Day Skipper | €2,000 |
| 14–15 m sailing yacht | €800–€1,300 | Patrón de Yate or RYA Yachtmaster Coastal | €3,500 |
Above 15 m, Marbella charter is almost entirely skippered — the licence requirements and insurance premiums make bareboat unviable.
Licences we accept
- Spanish PER — Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo, the standard Spanish recreational skipper licence. Valid for vessels up to 12 m / 30 NM from coast.
- RYA Day Skipper + ICC — UK / international, most common for British renters. Sail or motor endorsement determines what you can charter.
- RYA Yachtmaster Coastal / Offshore — extends to 14 m+ vessels.
- ASA 104 Bareboat Skipper / US Sailing Bareboat — accepted with prior Med charter experience.
- German SBF-See, French Permis Côtier / Hauturier — both accepted with ICC top-up.
Verification: photo of front + back of licence, 10-minute video call confirming prior charter history (where, when, what yacht). For RYA / ASA we cross-check certificate numbers against the awarding body's register.
Three bareboat routes from Marbella
Marbella coast day-charter (Puerto Banús to Cabopino)
The standard. 10am pick-up at Puerto Banús or Marbella Marina, head east along the coast to Funny Beach for swim stop, anchor off Calahonda for lunch, return by 6pm. 12–16 NM total, well within sight of land. Best first bareboat for someone unfamiliar with Marbella waters.
Marbella → Sotogrande and back (28 NM each way, 1-day or overnight)
Head west past Estepona, into Sotogrande Bay. Lunch ashore at the marina or at anchor off the inner beach. Return same evening (long day) or overnight at Marina de Sotogrande (€80–€140 visitor berth) and return next morning. Despacho fine within Spanish waters.
Marbella → Gibraltar → Marbella (33 NM each way, 48 hours)
The flagship multi-day bareboat. Requires international despacho (we file). Day 1: Marbella to Gibraltar, lunch ashore, overnight at Marina Bay or Ocean Village (~€85/night for a 12 m yacht). Day 2: morning at Catalan Bay, return Marbella. Need clear weather forecast both directions — Levante wind closes the route. Best May, June, September.
Deposits, insurance, breakage
Pre-authorised on a card at handover, after licence verification. Released within 48 hours of return if no damage. Damage deductible €600–€1,500 depending on yacht — first €600 of any damage claim comes off your deposit, anything above goes to insurance. We carry full charter cover on every bareboat-eligible yacht (see insurance page for the policy structure if you're curious as an owner).
Tow-back if you ground the yacht: insurance covers, but expect your deposit to be deducted in full while assessment happens. Engine failure that's not your fault: covered by us, no deposit hit.
Booking
WhatsApp +358 400 406 194 with: licence type + number + photo, prior charter history (where + when + boats), date, group size, route preference. Verification within 24 hours. 30% deposit holds the booking; balance + damage deposit on handover. Cancellation: full refund 14+ days, 50% 7–14 days, no refund inside 7.
Related
- Main Marbella boat rental hub
- Boat rental no license — license-free 5 m / 15 hp option.
- Yacht charter Marbella — skippered alternative.
- Gibraltar day trip — full route guide
- For owners: list your sailboat
Related: more around the Mediterranean
Frequently asked questions
What's bareboat charter and how is it different from skippered?
Bareboat = you skipper the yacht yourself. Skippered = our captain drives. Bareboat costs less because you don't pay a captain (€180–€260/day saved), but you need a valid recreational skipper licence and prior charter experience. About 12% of Marbella charters are bareboat; most renters opt for skippered because they're on holiday.
What licence do I need?
For Marbella bareboat charter: Spanish PER (Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo) up to 12 m / 30 NM from coast, OR equivalent foreign certificate. We accept: RYA Day Skipper + ICC (most common for UK renters), Bareboat Skipper from ASA / US Sailing, German SBF-See, French Permis Côtier. Above 12 m: Patrón de Yate or RYA Yachtmaster Coastal.
Are there license-free options?
Yes — Spanish law allows boats up to 5 m / 15 hp / 2 NM from coast with no licence. See our [boat rental no license Marbella](/boat-rental-no-license-marbella/) page. Above that you need the certifications listed above.
Can I do a multi-day bareboat?
Yes, on the larger yachts (12 m+). Common multi-day routes from Marbella: Marbella–Gibraltar–Marbella (48 hours), Marbella–Sotogrande–Estepona round trip (3 days), or Marbella–Tarifa–Marbella (3 days with whale-watching). Multi-day rates €1,400–€2,800 for a 12 m yacht for a weekend, including 24-hour kit and despacho for international waters.
Why isn't Marbella the typical Mediterranean bareboat week-charter market?
Geography. Real Med bareboat is a 7–14 day flotilla market based in Palma, Athens, Trogir, Marmaris — renters fly in, take a 14 m yacht for a fortnight, sleep aboard, do a 250–400 NM route through islands. Marbella's coast is a single line with no island chain, so the week-charter product doesn't exist. Marbella is day-charter or short multi-day.
What deposit do I pay?
€1,500 on a 10 m yacht, €2,500 on a 12 m, €3,500 on a 15 m+. Pre-authorised on a card after licence verification. Released within 48 hours of return if no damage. Damage deductible €600–€1,500 depending on yacht.
How do you verify my licence?
Photo of front + back of your licence card, plus a 10-minute video call to confirm prior charter experience (where, when, what yacht). For RYA / ASA we cross-check the certificate number. Spanish PER is verified through the official Capitanía registry.
What if I'm rusty — can I do skippered with handover?
Yes. Many renters book skippered for day one, take the helm under captain supervision on day two, then bareboat from day three. Day-rate uplift only for the days with captain aboard. Works especially well for sailors who've chartered in Greece but never on the Costa del Sol.