Welcome aboard our sailing yacht "Let´s Fetz", a Beneteau Oceanis Clipper 361, in our homeport "Marina La Bajadilla", Marbella, Costa del Sol. We like to give you some ideas for trips along the Western Mediterranean coastline which will leave you time enough to visit as well some of the historical places in Andalucia.
 
The area of the Costa del Sol might not look too interesting to some of you, as we can not offer anchor bays or small islands but you will be certainly rewarded by an impressive number of marinas along the shore, each of them with its very own character, charm or chic, but all of them well maintained and interesting. Just like the shore itself, where you find typical Spanish villages, an impressive country side and colourful towns like Marbella, worthwhile a visit while you are in the area.
 

 
Only 8 miles west of our homeport you reach the famous marina of Puerto Banús, the absolute "in" place on Spanish coasts with luxurious yachts, famous visitors from all over the world, restaurants for every taste, shops and boutiques open until midnight and the nightclubs and pubs never seem to close. A night in Puerto Banús is certainly a special event, but can be expensive!
 

 

 
Following the coastline going west the next interesting spot in 10 miles distance is Puerto de la Duquesa, a small and pretty marina with excellent restaurants- here we like to recommend Restaurante Macues overlooking the port. If you are interested to see some of the typical "white villages", you might hire a car and take half a day to visit Manilva with the famous Manilva wines, raisins and fresh fruits and Casares to see the rests of a Moorish castle- there is a 18-hole golf course in 5 min walk from the port to invite the golfers.
 

 
The next marina going west is Puerto Sotogrande, another luxurious marina, surrounded by golf courses. Well maintained with excellent infrastructure and lovely sandy beaches on both sides of the port, good beach restaurants - "chiringuitos"- this is the right spot to stay the night before going to Gibraltar or Morocco.
 

 
Leaving Sotogrande we head direction Straits of Gibraltar and the nearly 400 m high rock is soon right in front of us.
 

 
Passing "Europa Point" Lighthouse- the 2nd most southerly point in Europe after Tarifa in Spain- and with an impressive mosque overlooking the strait, we reach the bay of Algeciras. From entering the bay until mooring finally in Marina Bay, Gibraltar, it takes about 4 miles. Before you will be shown where to moor, you have to "check in" with the customs officer. You find the office starboard entering the marina. We recommend a "rock tour" either by using the local buses and the cable car to the top of the rock or one of the taxis who offer a guided tour. A visit of St. Michaels Caves, the famous Barbary Apes or the place where John Lennon once married Yoko Ono are highlights of a rock tour. You can have a look at Gibraltar´s official web page to get some more information beforehand. www.gibraltar.gi
 

 
Gibraltar seems to be a peaceful melting pot of several nationalities and religions: from the "real" British or Spanish citizens working here, Moroccans in their typical clothes to the native inhabitants of Gibraltar with Italian roots you see only friendly faces. Shopping in Main Street is a must as well as fish and chips if you like. There is a more up-market restaurant recommendable in Marina Bay called "Da Paolo" with a very interesting menu and perfect service. They start the day at 9 am from a healthy breakfast, then a light lunch, coffee and home made cakes to a very good dinner - since years a good address.
 

 
Our next destination is Marina Smir on the African continent! To reach this clean and safe port we are crossing the Straits of Gibraltar. It is always advisable to have the newest weather forecast before leaving Marina Bay- where the Atlantic Ocean meets the Mediterranean Sea the crossing can be a challenge, even for the experienced skipper. But on a sunny day and with the right wind, the crossing is a special event you will never forget. Weather links: www.navegar.com / www.wetteronline.de / www.inm.es or get the newest weather forecast directly from the port office in Marina Bay.
 

 
You reach Marina Smir after 20 miles passing the rocky coastline of north Morocco and a stay of 2 days is recommendable to visit the Kasbah in Tetouan, dine in a typical Moroccan restaurant and rest on a beautiful long and sandy beach next to the marina.
 

 
For sure you will meet Mustafa and Mohammed, an interesting team usually already waiting for new clients in the marina. Mustafa is the proud owner of a taxi but only speaks Arabic- Mohammed has no driving license but speaks languages- so they work together, take you for example to a good restaurant in the hills, called "Mandy", show you where to buy the best fruits and vegetables and just help to feel safe in a very different world. The Marina is absolutely safe and so is the endless sandy beach.
 

 
If the length of your charter is one week, it will be time to go back to Marbella home port- if you still have another weeks time, we have two ideas where to sail next:
 
Idea 1
Crossing the Straits of Gibraltar again direction north-west you will pass Tarifa, the point with the least distance between the African and the European Continent. Tarifa is famous to be one of the surf and kite paradises of the world with endless white sandy beaches and dunes. Unfortunately there is no recommendable marina in Tarifa but you will find a berth in Barbate, a nice and colourful fishing port further north.
 

 
The next places of interest are Cádiz and Puerto de Santa Maria on Spain´s Atlantic coast. Cadíz with its important container terminal and historical centre can be visited by car or bus but in the lovely marina of Puerto Sherry (Puerto de Santa Maria) you should moor. Famous around the world for its sherry bodegas and horse breeding the area of Puerto de Santa Maria is worthwhile a visit- for sure you will like the taste of a good sherry in the bodegas of Domeq or Osborne and enjoy a walk through this small town with its narrow streets and historical details everywhere.
 
Leaving Puerto Sherry in northerly direction you reach the port of Chipiona, starting point for a 7 hour trip up the river Guadalquivir, passing the nature reserve Coto Doñana to reach the capital of Andalucia: Sevilla!
Further informations about Sevilla and its history you will find here: www.andalucia.com / www.andalucia.org.
 

 
Idea 2
Another possibility for the second week would be as follows: after leaving Marina Smir in Morocco head again for the Mediterranean Coast and explore the coastline in easterly direction. You can reach in a day trip - passing homeport Marbella- the marinas of Fuengirola or Benalmadena. Both marinas are different to Marbella, larger, louder and full of tourist attractions. There are many restaurants and shops you can easily reach in walking distance. The atmosphere is more of a typical holiday destination but this can be fun for a day too- and the prices are lower…
 

 
The next interesting destination and one of our favourite Marinas along our coastline is Marina del Este. You reach this small and sheltered port crossing the Bay of Málaga as well easy in a day trip. It is well worth to stay a day or two in Marina del Este, hire a car - Crown Car Hire has an office there and compatible prices - and visit the Alhambra de Granada, the caves of Nerja and the village of Nerja itself. And you should not miss a good dinner in the best restaurant in the marina called "El Barco" and say hello to Franc who will attend you with pleasure.
 

 
Nerja is a small colourful town where you find the typical narrow streets with lots of flowers, horse and carriage and of course, tourists, too. But here you feel more "Spanish". The towns main attraction is an impressive number of pre-historical caves, which are used as a concert hall during the summer months for their excellent acoustics.
 

 
You find Granada and the Alhambra in only 80 km distance- the roads are very good and the trip a pleasure through an exciting country side.
The Moorish kings who ruled southern Spain for 800 years had a great influence on architecture and agriculture in Andalucia and their palaces are really a "must" once you are so near. Take a lot of time and good shoes with you….
 

 
Should you have some time left before returning to the swimming hotel, you can visit on your way back to the coast a little village called Lanjaron with its famous mineral waters out of the Sierras.
 

 
If you are in this area in the months of March or April you might go as well a day skiing in the Sierra Nevada. With around 3000 m height you find ideal conditions in the snow. www.sierranevadaski.com
 

 
You see, we like to present this part of Spain as a very interesting one, where you are not only sailing from marina to marina but are invited to see impressive historical places like the Alhambra de Granada, the Rock of Gibraltar or the caves of Nerja, enjoy super nightlife in Puerto Banus and shopping in Marbella or in a Moroccan Kasbah, lovely sunny sailing days on the boat or as well some hours on one of the many golf courses in this area. Sailing and sightseeing at the same time and you have your hotel always with you.
 

 
If you just like to go swimming for a day or like to surprise someone with a day out on the water, we do offer day trips with skipper and hostess after previous arrangements.
 

 
And should you like to combine some holidays on the water with some on land, please do not hesitate to go to www.marbellafinevacations.com.