Himarë Castro (Old Town Cove) Anchorage Guide

The Anchorage

The small cove on the N side of the Himarë castro (hilltop promontory) in 4–8m on sand. Good holding on clean sand — confirm with engine reverse. The promontory mass of the castro itself provides shelter from the S and SE that is not available in the main Himarë Bay, making this cove marginally more sheltered from the SW in quartering sea conditions. Still exposed to the prevailing SW Ionian swell — not a solution to the coast-wide SW problem but an improvement on the main bay. The cove is small: 3–4 boats maximum before swing room becomes critical. Significantly quieter than the main Himarë Bay in July–August as tourist traffic concentrates on the town beach.

Setting Your Anchor

The bottom at Himarë Castro (Old Town Cove) is primarily sand with reliable holding when properly set.

1. Check the forecast for Llogara Pass gusts before anchoring — if cloud is streaming over the 1,027m summit, consider Porto Palermo or Sarandë instead. Watch for katabatic gusts throughout your stay.
2. Approach slowly and check your depth sounder. At 4–8m, deploy minimum 7:1 scope (56m chain at 8m depth).
3. Drop into the wind and pay out chain steadily as the boat drifts back.
4. Set firmly in reverse — 30–60 seconds at moderate throttle. Use the scope calculator to confirm adequate chain.

Recommended anchor types: Rocna, Mantus, Spade.

Overnight Anchoring & Anchor Alarm

Overnight stays at Himarë Castro (Old Town Cove) are feasible in settled conditions but require vigilance — the anchorage is exposed to SW and W winds.

Set your GPS anchor alarm to 65m radius before going below. 65m alarm radius for the castro cove in 4–8m. The small cove limits swing arc — reduce to 50m if another boat is present. The extra S and SE shelter from the promontory mass is the key advantage of this position over the main Himarë Bay anchorage, but it does not eliminate the SW exposure that is inherent to this entire coast. In any sustained SW above F3, the main Himarë inner harbour with its breakwater remains the best available refuge in the area. The cove is best as an overnight anchorage in settled, light-wind conditions when the low crowd level and beautiful setting make it preferable to the busy town anchorage.

Usable May–October. Best in May, June, and September when settled conditions are most likely and the cove is at its quietest. July–August: viable but monitor SW swell forecasts daily; the main Himarë harbour is the safety fallback. Not suitable for overnight November–April due to increased SW swell frequency and remote character of the cove without summer facilities.

Navigation Hazards

• SW exposure: despite the promontory shelter, this cove remains exposed to the prevailing SW Ionian swell — F3+ SW brings uncomfortable conditions; the main Himarë harbour breakwater is the closest refuge (0.5nm S)
• Small cove capacity: 3–4 boats maximum before swing room becomes insufficient — late arrivals in July–August should plan for the main Himarë Bay as backup
• Steep approach hillside: the castro cliff face creates some wind deflection effects close to the promontory — approach the cove from due W and avoid going too close to the cliff base
• No facilities: this cove has no emergency facilities; the nearest services are at Himarë harbour (0.5nm S); do not anchor here in deteriorating conditions without a clear plan to move to the harbour

Rules & Regulations

• Albania entry — clearance agent mandatory: All foreign yachts must use a local clearance agent (~€100–150). Fly yellow Q flag. Himarë is a port of entry June–September only; outside summer season, clear at Sarandë or Vlorë.
• Anchoring fee: Free to anchor. No facilities at the cove.
• Maximum stay: 3 days
• Restrictions: Maximum capacity 3–4 boats — do not crowd the cove. If the cove is full, use the main Himarë Bay anchorage (0.5nm S). SW swell exposure means this is primarily a settled-conditions anchorage; depart for the inner harbour if SW forecast exceeds F3.

For a full overview, see our overnight anchoring rules by region guide.

Facilities

• Fresh water: Not available on site
• Fuel: Not available — nearest: Himarë town centre (0.5nm S) (0.5nm)
• Restaurant: None — nearest at Himarë town centre (0.5nm S) (0.5nm)
• Provisions: None on site — Himarë town centre (0.5nm S) (0.5nm)

Skipper's Tips

1. The castro village walk from the cove beach is a highlight of the Albanian Riviera — 20 minutes up a stone path to a medieval Greek-Albanian village with Byzantine church, stone houses, and panoramic Ionian views
2. The cove is at its best as an overnight stop in settled conditions in May, June, or September — the low crowd level and proximity to Himarë town (easily reachable by dinghy) make it an ideal combination of tranquility and services
3. From the castro hilltop, the view N along the Riviera coast toward Dhërmi and S toward the Ksamil islands is one of the finest coastal panoramas in Albania — worth the climb for the view alone
4. The cove beach is small and pristine — a handful of local Albanian families use it, giving it a very different atmosphere from the tourist-saturated Himarë main beach
5. Arrive in the afternoon after the main Himarë Bay morning provisioning run — complete clearance and shopping in the main bay, then motor the 0.5nm around the promontory to the cove for a quieter night