Best Anchorages on the Costa Brava
From Cap de Creus on the French border to Palamós, the Costa Brava offers dramatic rocky coastline and crystalline water — plus the Tramuntana wind that can exceed 40 knots at the headland. These 8 anchorages have been verified for depth, holding, Posidonia, and anchor alarm radius.
Free
Anchoring in most bays
40 kt
Max Tramuntana at Cap de Creus
Prohibited
Anchoring at Islas Medas
May–Oct
Best sailing season
Tramuntana — The Costa Brava's Critical Wind
The Tramuntana (Tramontane) is a N/NE wind funnelled through the gap in the Pyrenees near Perpignan. At Cap de Creus it accelerates through the headland — a forecast F5 becomes F7+ at the Cape. It can reach force 8–9 within one hour from flat calm. Never anchor in a N/NE-exposed bay if the Tramuntana forecast exceeds 20 kt. The DONIA app shows real-time Posidonia distribution — always check before anchoring to avoid fines up to €200,000 under Spanish Law 42/2007.
About Sailing the Costa Brava
The Tramuntana Effect
Cap de Creus acts as a wind accelerator for Tramuntana. The headland funnels the N/NE wind and can double its speed within 1nm of the cape. As you move south past Roses and into the Begur/Palafrugell bays, the wind moderates progressively — Palamós is significantly calmer than Cap de Creus in the same weather system.
Summer Pattern
July–August: Tramuntana light and unreliable. Mornings are flat calm; afternoon sea breeze (Garbi, from SE) builds to 10–20 kt. Some bays face SE — arrive before noon to avoid the Garbi-generated swell. May–June and September–October: ideal windows with Tramuntana episodes manageable and good visibility.
Islas Medas — Prohibited
The Islas Medas marine reserve, 1nm E of L'Estartit, is a strictly protected area. Anchoring is absolutely prohibited within the reserve boundary. Diving requires a mooring buoy booking (€35–55/day) and strict dive permits. The reserve is one of the most biodiverse in the Mediterranean — spectacular underwater but zero flexibility on rules.
Posidonia
Posidonia seagrass is present throughout the Costa Brava. Fines up to €200,000 under Spanish Law 42/2007. Download the free DONIA app before your trip — it shows Posidonia distribution in real-time and identifies sandy patches suitable for anchoring. Yellow-green patches on the bottom visible from the surface are Posidonia — do not anchor there.
8 Verified Anchorages
Port de la Selva
(Puerto de la Selva)Excellent HoldingNorthernPort de la Selva is a traditional Catalan fishing village on the N Costa Brava coast, offering the best-holding sandy anchorage between the French border and Palamós.
Depth
4–10m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
90m
Crowds
Moderate
Full anchoring guide →
Cala Montjoi
(Cala Montjoi Roses)Good HoldingCap de CreusCala Montjoi is a sheltered bay on the southern side of the Cap de Creus peninsula, offering reasonable Tramuntana protection in a scenic setting.
Depth
3–8m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Crowds
Moderate
Full anchoring guide →
Cala Aiguablava
(Aiguablava)Good HoldingBegurCala Aiguablava ('blue water cove') is the most famous anchorage on the Begur coastline — a compact bay of exceptional clarity backed by pine forest and crowned by the Parador hotel.
Depth
3–7m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
75m
Crowds
Very Busy
Full anchoring guide →
Sa Riera
(Cala Sa Riera)Excellent HoldingBegurSa Riera is Begur's most accessible and practical anchorage — a wide sandy bay with clean sand bottom, good holding, and a small beach village with basic provisions.
Depth
2–6m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
65m
Crowds
Moderate
Full anchoring guide →
Tamariu
(Cala Tamariu)Good HoldingBegurTamariu is widely considered the most beautiful village anchorage on the Costa Brava — a tiny bay with an arc of pastel-coloured fishermen's houses, crystal-clear water, and the characteristic Catalan pine-covered headlands.
Depth
2–5m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
60m
Crowds
Very Busy
Full anchoring guide →
Llafranc
(Cala Llafranc)Good HoldingBegurLlafranc is the most spacious anchorage in the Begur cluster — a wide sandy bay with a pleasant resort village, proper street grid, and better facilities than its smaller neighbours.
Depth
3–8m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Crowds
Busy
Full anchoring guide →
Calella de Palafrugell
(Calella)Fair HoldingPalamósCalella de Palafrugell is one of the best-preserved traditional fishing villages on the Costa Brava — a UNESCO-listed cultural landscape of traditional 'habanera' song and whitewashed houses.
Depth
3–7m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
80m
Crowds
Busy
Full anchoring guide →
Cala Fosca
(Cala Fosca Palamós)Excellent HoldingPalamósCala Fosca is the most sheltered and practical anchorage near Palamós — a compact bay with an excellent clean sand bottom, reliable holding, and good protection from the Tramuntana.
Depth
2–6m
Bottom
sand
Alarm Radius
65m
Crowds
Moderate
Full anchoring guide →
Costa Brava Anchoring Rules — Summary
- !Tramuntana: Leave any N/NE-exposed anchorage immediately if Tramuntana forecast exceeds 20 kt. At Cap de Creus, real wind is 2× the forecast. Forecast tools: AEMET (Spain), Windguru, PredictWind.
- !Islas Medas: Anchoring strictly prohibited inside the marine reserve (1nm E of L'Estartit). Approach for diving only — mooring buoys must be booked ahead. Fines apply.
- !Posidonia: Present throughout the Costa Brava. Fines up to €200,000 under Spanish Law 42/2007. Use the free DONIA app to identify sandy patches before dropping anchor.
- !COLREGS Rule 30: All-round white anchor light required at night. Set a GPS anchor alarm before going below — use recommended radii in each guide.
Monitor Your Anchor Overnight
Safety Anchor Alarm watches your GPS position continuously and sounds an instant alert if your boat drifts outside your set radius — essential for the Costa Brava where Tramuntana can arrive without warning in the night.
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