Are you looking for some great Benalmadena boat trips? If you’re unsure which one to book or where to find the best options, you have come to the right place!
I live right next to Benalmadena and have visited the local marina many times, seeing many options available. I also have experience with a variety of boat trips, especially from Malaga, so I can give you first-hand advice on what’s worth your money and time.
Let’s dive in! (pun intended)
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If you’re looking for the most enjoyable way to spend time at sea, here is the most popular options from Benalmadena boat trips:
Benalmadena: Dolphin Watching Boat Tour (most popular activity for Benalmadena!)
BENALMADENA BOAT TRIPS 2023
Before You Book Benalmadena Boat Trips
DOLPHIN WATCHING CRUISES
You need to manage your expectations if you book a dolphin-watching trip as there are no guarantees that you will see anything. The success of dolphin watching depends on the time of the year, season and also at what time you venture out to the sea.
If you book the trip with open mind and consider seeing dolphins as an added bonus, then you will be definitely pleased! Most of these boat rental companies actually notify each other about the places where they spot dolphins hanging out, increasing your chances to see them in their natural habitat.
If you’re not lucky, fear not – it’s still wonderful to be at sea, with a cold drink in hand, enjoying the gorgeous views while taking in some sun!
RENTING A BOAT
This one is rather obvious, but I thought I would mention it for completeness – most of the boat rentals offered by the local companies do not require a license, so you should be confident enough to book anything without having to worry about paperwork.
The activity name as offered by local tour operators normally indicates this in the name too.
LUXURY BOAT OR YACHT CHARTERS
If you’re looking for something truly spectacular, you will have to search further away from Benalmadena. Most of the luxury boat and yacht charters will be available in places like Marbella or Malaga.
Especially the marina in Marbella (Puerto Banus), you will find some of the most spectacular yachts on the whole coastline, well worth a day trip!
BENALMADENA BOAT TRIPS 2023
Best Benalmadena Boat Trips for 2023
Below is a selection of the best boat trip options for each category.
1. DOLPHIN WATCHING BOAT TOUR
If you would like to see dolphins in their natural habitat, this is the trip for you!
Get on board a luxury catamaran from Puerto Marina in Benalmadena, enjoy a fully stock bar on board, plenty of seating options and spots for sunbathing, and even a stop for swimming in the sea!
The perfect way to spend 2 hours at sea – click book online below to reserve your spot, so you don’t miss out!
- FREE cancellation up to 24 hours before trip for a full refund, giving you lots of flexibility in case your plans change
- 2 hour trip at sea
- Reserve now and pay later option
- Bar on board available
- Option for swimming in the sea
- On board of a luxury catamaran
BOOK ONLINE:
2. PRIVATE BOAT RENTAL
Plan your own adventure on the coastline of Costa del Sol with private boat rental available in Benalmadena Marina.
No license required for this boat rental.
- FREE cancellation up to 24 hours for a full refund
- Rental period from 1 to 4 hours
- Reserve now and pay later
- English or Spanish-speaking instructor
3. BOAT RENTAL WITH MALAGA CRUISE
Hop on board your own rental boat to explore the coast of Malaga! Available for 1 to 4-hour rentals, without a license.
- FREE cancellation up to 24 hours for a full refund
- Rental period from 1 to 4 hours
- Reserve now and pay later
- English or Spanish-speaking instructor
BOOK ONLINE:
4. FERRY FUENGIROLA TO BENALMADENA
Ferry from Benalmadena to Fuengirola and back is a popular option for commuting between the two cities and seeing a bit of the coastline.
It is available from March to November, and you can get the tickets via the link below.
BOOK ONLINE:
Benalmadena Marina
All of the boat trips mentioned in the article leave from Benalmadena Marina, which is just a short walk away from the coastal promenade. The marina is also very close to the borders with Torremolinos.
The location of the Marina is on the map below.
The marina is built around residential blocks with docking areas all around and a small shopping area at the entrance. On the ground floor, you will have access to boat rentals and that’s where all the boat trips depart from, and on the top floor, you will find a selection of restaurants overlooking the Marina.
Most Popular Activities & Day Trips in Benalmadena
Here is a selection of some fun activities and day trips from Benalmadena – these are independently organized tours with pick-up from the town. To see available dates and check the prices please click on the link for each activity.
- Caminito Del Rey Guided Tour – with pick up from Benalmadena, a guided tour of the famous walkway along the El Chorro Gorge, with transportation, entrance fees and tour guide included.
- Dolphin Watching Boat Trip in Benalmadena – explore the coast of Benalmadena from a boat, enjoy a trip that includes spotting dolphins in their natural habitat, swimming and sunbathing on the boat.
- Day Trip to Ronda and Setenil de las Bodegas – see one of the wonders of Andalusia, the Puente Nuevo in Ronda with one of the oldest bullrings in Spain, and admire the houses built into massive rock formations in Setenil. Includes pick up from Benalmadena, a tour guide, a glass of Ronda wine, and entry to Palacio Mondragon.
- Day Trip to Granada with Tour of Alhambra – see one of the most famous monuments in Andalusia, the palace complex of Alhambra with a tour guide with a pick up from Benalmadena.
- Day Trip to Gibraltar – enjoy a trip to the UK territory with free time for shopping and an optional visit to the Nature Reserve with a guide.
Southern Spain Travel Planning Guide
Is it safe to drive in Spain?
YES! The roads in Southern Spain are generally in very good condition, with modern highways connecting the biggest cities. To rent a car, I highly recommend Discover Cars, which will get you the best deals on your car rental for your trip.
WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO DRIVE?
PUBLIC TRANSPORT — Southern Spain has a well-established and modern network of trains and buses. To get the cheapest bus or train tickets, take a look at Omio to find the timetables and prices.
DAY TRIPS — If you don’t like the hassle of using public transport, local travel companies offer many day trip options from almost all the destinations in Southern Spain. You can check them out here.
WHERE SHOULD I BOOK MY ACCOMMODATION?
BOOKING.COM — I have been using booking.com for all my trips in Spain and abroad, and have never had any negative experiences. Their reviews are very accurate and you get the best deals even on apartments, not just hotels.
ARE THERE LUGGAGE STORE OPTIONS IN THE CITIES?
YES — If you would like to leave your luggage behind to explore the city on your last day, before heading to the airport, you can use Radical Storage service, which lets you book luggage storage options in almost all the destinations in Southern Spain.
DO I NEED TO BUY A LOCAL SIM CARD FOR THIS TRIP?
YES – You can, of course, use your own card if you have roaming data available. If you want to avoid surprising extra charges from your operator, you can use a service like Airalo, where you can buy digital packs for e-sim cards, avoiding the hassle of sourcing local physical sim cards and extra roaming charges anywhere you go.
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links – if you decide to book using one of the links, I will earn a small commission that helps me run this site. This is at no extra cost to you.
