Explore the Medes Islands & Discover the Magic of Estartit!

The best part of this five-hour catamaran trip is the change of scenery. You sail across Roses Bay, pass Cala Montgó and the Foradada sea cave, then look beneath the boat through underwater viewing rooms at the Medes Islands Marine Natural Park. After that, you have time ashore in L’Estartit.

I like the trip’s mix of boat views and free time, and I like the multilingual audio guide, which keeps the cruise useful for more than one language group. The price is also fair for a half-day outing. The main caution is the large catamaran and shallow underwater view. This is not a small, intimate wildlife cruise, and the seabed may show only small fish.

Key points to know before you book

• The Medes Islands are viewed from inside the catamaran: You do not need snorkeling equipment, but the underwater windows work best when the sea and visibility cooperate.
• L’Estartit gives you a real break from the boat: You can walk through town, visit the Thursday market, or simply enjoy the port before sailing back.
• The return route is part of the experience: Expect views of L’Escala, Sant Martí d’Empúries, the Gulf of Roses, Empuriabrava, La Rovina, Santa Margarita, and Roses.
• The boat is large: That helps with capacity and onboard facilities, but it can feel less personal than a smaller vessel.
• Check the exact departure carefully: You can choose between Avinguda de la Bocana, 2 and Av. de Rhode, 139, and the meeting point depends on your booking option.
• This is best for mobile visitors: The experience is not suitable for people with mobility impairments.

A five-hour view of the Costa Brava from the water

This excursion works best if you want to see a broad stretch of the Costa Brava without arranging several separate stops. You begin in Roses and spend most of the day moving between open water, rocky coves, a marine park, and the port town of L’Estartit.

The route is not simply a trip to one island group and back. The outward crossing takes in the southern side of Roses Bay, with the Montgrí Massif visible inland. On the return, the boat follows another line along the coast and across the Gulf of Roses. That gives you a useful sense of the region’s shape, especially if you are staying in Roses and want to understand how the coast connects.

You should allow five hours for the full outing. That makes it a serious half-day plan rather than a quick harbor ride. I would avoid scheduling a fixed lunch, museum visit, or long afternoon transfer immediately afterward.

There are two listed starting points: Avinguda de la Bocana, 2, and Av. de Rhode, 139. The same two locations are used for drop-off. Read your selected option closely, then arrive at the correct place. A wrong start point could turn a relaxed morning into a hurried one.

Crossing Roses Bay beneath the Montgrí Massif

The first scenic stretch is the crossing of Roses Bay. Look inland as well as out to sea. The Montgrí Massif has a distinctive profile that is compared to a sleeping bishop lying on the ground, with its feet reaching toward the Mediterranean.

That sort of view is easy to miss when you are focused only on the water. I would spend part of the crossing near the side of the boat, then move around as the view changes. The bay gives you distance from the shore, while the massif provides a strong reference point for the coastline.

The trip continues toward Cala Montgó. This is one of the more attractive sections of the route because the coast becomes more enclosed and rocky. You also pass the Foradada cave. Its Catalan name means holed, and the opening is large enough that a boat may pass through it if conditions and timing happen to line up.

That possibility is a bonus, not a promise. The supplied details say it may happen with luck, so do not treat it as a scheduled part of the outing. The same is true of wildlife. One passenger reported seeing dolphins, but dolphins are never guaranteed on a coastal cruise.

Seeing the Medes seabed through underwater windows

The main reason to choose this trip is the stop at the Marine Natural Park of the Medes Islands. Instead of getting into the water, you can go below deck or into the catamaran’s underwater viewing rooms and look through windows at the seabed.

This is a simple way to include a marine experience in your day. You do not need to swim, snorkel, or arrange extra equipment. For families or mixed groups, that can be a real advantage because everyone can take part in the same activity.

Set your expectations at the right level. The viewing area is not an aquarium with bright displays and constant animal activity. The water may be only about three meters deep in the viewing area, and one account described seeing very small fish. Visibility depends on the sea, weather, and position of the boat.

That does not make the stop pointless. It means the value is in seeing a natural seabed from a working boat, not in expecting a dramatic underwater show. On a clear day, you may notice rocks, plants, and fish moving below. On a gray or rainy day, the view may be muted. The trip has included wet weather before, so bring a light waterproof layer if the forecast looks uncertain.

The catamaran itself is worth considering. It is described by one passenger as enormous, which tells you something about the feel of the outing. A large vessel can provide more room and steady access to the viewing areas, but it will not offer the quiet, personal atmosphere of a tiny boat. If you prefer space, facilities, and a set route, that is a plus. If you want a hushed wildlife trip with a small crew, it may feel too big.

L’Estartit: the useful land stop

After the Medes Islands, the boat reaches the port of L’Estartit. You can get off and explore the town at your own pace. This break matters because five hours on a boat is a long stretch, and a short walk gives you a change of movement and setting.

The town stop is not presented as a guided walking tour. You are free to visit, walk, and get your bearings. That makes the stop flexible, but it also means you need to manage your own time and remain alert for the return departure.

Thursday is the best day if you enjoy local markets. L’Estartit holds its weekly market on Thursdays, adding stalls and street activity to the stop. Since the market is tied to one day, do not assume it will be there on every sailing.

I would treat L’Estartit as a pleasant coastal pause rather than the main reason to book. The Medes Islands and the sea route provide the central experience. The town stop adds variety and gives you a chance to see a second Costa Brava base without arranging another transfer.

The amount of free time is not specified, so do not plan an elaborate meal, shopping route, or distant walk. Stay close enough to return to the port easily. A short visit works well here, especially if you want to take in the waterfront, browse the market on Thursday, and be back in time for boarding.

The return through L’Escala and the Gulf of Roses

The trip back to Roses follows a different set of coastal views. You sail in front of L’Escala, then pass through the waters of the Gulf of Roses. This makes the return more than a repeat of the outward crossing.

The route includes the Greek port of Sant Martí d’Empúries, San Pedro Pescador, Empuriabrava, and La Rovina before reaching Santa Margarita and Roses. Not every point will receive a long stop or close-up explanation, but the sequence gives you a wide view of the coast and its different types of shoreline.

Empuriabrava is particularly recognizable from the water for its built-up coastal setting. Sant Martí d’Empúries offers a different visual note, connected with an ancient Greek port. From the boat, the value is mainly geographic and scenic rather than an archaeological visit. You are seeing the coastline from offshore, not touring each site on foot.

The return is a good time to use the audio guide. It is available in Catalan, Spanish, French, English, Italian, German, Dutch, and Russian. You use your phone to access it, so make sure your device is charged before boarding. The guide can add names and context while you watch the shore, though you should not expect a live guide personally leading the group.

A bar service is available onboard. That gives you a way to buy a drink during the long sailing, but the included features list does not promise a meal. Bring only what you need and check the bar rather than assuming food is part of the price.

What the $53 price really buys you

At $53 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend time on the Costa Brava, but it covers a substantial five-hour route. You are paying for the boat trip, access to the underwater viewing rooms, the stop in L’Estartit, the return cruise, the multilingual audio guide, and the onboard bar service.

The strongest value comes if you want variety. For one fare, you get an open-water crossing, views of the Montgrí Massif, Cala Montgó, Foradada, the Medes Islands, L’Estartit, and a long return past several coastal areas. Arranging all of those views independently would be difficult without your own boat.

The value is weaker if your only goal is to see colorful marine life. The underwater view may be shallow, and small fish may be all you see. You are also spending five hours on a large catamaran, so anyone seeking a short, quiet, small-group outing should compare other options first.

I would call the price reasonable for a full half-day, especially if you are happy to treat the boat ride itself as the main attraction. It is less convincing if you judge the experience only by the underwater windows.

Who will enjoy this catamaran trip most

I would recommend this outing to you if you want to cover a lot of coastline without renting a car or organizing several day trips. It suits people who enjoy being on the water, like scenic cruising, and appreciate a free stop where they can explore independently.

It also works for groups with different interests. One person can focus on the marine park, another can watch the coastline, and everyone can spend time in L’Estartit. The audio guide’s eight language choices are useful for international groups.

You should think twice if you have mobility impairments, since the activity is specifically not suitable for people with them. You should also consider the vessel size. A large catamaran may be practical, but it will not feel like a private sailing trip.

The experience is weather-sensitive in a straightforward way. Gray skies and rain do not necessarily cancel the cruise, but they can reduce the pleasure of the views and the underwater windows. If you have flexible plans, choose a day with the clearest forecast available.

One more practical point deserves attention. There has been at least one situation in which a sailing intended for L’Estartit and the Medes Islands was changed to a Cadaqués route without clear notice to the passenger. That does not tell you how often such changes happen, but it is sensible to confirm the destination at the departure point, particularly if the Medes Islands are your main reason for booking.

My verdict: book it for the route, not just the fish

I would book this trip if I wanted a broad, easy look at the Costa Brava from the water, with a genuine stop in L’Estartit and a chance to view the Medes seabed without swimming. The route is the star. The Montgrí Massif, Foradada, the Gulf of Roses, and the changing shoreline give the five hours a clear sense of movement.

I would not book it solely for underwater wildlife. The viewing area can be shallow, the fish may be small, and the big catamaran creates a shared excursion atmosphere rather than a close-to-nature one.

Choose your departure point carefully, check the day’s destination, and treat the Thursday market as a bonus if your schedule matches. With those expectations, this is a useful and reasonably priced half-day cruise for people who want scenery, a little marine life, and time to walk around another coastal town.

FAQ

How long does the Medes Islands and L’Estartit cruise last?

The activity lasts five hours, including the boat route, the Medes Islands visit, time in L’Estartit, and the return to Roses.

Where does the boat depart from?

The available starting locations are Avinguda de la Bocana, 2 and Av. de Rhode, 139. The exact meeting point depends on the option you book.

Where does the boat return?

The listed drop-off locations are Avinguda de la Bocana, 2 and Av. de Rhode, 139.

Can I see the seabed without swimming?

Yes. You can use the catamaran’s underwater viewing rooms to look at the seabed in the Medes Islands Marine Natural Park.

Is snorkeling included?

No snorkeling is listed as part of the activity. The included experience is boat access and viewing the seabed through the catamaran’s underwater windows.

Is there time to visit L’Estartit?

Yes. The boat stops at the port of L’Estartit, where you can leave the boat and visit the town, walk, or explore independently.

Is L’Estartit’s weekly market open every day?

No. The weekly market is held on Thursdays.

Which languages are available for the audio guide?

The audio guide is available in Catalan, Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Russian.

Is the tour suitable for people with mobility impairments?

No. The activity is specifically listed as unsuitable for people with mobility impairments.