# Costa Brava by boat: headlands, coves and the Medes Islands

> Costa Brava alternates broad bays, exposed headlands and small coves. Cap de Creus and the Medes Islands should not be stacked into one day; each is a cruising basin with its own base and fallback.

- Departure : Roses, L’Escala, L’Estartit or Palamós
- Indicative distance : 18 to 40 NM depending on the basin
- Time under way : 3 to 5.5 hours under way
- Season : May to October outside strong Tramuntana
- Exposure : Tramuntana, headlands and rocky shores

## Choose Creus or the Medes

From L’Estartit, focus on the Medes, Montgrí and one southern cove without adding Cap de Creus.

### Leave in the wind axis

The bay gives an early reading of Tramuntana and chop. If the water already carries whitecaps, nearby coast replaces the islands.

### Round the Medes in authorised areas

Reserve rules govern navigation and use. Diving activity and excursion boats require a reinforced lookout.

### Choose a cove oriented for the day

Sa Tuna, Aiguablava and Montgrí inlets shelter different directions. Orientation matters more than fame.

### Return before Tramuntana rises

The wind can strengthen gusts quickly and make the return harsher. Time margin avoids compensating with speed.

## Tramuntana separates the coast into basins

Cap de Creus accelerates wind and should not be lightly combined with a long southern loop. Read the forecast headland by headland.

The Medes and several coastal sectors are protected. Navigation, diving, fishing and anchoring are controlled.

## Check before departure

- Choose between Roses–Creus and L’Estartit–Medes.
- Check Tramuntana gusts and swell.
- Read current reserve and natural-park rules.
- Name a fallback cove before departure.

## Practical questions

### Can Cap de Creus and the Medes fit in one day?

Some boats can cover the distance, but stops and margin suffer. Two separate days form the more coherent plan.

### Are the Medes Islands freely accessible?

Navigation remains possible under specific rules. Confirm current authorised areas and uses officially.

### Which base offers the most fallback options?

L’Estartit and Palamós open several coastal alternatives; Roses serves Cap de Creus. The day’s wind still decides.

## Separate the basins before drawing the route

Seavilo turns your base and forecast Tramuntana into comparable loops with return time and exposure.

Plan with Seavilo : https://seavilo.com/en

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Distances and times are planning ranges. Check official charts, notices to mariners, local rules and a current marine forecast. The skipper remains responsible for every decision.