Explore the Medes Islands & Discover the Magic of Estartit!

The best part of this five-hour cruise is the changing view from the water. You sail across Roses Bay toward the Montgrí Massif, pass Cala Montgó and the Foradada cave, then reach the Medes Islands Natural Park, where underwater viewing rooms let you look at the seabed without getting wet.

I like the route’s variety, especially the contrast between open-water scenery and the free time in El Estartit. I also like the included audio guide, available in eight languages, and the fact that you can buy drinks from the onboard bar.

The main caution is that this is a large catamaran, not a small sailing boat. The underwater view may be modest, with one account describing a seabed around three meters below and only small fish. Also confirm the destination before boarding, since a scheduled trip has reportedly been changed to Cadaqués without clear notice.

Key things to know before sailing

• The cruise lasts five hours, so plan it as a half-day outing rather than a quick boat ride.
• The Medes Islands viewing rooms are the main marine feature, but visibility and sea life can vary.
• El Estartit gives you time ashore, including the weekly market on Thursdays.
• The catamaran is large, which offers space and stability but less of a small-boat feel.
• Eight audio-guide languages are available: Catalan, Dutch, English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, and Russian.
• Dolphins are possible but not promised. One sailing included a dolphin sighting, but that is a lucky extra.

Setting out from Roses across the bay

You can board at one of two listed locations: Avinguda de la Bocana, 2, or Av. de Rhode, 139. Check your selected departure point carefully, since the meeting point depends on the option you book.

Once clear of Roses, the boat crosses the broad Gulf of Roses toward the southern end of the bay. This opening stretch is less about a single attraction and more about getting a sense of the Costa Brava from the water. The shore pulls away, the bay opens up, and the Montgrí Massif comes into view.

The massif is often described as a sleeping bishop lying on his back, with his feet reaching toward the Mediterranean. It is an easy shape to spot from offshore and gives the cruise a useful visual marker as the catamaran heads toward the Medes Islands.

I like this part because it makes the geography clear. From a beach or coastal road, you see only one piece of the coast. From the boat, you can connect Roses, Cala Montgó, L’Escala, El Estartit, and the Gulf of Roses in one long sweep.

The scale of the bay also explains the five-hour duration. This is not a short harbor loop. The boat covers a broad section of the coast, and the return route uses different viewpoints instead of simply turning around after the islands.

Cala Montgó and the Foradada cave

As the boat continues south, it passes in front of Cala Montgó. The cove is one of the notable coastal sights on this side of the bay, and viewing it from the sea gives you a different angle from the usual road or beach approach.

The route also includes the Foradada cave. Its name means holed in Catalan, referring to the opening through the rock. If conditions and timing cooperate, you may see another boat pass through it. That possibility is part of the fun, but do not treat it as a guaranteed event.

This section is best enjoyed from the outside deck if the weather is comfortable. You will have more room to look along the cliffs and take photographs, while the audio guide can add context in your own language. The guide is supplied for phones and covers Catalan, Spanish, French, English, Italian, German, Dutch, and Russian.

Because the route depends on sea conditions and operating plans, the exact amount of time spent near the cave is not specified. I would think of it as a scenic pass-by, not a stop for a long cave visit.

Looking below the catamaran at the Medes Islands

The Medes Islands are the central reason to book this cruise. They form part of a Marine Natural Park known for protected coastal waters and underwater life. The boat allows you to enter its underwater viewing rooms and look through windows toward the seabed.

This is a good feature for families and for anyone who wants a glimpse below the surface without swimming or using snorkeling gear. You stay dry, and the catamaran provides a simple introduction to the marine park.

Keep your expectations sensible. Underwater viewing from a moving boat is not the same as snorkeling or scuba equipment. The amount you see depends on water clarity, sunlight, the boat’s position, and how much sea life happens to be nearby.

One account described the seabed as only about three meters below the boat, with small fish. That may sound underwhelming if you are expecting dramatic underwater scenery. The viewing rooms are best treated as an added feature of a coastal cruise, not as the main reason to visit a marine park for serious wildlife watching.

The large catamaran matters here. It can carry many people and offers a broad platform, but one recent account found the boat too enormous for the expected experience. If your ideal outing is a quiet trip on a small vessel, this will not be the right style.

On the other hand, a larger boat can feel reassuring for people who prefer a more substantial platform at sea. It also gives you several places to sit, stand, and change your view, though the exact seating arrangement is not provided.

Free time in El Estartit

After the Medes Islands, the catamaran reaches the port of El Estartit. You can get off and visit the town at your own pace. The schedule describes this part as a walk or hike, but it does not specify a guided walking route, so you should expect independent time rather than a structured town tour.

This stop breaks up the boat ride. Five hours on the water can feel long if every minute is spent seated on deck. El Estartit gives you a chance to stretch your legs, see the port area, and choose how active you want to be.

Thursday is the most useful day for shoppers and anyone who enjoys local market life, since the town holds its weekly market then. If your sailing falls on another day, you will still have time to explore, but the market will not be part of the visit.

I would use this stop according to your interests. If you want a relaxed half-day, walk around the port and town before returning to the boat. If you prefer a little exercise, the free time can serve as the walking portion of the trip. The available information does not give a precise length for the stop, so keep an eye on the agreed return time.

El Estartit is also a practical reason to choose this tour over a simple sightseeing cruise. You are not limited to viewing the coast from the rail. You get a land-based pause in a well-known coastal town before the return sailing.

The return through L’Escala and the Gulf of Roses

The trip back to Roses follows a different line along the coast. The catamaran sails in front of L’Escala, then passes the Greek port of Sant Martí d’Empúries, San Pedro Pescador, Empuriabrava Beach, and La Robina Beach.

This return route gives the cruise a broader sense of the region. Instead of making the Medes Islands the only point of interest, it links several coastal areas and beaches into one continuous outing. The views should be especially useful for anyone trying to understand how the towns and beaches fit together.

Sant Martí d’Empúries is described here as the Greek port, making it one of the more distinctive sights on the return. The route does not include a shore visit there, so you will see it from the water rather than explore the site on foot.

Empuriabrava and La Robina add a change of character, with beach scenery replacing the rocky coves and island views. Finally, the boat returns toward Santa Margarita and Roses.

You may arrive back at either Avinguda de la Bocana, 2, or Av. de Rhode, 139, depending on your selected option. Confirm the return point before departure, especially if you have a restaurant booking, car, or other plans afterward.

What the $53 price really buys you

At $53 per person, the cost is reasonable if you value a long coastal route, a stop ashore, and the chance to view the seabed from a boat. You are paying for five hours of transport and sightseeing, rather than for a single short attraction.

The package includes the boat tour, the multilingual audio guide, and access to the onboard bar service. Drinks are not stated as included, so plan to pay separately for anything you order there.

The value is strongest for people who want a broad overview of this part of Catalonia. In one outing, you see Roses Bay, the Montgrí Massif, Cala Montgó, the Foradada cave, the Medes Islands, El Estartit, L’Escala, Sant Martí d’Empúries, Empuriabrava, and La Robina.

The value is weaker if your main goal is close marine viewing. The underwater rooms may show only a shallow seabed and small fish, and conditions can limit what you see. In that case, a dedicated snorkeling or scuba outing would likely better match your expectations, though those alternatives are not part of this activity.

The published score is 4.1 out of 5 from 51 ratings. The positive side of that figure fits the tour’s strongest points: the route is attractive, the crew and shore staff have been described as friendly, and the outing can run as expected. The lower scores point to two real concerns: the size of the boat and the limited underwater sights.

Weather, wildlife, and the right expectations

The Costa Brava can look wonderful from the sea, but weather still controls the mood of the trip. One August sailing had rain and gray conditions, which reduced the impact of the views. That is worth remembering when you look at sunny promotional photographs.

The sea can also change what you see through the underwater windows. Fish may be present, but there is no promise of large animals or clear water. A dolphin sighting has occurred on the route, which would be a memorable bonus, but you should not book this as a dolphin-watching trip.

Bring your patience for a boat outing with several scenic passes rather than constant action. The route has natural variety, but some stretches are simply time on the water. I would choose an outdoor seat when the weather is good and keep the audio guide available for the less eventful sections.

The bar is useful during a five-hour sailing, particularly if you prefer not to carry refreshments. The supplied information does not list a meal, so do not expect lunch to be part of the price.

Important destination checks before you go

There is one practical issue I would take seriously. At least one scheduled trip intended for El Estartit and the Medes Islands was changed to a Cadaqués cruise without clear notice. The replacement sailing was considered enjoyable, but it was a different destination, and the person involved already knew Cadaqués.

That means you should confirm the day’s route at the departure point, especially if the Medes Islands and El Estartit are the specific reasons you booked. Ask the staff in the small ticket booth or at the dock if needed. The staff there have been described as friendly, but friendliness does not replace a clear destination check.

The activity also lists two possible starting points and two possible drop-off points. Match your booking option to the correct dock, and allow time to find it. The precise departure times vary, so you need to check availability for your chosen date.

The tour is not suitable for people with mobility impairments. If you have difficulty boarding, walking around the port, or getting into the viewing rooms, contact the operator before booking rather than assuming the large boat will solve the problem.

Who will enjoy this catamaran cruise

I would recommend the trip to families, couples, and independent sightseers who want a simple way to see a large stretch of the Costa Brava. The combination of boat scenery, an audio guide, a marine park stop, and free time in El Estartit gives the day a useful rhythm.

It is also a good choice if you are staying in Roses and want to see places that would otherwise require separate transport. The route helps you compare the open Gulf of Roses with the coves and rocky coast farther south.

You may want to skip it if you dislike large boats, need close-up marine life, or have only a short amount of time. Five hours is a serious commitment, and the underwater viewing rooms may not satisfy anyone expecting a full snorkeling experience.

The trip suits people who enjoy scenery more than a tightly scripted tour. You get an audio guide rather than a named live guide, and your time in El Estartit is free rather than led. That gives you independence, but it also means you must manage your own return to the boat.

Should you book the Medes Islands and El Estartit cruise?

Book it if you want a broad, easygoing coastal outing from Roses and like the idea of combining views with a short town visit. The Montgrí Massif, Foradada cave, Medes Islands, and return past Sant Martí d’Empúries make the route more varied than a simple harbor cruise.

Before paying, be clear about two points: this is a large catamaran, and the underwater viewing may show only modest marine life. Confirm that the boat is running the Medes Islands and El Estartit route on your date. If those expectations suit you, $53 is fair value for five hours of coast, transport, and independent time ashore.

FAQ

How long does the Medes Islands and El Estartit cruise last?

The activity lasts five hours.

Where can I board the catamaran?

The listed starting points are Avinguda de la Bocana, 2, and Av. de Rhode, 139. The exact meeting point depends on the option booked.

What languages are available for the audio guide?

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

Can I see marine life without getting in the water?

Yes. You can enter the catamaran’s underwater viewing rooms to look at the seabed and marine life.

Do I get time to visit El Estartit?

Yes. The boat stops at the port of El Estartit, where you can get off and explore independently. On Thursdays, the town has its weekly market.

Is food included in the price?

The activity includes bar service, but the provided information does not state that food or drinks are included.

Is the cruise suitable for people with mobility impairments?

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