Yachting in Puerto Banús 2026: charter, purchase, berths, and lifestyle

The main marina of Southern Europe. From €384 per day for a boat to €100 million for a yacht. Everything you need to know about the sea lifestyle of Marbella.

Puerto Banús is not just a marina. It is a symbol of Marbella’s luxury lifestyle. Here, mega-yachts of royal families dock, negotiations worth €100 million take place on the decks of superyachts, and movie and sports stars dine.

Every year, thousands of vessels pass through the marina: from 5-meter rental boats to 80-meter private ships. And this is not a seasonal story. The marina operates 365 days a year, thanks to 300 sunny days and the mild Mediterranean climate of the Costa del Sol.

History of Puerto Banús

The marina opened in 1970 under a project by Spanish entrepreneur José Banús. The idea was revolutionary for its time: to create a luxury-class port on the Spanish coast that would combine ship infrastructure, a premium brand shopping gallery, and residential real estate in one complex.

At the opening, the King of Spain attended, along with Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly, and Aristotle Onassis. Since then, Puerto Banús has become the main meeting place for Europe’s elite on the Mediterranean.

Infrastructure

Modern Puerto Banús is not only berths for yachts. The marina includes:

A fuel station with the ability to refuel from 3,000 liters of fuel.

Opening hours: from 7:00 to 20:30, 365 days a year.

Private parking for residents and guests.

24/7 security with a video surveillance system and access via personal cards.

24/7 marine service with the option of technical support.

Fire service.

Concierge services for yacht owners and captains.

24/7 parcel delivery.

Yacht rental and sales service.

Showers and a dry dock for technical maintenance.

Location

Puerto Banús is located 6 kilometers from the center of Marbella and 41 minutes from Malaga International Airport. It is a unique combination: a yacht owner can fly to Malaga in the morning, be on their ship’s deck within an hour, and be out at sea by lunchtime.

From a navigation point of view, the marina provides direct access to key sea routes: Gibraltar, Tangier, the Balearic Islands, and Sicily. This makes it a base for the entire western Mediterranean.

Renting a yacht for a day

The most popular scenario for those spending several days or weeks in Marbella. There are many options, and budgets vary.

Small boats without a license

For those who want to operate the vessel themselves without special training. In Spain, this is possible for boats up to 5 meters and with power up to 15 horsepower.

Cost: from €200 to €400 per day.

Capacity: up to 7 people.

Who books: vacation families, and couples who want to spend half a day on the water without formalities.

Motor yachts with a captain

The most in-demand format in the mid-range segment. A 12 to 18 meter yacht with a captain and sometimes a crew.

Cost: from €1,500 to €5,000 per day. Average at the marina: about €4,549 per day.

Capacity: 8 to 12 people.

What’s included: captain, sometimes crew, fuel up to a certain distance, basic drinks and snacks, and berth fees in Puerto Banús.

Who books: groups of friends, corporate events, and families with children.

Premium sailing yachts and catamarans

An alternative to motor yachts for those who prefer a calm pace, sails, and the quiet of open water.

Cost: from €1,200 to €3,500 per day.

Capacity: 8 to 14 people.

Special feature: the option of multi-day passages to the Balearics or Gibraltar under sail. Fuel costs are several times lower.

Luxury yachts

Premium models from 18 meters and above, with a full crew, water toys, and meals.

Cost: from €4,000 to €15,000+ per day depending on size and level.

What’s included. Example of a typical package: Prestige 500S or Sunseeker 72ft, skipper and crew, fuel up to 40 nautical miles at 9 knots, jet ski, a SUP board, berth fees, beer, non-alcoholic drinks, cava, and snacks. Base price €2,100 for 4 hours, €3,500 for 8 hours on a mid-segment yacht.

Premium segment. Maia Fair 72ft Sunseeker: €4,375 for half a day, €7,000 for a full day.

What is usually not included. Extra fuel beyond the limit (about €200 per hour of overage), berth fees in other ports, additional catering, and strong alcohol.

Long-term charter: week, month, season

For those who spend a significant amount of time in Marbella and want to go out to sea regularly without having to book a new yacht every time.

Weekly charter. The standard format for a summer vacation. A 15 to 22 meter yacht with a crew. Cost: from €25,000 to €80,000 per week depending on the level.

Seasonal charter (3 to 6 months). Suitable for Marbella residents or families who spend the summer on the coast. Cost: from €80,000 to €300,000 per season.

Annual contract. Full access to the yacht with an exclusive right of use and a fixed maintenance schedule. Cost: from €200,000 to €1,000,000+ per year depending on the size and level of the vessel.

Buying a yacht in Marbella

For those who see yachting as a lifestyle for many years, not a one-time experience.

What to know before buying

Size and registration. In Spain, vessels up to 24 meters are registered more easily. Vessels over 24 meters (classified as «large») require special registration and fall under stricter international rules.

Luxury tax (Impuesto especial). Applies to vessels worth more than €70,000. The rate is 12% of the value at first registration in Spain. This is a significant amount that often makes buyers consider registration in other jurisdictions (Gibraltar, Malta).

A permanent docking spot. This is a critical factor to resolve BEFORE buying. Without a berth, a yacht is simply a problem: vessels cannot just stay at anchor in Puerto Banús indefinitely.

Brands and segments

The most popular yacht brands on the Marbella coast in 2026.

Up to 15 meters: Prestige, Beneteau, Jeanneau, Cranchi. New price: from €400,000 to €1,500,000.

From 15 to 25 meters: Sunseeker, Princess, Azimut, Ferretti. New price: from €1,500,000 to €8,000,000.

From 25 to 40 meters: Sunseeker, Pershing, Sanlorenzo. New price: from €8,000,000 to €30,000,000.

Over 40 meters (mega-yachts): Benetti, Lürssen, Feadship. New price: from €30,000,000 to €150,000,000+.

Secondary market. A huge selection. Yachts that are 5 to 10 years old with proper maintenance are sold for 50 to 70% of the new price, while maintaining quality.

Where to buy

Several options.

Dealer centers in Puerto Banús. Direct contacts with manufacturers: Sunseeker Spain, Princess Marbella, Ferretti Group.

Private yacht brokers. Specialize in the secondary market. They have access to closed offers from owners who do not list vessels on public portals.

International platforms. Yacht World, BoatTrader, Yacht Hub for searching the global market.

Auctions. Several times a year in Palma de Mallorca and Cannes. The chance to buy premium vessels at a discount.

Berth (berth spot): rent or buy

One of the most important questions for a yacht owner in Marbella.

Renting a berth

The standard format for most owners. The cost depends on the vessel length and the contract term.

Transit rental (1 to 7 days): €350 to €600 per day for an 18 meter yacht (60 feet). Prices rise by 30 to 50% in high season (July August).

Monthly contract: 20 to 30% cheaper than the transit rate. From €7,000 to €12,000 per month for an 18 meter yacht.

Annual contract: even more advantageous. Equivalent to 8 to 10 months of transit berth rental for full 12 months. From €60,000 to €100,000 per year.

Buying a berth

A unique opportunity in Puerto Banús and a few other top marinas: you may not need to rent. You can buy the right to use a berth for decades ahead.

Small berth (up to 15 meters): from €100,000 to €300,000 one-time.

Medium berth (from 15 to 25 meters): from €400,000 to €1,500,000.

Premium berth (from 25 to 40 meters): from €2,000,000 to €5,000,000+.

Mega-berth (over 50 meters): from €5,000,000 to €15,000,000+. The option to lock in berth costs until 2067.

What is included in the berth price

In addition to the berth itself, berth rental or purchase costs usually include: connection to electricity and fresh water, 24/7 security, access to showers and technical services, berth staff, and assistance with docking.

Not included: fuel, additional technical work, concierge services beyond the standard, and vessel insurance.

Real costs of a yacht owner

Buying is only the beginning of the financial picture. The real cost of owning a yacht in Marbella includes several mandatory components.

Fuel

Fuel price in Puerto Banús: €1.55 to €1.75 per liter in 2026.

Consumption. Depends on the yacht: a 18 meter motor yacht uses 200 to 400 liters per hour of cruising at an average speed. A day at sea usually costs €600 to €2,000 in fuel only.

Crew

Captain: €4,000 to €8,000 per month with full-time employment.

Full crew (captain, steward, cook, sailor): €15,000 to €40,000 per month.

Seasonal crew (3 to 4 months of summer): usually 20 to 30% more expensive than an annual contract.

Maintenance and repairs

Regular maintenance (washing, system checks, minor repairs): €500 to €2,500 per month.

Dry dock once a year (hull treatment, engine checks): €5,000 to €30,000.

Major engine or electronics repair: €20,000 to €200,000+.

Insurance

Standard coverage for yachts in the Mediterranean: 0.5 to 1.5% of the vessel’s value per year. For a €5 million yacht, that is €25,000 to €75,000 per year.

Registration and taxes

Wealth tax (for yachts worth more than €700,000 as part of a resident’s assets).

Tasa por uso del dominio público portuario (fee for using the port area).

Registration fees for the first purchase.

Total cost of ownership

For an 18 meter yacht worth €2,000,000: real costs are about €150,000 to €300,000 per year.

For a 30 meter yacht worth €8,000,000: real costs are about €500,000 to €1,000,000 per year.

For a mega-yacht 50+ meters: real costs are 10 to 15% of the vessel’s value per year.

Best routes from Puerto Banús

The main geographic advantage of Marbella is access to several outstanding sea destinations.

Day trips

Estepona. 30 minutes by boat. A quiet town with a historic center, a marina with local character, and excellent beach restaurants.

Marbella centro and Cabopino. A coastal walk along the Golden Mile, with the option to anchor at Cabopino for swimming and lunch at a chiringuito.

Sotogrande. 1 hour heading west. An upscale marina with golf clubs La Reserva and Valderrama. Ideal for a golf weekend with arrival by yacht.

Gibraltar. 1.5 hours by boat. A unique destination: duty-free shopping, lunch on the Rock of Gibraltar, and visits to famous monkeys.

Multi-day routes

Tangier, Morocco. 4 to 6 hours by boat. The chance to visit an authentic medina over the weekend, have dinner on a rooftop with views of the Strait of Gibraltar, and return to Marbella.

Balearic Islands. 1 to 2 days by boat. Mallorca, Ibiza, and Menorca. The main summer destination for Marbella yachts.

Sicily and Italian islands. 3 to 5 days by boat. For those who want to combine the Mediterranean with a real trip.

Seasonal destinations

May June and September October. The best time for long passages. The sea is calm, crowds are smaller, and prices are lower.

July August. High season. All Mediterranean marinas are full, and berth reservations are required 6 to 12 months in advance.

Winter. A passage to the Canary Islands or Cabo Verde is possible for those who want to escape the Mediterranean winter.

Legal details of yachting in Spain

A few practical points.

Operating license. For boats up to 5 meters and 15 horsepower, a license is not required. For larger vessels, you need a Spanish PER (Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo) or an equivalent international license.

Vessel registration. If you are buying a yacht, it is important to handle registration in advance. Options: Spain (with a 12% luxury tax), Gibraltar, Malta, the Isle of Man, and the British Virgin Islands. Each jurisdiction has its own tax and regulatory features.

Charter license. If you want to rent out your yacht commercially, you need a separate license. This completely changes the tax structure and regulatory requirements.

Insurance. Mandatory third-party liability insurance for all vessels. The hull and crew are insured voluntarily, but it is strongly recommended.

Key takeaway

Yachting in Marbella in 2026 is not just a tourist service. It is a full lifestyle, and Puerto Banús offers one of the best infrastructures in Europe. Renting a day boat for €400 or owning a mega-yacht for €100 million are two ends of the same world, where the key elements are the sea, freedom, and comfort.

The main rule: start small. First, rent. Then do multiple charters of different models. Then consider seasonal charter. Only after a few years of this kind of experience should you consider buying. This helps you understand which type of vessel, which routes, and which usage format truly match your lifestyle.

And once that understanding is formed, Marbella and Puerto Banús become one of the best bases for a sea lifestyle in continental Europe.

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