Port

Port de Portbou

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Maximum length: 65 ft
VHF channel: 9
Maximum draught: 32 ft

Marina on the Costa Brava right at the French border, the last Spanish port of call before Cerbère. Around 297 berths.

Guide

Approach and anchoring

Well sheltered inside, but very exposed to the Tramontane, which can gust to 40 knots; when it blows hard, move to the other side of the visitor pontoon. Staff, some French-speaking, help with a line on arrival. Take care near the visitor pontoon, where long mooring lines have fouled propellers on several boats.

Practical

Fuel berth on site, VHF 9, and the last cheap diesel before France at around 1.89 euros. Among the best value on this coast, about 17 euros for a 10-metre boat. The office and toilet block are newly rebuilt, modern and clean, though the showers can run cold. A dry dock is available for work on the boat.

Ashore

The village is a 5-minute walk, with shops, a convenience store, bars and restaurants; Ricky's bar is the first one coming up from the marina.

History

The philosopher Walter Benjamin took his own life at Portbou in 1940 while fleeing Nazi-occupied France. A memorial by the artist Dani Karavan stands above the cemetery.