Renting a boat without a licence on the Costa Blanca

In Spain you can rent and skipper a small boat without any nautical qualification, as long as the boat and the trip stay within a few limits. This is what makes licence-free boats so popular with visitors in Dénia, Jávea, Altea, Alicante or Torrevieja.

The boat can be up to 5 metres long with an engine of up to 15 hp (11.03 kW). You can only use it in daylight and you must stay within 2 nautical miles of a port, marina or beach from which you can leave the water safely. The person at the helm must be an adult.

Before you leave, the rental company will give you a short briefing on the boat, safety equipment, the area you can navigate and the weather. If you want to go further, to Tabarca or around a cape in open water, or with a bigger group, book a larger boat with a professional skipper.

Rules can change and each operator may add its own conditions (deposit, fuel, maximum people on board). Always confirm them when you book.