A multi day yacht charter Marbella turns the Costa del Sol into a proper cruising ground rather than a single afternoon swim stop. Over 72 hours you can run 60–90 nautical miles westward, anchor in three or four genuinely different coves, sleep in two marinas, and still have La Concha mountain in your wake by Tuesday morning. This guide walks through a tested 3-day itinerary aboard our 24m+ flagships — the Mangusta 80, Canados 86 or Ferretti 94 — with licensed skipper, fuel and drinks already in the price. Browse the full fleet first if you have not picked a yacht.
Why 3 days beats a day charter
A single 4-hour day charter from Puerto Banús typically covers the Golden Mile, Marbella Marina and a swim at Río Verde — beautiful, but you never leave the bay. A 3-day charter doubles your cruising radius. You reach Sotogrande, which is 22 NM west and impossible to enjoy on a half-day run, anchor under the cliffs of Cala del Faro near Estepona, and watch the Strait of Gibraltar traffic in the distance. You also get two evenings on the water: dinner on the flybridge, swimming at sunset, breakfast at anchor. The maths are simple — at Tier B €4,719 for 4 hours, three full days of cruising delivers far more value per cruising hour than three separate day trips.
Day 1 — Puerto Banús, Marbella, Cabopino
Boarding is at 10:00 in Puerto Banús. The first leg is a 12 NM eastbound run past the Golden Mile, the lighthouse and Marbella Marina, ending at Cabopino — the dune-backed beach 20 minutes east of town. Lunch aboard, swim, paddleboard, then push a further 6 NM east towards La Cala de Mijas if the seas are calm. By 17:00 the skipper re-crosses to Puerto Banús for the first overnight: many guests sleep aboard at the berth, others book a hotel five minutes from the marina. Dinner is your choice — Puerto Banús has 30+ restaurants within a short walk and the skipper can recommend the quieter rooftop spots away from the strip if you do not fancy the front-row scene.
Day 2 — Westbound to Estepona and Sotogrande
Day two is the long cruising day. We leave Puerto Banús at 09:30, run 14 NM west past the Golden Mile to Estepona for a mid-morning coffee stop and stretch ashore. From Estepona it is another 11 NM down to Sotogrande, with a 90-minute anchor stop at Cala del Faro — protected, deep blue, ideal for swimming and the SeaBob if your yacht carries one. Arrival in Sotogrande marina by 18:00. Sotogrande is the quietest of the three marinas, and the polo and beach-club scene makes for a different evening from Puerto Banús. Sleep aboard or in one of the marina hotels — the skipper helps arrange the berth and a concierge for restaurant bookings.
Day 3 — Sotogrande back to Puerto Banús via Río Verde
The return leg is shorter and slower. Depart Sotogrande around 10:30, cruise 18 NM east with the morning sun behind you, and drop anchor at Río Verde — the famous swim cove on the Golden Mile — for a long final lunch and the last swim of the trip. Many guests use the SeaBob, paddleboards and giant flamingo inflatables here. We arrive back in Puerto Banús by 17:00 in time for disembarkation, photos and your transfer to Málaga airport, which is 45 minutes by road. If your forecast shows a strong Levante wind, the skipper can flip the route east-first and end with Sotogrande on day three instead.
Which yachts suit a multi-day charter
Multi-day means proper cabins, two heads, climate control and a galley. From our fleet, four yachts qualify: the Mangusta 80 (24m, 12 guests, 4 cabins), the Canados 86 (26m, 12 guests, 4 cabins, two crew), the Ferretti 94 (29m, 12 guests, 4 cabins plus separate crew quarters) and the Azimut 58 Flybridge (17.6m, 12 guests, 3 cabins for smaller groups). Day-boats like the Astondoa 40, Bandido or Speedboat do not have sleeping arrangements and are not suitable beyond an overnight at anchor. Pick the Ferretti 94 if you want full crew service throughout.
Pricing, inclusions and what is extra
Multi-day pricing is on request — message us on WhatsApp with dates and group size. Every quote includes the licensed skipper, fuel for the full 60–90 NM route, water, soft drinks, beer, white wine, cava, light snacks, insurance, safety equipment and Spanish IVA at 21%. What is not included: dinners ashore, marina berths in Estepona or Sotogrande on the overnight nights, hotel rooms if you choose to sleep on land, and watersports fuel for jet ski or SeaBob beyond a courtesy session. Chef-prepared lunches and dinners on board can be added at €60–120 per head per meal — ask when you message us.
Weather window and what to pack
The cruising season runs May through October. June and September are the sweet spot: 22–28°C air, 20–23°C water, light Poniente breezes and a marina that is busy without being chaotic. July and August are warmer but the Levante wind can push swell into anchorages, so the skipper may reroute east-first. Pack soft-sided bags (rigid suitcases do not fit cabin lockers), reef-safe sunscreen, a long-sleeved layer for the sunset cruise back, swimwear for three days, one smarter outfit for the Sotogrande or Puerto Banús dinner, and chargers with EU plugs. Towels, snorkel masks and snorkels are already on board.
How to book your multi-day charter
Tell us your dates, group size and preferred yacht via WhatsApp. We hold the boat for 48 hours with no deposit while you confirm flights. A 50% deposit secures the dates, with the balance paid the morning of boarding. We can also build a 2-day, 4-day or 5-day variant — Gibraltar and Tarifa are within range with an early start. See our overnight yacht charter page for the short version of the same idea.
Frequently asked questions
Can we really sleep on board for two nights?
Yes — the four yachts we use for multi-day trips all have proper cabins with double beds, air conditioning and en-suite heads. The Ferretti 94 has four guest cabins plus separate crew quarters, the Canados 86 and Mangusta 80 each have four cabins, and the Azimut 58 has three. You can also mix nights: one aboard, one in a marina hotel.
How much does a 3-day yacht charter from Marbella cost?
Pricing is on request because route, marinas and catering vary by group. As a rough guide, expect roughly four times a Tier B day rate of €4,719, plus marina berths (€80–250 per night in Sotogrande or Estepona), plus optional chef catering at €60–120 per head per meal. WhatsApp us with dates and group size for a firm quote.
Which boats in your fleet suit multi-day cruising?
The Ferretti 94, Canados 86 and Mangusta 80 are the three flagships built for overnight cruising — proper cabins, two heads minimum, full galley and stabilisers that keep things calm at anchor. The Azimut 58 Flybridge works for smaller groups of six to eight. Day-boats like the Bandido, Astondoa 40 and Mariah SX21 do not have sleeping cabins.
Can we cross to Gibraltar or Morocco on a 3-day charter?
Gibraltar yes — it sits 35 NM from Puerto Banús and is reachable on a 2-day or 3-day itinerary with an early start. Morocco crossings need customs paperwork, 48-hour notice for clearance and a different insurance class on most yachts. We can arrange a Tangier or Ceuta day-visit with two weeks of notice, but it is not part of the standard 3-day route.
What are the best months for a multi-day charter?
May, June, September and early October. Water sits at 19–23°C, the easterly Levante wind is less frequent and Puerto Banús is busy but not chaotic. July and August also work, but expect 28–32°C air, full marinas and possible reroutes. We do not recommend November through April — water drops to 16°C and weather windows shrink.
Do we have to sleep at the same marina each night?
No — that is the point of multi-day. Night one is usually Puerto Banús and night two is Sotogrande or Estepona, which gives you a different town for dinner and a real sense of progress. If you would prefer to base out of Puerto Banús and do day-loops instead, we can structure it that way, but you lose the western coastline.
Are food and drinks included for the whole trip?
Drinks yes — water, soft drinks, beer, white wine and cava are restocked at each marina at no extra charge. Light snacks for swim breaks are included. Proper meals — breakfast, lunch and dinner — are extra: either book chef catering at €60–120 per head per meal, or eat ashore at the marina restaurants for €40–80 per head.
Can we bring children on a multi-day yacht charter?
Yes, and children are usually the guests who love it most. The flagship yachts have proper berths so little ones sleep well, life jackets are aboard in every size, and the SeaBob and inflatables keep them busy at anchor stops. Pack reef-safe sunscreen and hats. Our skippers are family-friendly and used to slowing the cruise pace when needed.