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The Costa Brava runs from Blanes north to the French border at Cerbere, with the charter coast between Palamos and Cap de Creus. A 30 to 40m yacht the coast in 2026 will run $90,000 to $220,000 per week plus a 30 percent APA. The bracket is the right fit because the marinas are mid-scale and the anchorages between Cala Montgo, Aigua Xellida, and the calas north of Roses sit well for a 35m beam. Above 45m, the marina options thin out fast.
Why the 30 to 40m bracket fits the Costa Brava
The Costa Brava charter scene is small relative to the Balearics or the Cote d'Azur, with roughly 50 to 75 yachts in the 30 to 40m bracket basing along the coast for the season. Most are Barcelona-based and reposition north for the high-summer weeks. The coastline is dense with small calas separated by cliffs, the kind of geography a 30 to 40m yacht navigates without compromise. A 50m yacht has fewer anchorage choices and limits the trip to two or three larger bays.
The other structural feature is the Tramontana, the northerly wind that blows out of the Pyrenees through the Cap de Creus area for several days at a stretch in summer. The wind is the planning constraint. A 36 to 40m yacht with proper stabilizers handles a Tramontana day better than a 30 to 33m yacht. If the trip is timed for July or early August, push the bracket toward the upper end.
Weekly rate map for 2026
High season is mid-June to early September, with peak pricing through July and August. Costa Brava rates are pre-APA and pre-gratuity.
| LOA bracket | Motor yacht (low to high) | Sailing yacht (low to high) |
|---|---|---|
| 30 to 33m | $90K to $128K per week | $72K to $108K per week |
| 33 to 36m | $115K to $170K per week | $90K to $140K per week |
| 36 to 40m | $145K to $220K per week | $115K to $175K per week |
Costa Brava rates run 8 to 12 percent under Cote d'Azur for an equivalent yacht. The discount is the same structural pattern as Puglia. Fewer brokers actively market the coast, the marina infrastructure is functional, and the demand curve is narrower. See Mediterranean charter weekly rates.
What this bracket does on the Costa Brava
Cabins. 4 to 5 cabins, 8 to 10 guests. Costa Brava draws Barcelona families on long weeks and northern European couples on shoulder-season trips. The four-equal-cabin layout works well for couples groups doing the Cap de Creus loop. The master-plus-three-VIP layout fits family weeks.
Tenders. A fast 7 to 9m tender is essential. The Cala Sa Tuna, Aigua Xellida, and the north side of Cap de Creus calas are tender destinations, not yacht anchorages for the main yacht. A 250 horsepower tender makes the day work.
Marinas. Palamos, Roses, Empuriabrava, and Port d'Aro handle 30 to 40m yachts. Port d'Aro is the most efficient for high-summer slot availability. Cadaques anchors only. Barcelona is the southern repositioning base and can take any size.
At-anchor stabilizers. Worth pushing for in the Cap de Creus area because the afternoon Tramontana days bring chop into the otherwise calm anchorages. Stabilizers extend the dining-on-deck window by two to three hours on a summer afternoon.
Trip shapes that work
The seven-night Costa Brava loop. Start Barcelona. Day one north to Palamos. Day two Aigua Blava and the Aiguablava anchorage. Day three Cap de Creus and Cadaques. Day four north to Llanca and Port de la Selva. Day five south to Roses and Cala Montjoi. Day six south to L'Estartit and the Medes Islands marine reserve. Day seven return to Barcelona or the Cote d'Azur. This is the route Catalan captains will pitch.
The 10-night Costa Brava plus Cote d'Azur route. Cross the border to Banyuls, Collioure, and continue to Saint-Tropez. The eastern half of the trip becomes a French Riviera trip. The 10-night version is the right length for clients who want both Catalan and Cote d'Azur quality in one charter. See 30-40m Cote d'Azur.
The 14-night Costa Brava plus Balearics route. South from Barcelona to Menorca, Mallorca, Ibiza, and Formentera. Best done in late June or early September to avoid Tramontana peaks and Balearic peak congestion at the same time. See 30-40m Mallorca and 30-40m Ibiza.
What does not work at this bracket on the Costa Brava
Tramontana planning. When the Tramontana sets in for three to five days, the trip plan changes. Northern anchorages become unworkable, and the trip retreats south of Palamos. A captain who has not worked the coast will lose the trip's rhythm. Confirm the captain's Costa Brava history before booking.
Marina-side fine dining. Barcelona has it. The Costa Brava itself does not, with a handful of exceptions including Aigua Blava and the long-standing Catalan dining rooms in the inland towns. Most charter weeks here lean onboard for evening meals and ashore for the lunchtime fishing-town menu.
Direct interchange to Mallorca in peak August. The Balearics in peak August are at congestion peak and the slot scarcity at Palma and Ibiza is real. Book the Mallorca and Ibiza segment in November to January if the trip overlaps these weeks.
How to narrow within the bracket
Trip length sets the first constraint. A seven-night Costa Brava-only trip works on a 30 to 33m yacht. A 10-night Costa Brava plus Cote d'Azur trip works at 33 to 36m for the comfort of the cross-border transit. A 14-night Balearics route is best at 36 to 40m for the open-water comfort between Barcelona and Menorca and between Mallorca and Ibiza.
Cabin and rate budget apply the standard logic. The Costa Brava fleet in the bracket is small but accessible if booked by January for July or August. Roughly 50 to 75 yachts in the 30 to 40m bracket work the coast each season.
Two we would book
For a couples-only seven-night trip in early July: a 33m Italian-built motor yacht out of Palamos, four cabins, north to Cadaques and back. Budget: $130K plus APA, all-in roughly $185K. Booking lead time: 4 to 5 months.
For a family of 8, 10 nights in mid-July combining the Costa Brava and the Cote d'Azur: a 36m motor yacht with at-anchor stabilizers basing Barcelona, with the second half in Saint-Tropez and Cannes. Budget: $185K plus APA, all-in roughly $265K. Booking lead time: 7 to 8 months.
For a 14-night Balearics-plus-Costa-Brava trip in early September: a 38m motor yacht starting Barcelona, the Costa Brava in week one and the Balearics in week two. Budget: $215K plus APA, all-in roughly $305K. Booking lead time: 7 to 9 months.
What sits next to this page
For the regions that pair with the Costa Brava, see 30-40m Cote d'Azur, 30-40m Mallorca, 30-40m Ibiza, and 30-40m Formentera. For destination editorial context, see Charter Mediterranean.
Land-side context for the same week is on VillasForKings Costa Brava and HotelsForKings Costa Brava.