NW Spain ideas

[Dauntlessny]

Anyone have any experience leaving their boat in NW Spain, probably between Bilbao and San Sebastian?

I’m thinking that will be our destination after this summer’s (September 2016) cruise.

Why this area?

We really like it; the food, the wine, the prices.

Also, my wife has family in Zaragoza so it is convenient for them to visit.
Lastly, it is Not the Med.

Obviously, plenty of time to decide, but we will visit, by car, this February.

[Salmon17]

Hendaye/Hondarribia - probably best place, I left my boat in French marina for a month few years ago in Hendaye. Dream of returning back one day.

[boatman61]

Nice big marina in Santander.. only minus is its a taxi ride for groceries.. or bus..
Plus side.. nice staff.. some nice bars and restaurants in walking distance and local airport nearby.. trains to elsewhere in Spain/France..

[Bertie68]

Yes, Santander is perhaps the most interesting place to visit (I'm not saying it because I live here ), but for long term mooring, the marina in Laredo (Puerto de Laredo | Marina de Laredo | Cantabria - Inicio) is way cheaper (in fact, it's almost empty). Laredo is a small village, but you can get easily to the center by foot and it's well communicated by bus, both to Santander and Bilbao.

And if you want to "go west", Asturias and Galicia are really worth visiting. Lots of charming small fishing harbours (San Vicente, Luarca, Cudillero...), and of course, good food. A curiosity: Asturias and Galicia were originally populated by celtic people, and the typical musical instruments are drums and bagpipes.

Enjoy your stay!

[Dauntlessny]

Originally Posted by Bertie68

Yes, Santander is perhaps the most interesting place to visit (I'm not saying it because I live here ), but for long term mooring, the marina in Laredo (Puerto de Laredo | Marina de Laredo | Cantabria - Inicio) is way cheaper (in fact, it's almost empty). Laredo is a small village, but you can get easily to the center by foot and it's well communicated by bus, both to Santander and Bilbao.

And if you want to "go west", Asturias and Galicia are really worth visiting. Lots of charming small fishing harbours (San Vicente, Luarca, Cudillero...), and of course, good food. A curiosity: Asturias and Galicia were originally populated by celtic people, and the typical musical instruments are drums and bagpipes.

Enjoy your stay!

Yes, that is also part of our interest, the Celtic connection.

Laredo looks good, I like small places. Easier to get to know the people and them you.

Also, our plan has changed a bit. Instead of trying to find a place to stay for 8 months, like now in Ireland, we will stay days, weeks, month at a time depending on many things.

Maybe keep going all the way to south of Spain for the winter, like Cadiz or the Algarve in Portugal.

THanks for the advice. You can also email me directly at DauntlessNY via gmail

[Bertie68]

You're welcome! I also think your revised plan makes a lot of sense, as there are many interesting places all along the Spanish (and Portuguese) coasts. And congrats for your blog, really interesting reading!

(BTW, I'm attaching this picture taken this very afternoon; really nice weather for December)

[Polux]

Very nice place to sail, not as much boats as on the med, great food and wine. If you decide to come more South there are several marinas on the Rias Baixas being one of the biggest Sanxenxo. Great place.

Concello de Sanxenxo

[bil56]

to the west, Sada Marina
Home

[mrcasal]

I hace my boat in Sada. It's a really nice place.



Enviado desde mi Aquaris E6 mediante Tapatalk

[karabil]

The Portuguese coat is fabulous, great cheap seafood and wine, the friendliest people we have ever met. Do yourself a favor and allocate some time to explore properly.
Sexial and Amora on the southern arm of Targus river in Lisbon are affordablke places to leave your boat in or out of water.

[jckb]

I loved N Spain, and spent three full seasons cruising between the French coast and the Portuguese border - with a fourth season carrying on South to the Med.

Summaries of all the places we visited over those 4 years are written up at Cruising Biscay Ports, North Spain, E to W | JimB Sail and subsequent pages.
Lots of nice readers have subsequently emailed us with updates or added comments to those pages to keep them up to date.

[Dauntlessny]

Will do.

Some great ideas. I am already ready to get this show on the road.
Thanks