Boat trip to the Medes Islands, caves and stop for swimming

Small boat, big Costa Brava views. This 1.5-hour cruise from L’Estartit takes you along the Montgrí Natural Park to the Medes Islands, with coves, sea caves, Roca Foradada, and a swimming stop. I like the 20-person Fadrí boat, which is small enough to enter narrow caves, and I like the friendly crew and careful handling praised by several guests.

The $27 price is reasonable for a short outing that combines sightseeing, wildlife watching, and time in the water. The main concern is that marine life, swimming, and even the full route depend on weather and sea conditions. In poor weather, one October departure covered only part of the trip, and some passengers were not told in advance.

Key points before you book

• Small Fadrí boat: With room for 20 people, it can get close to the caves and Roca Foradada.
• Medes Islands and Montgrí Natural Park: The route links coves, cliffs, sea caves, and protected marine areas.
• Glass viewing windows: Useful for spotting fish, but the windows are small, so your seat matters.
• Swimming stop: Bring swimwear if you want to get into the clear water at Cala Pedrosa or another suitable stop.
• Wildlife is possible, not promised: You may see fish, tuna, birds, and dolphins, but sightings depend on nature.
• Multilingual commentary: Tours are offered in English, Spanish, French, and Catalan, though explanations can be harder to follow when several languages are mixed.

Why this short Costa Brava cruise is worth considering

The Costa Brava is best understood from the water. From shore, you see a cliff or cove. From a boat, you see how the coast folds into itself, with rocky walls, small inlets, and openings that are invisible from the promenade.

This trip gives you that change of viewpoint without taking up half a day. At $27 per person, the price is fair if you want a compact introduction to the coast rather than a full sailing excursion. You get a boat ride, guided commentary, sea caves, views of the Medes Islands, underwater viewing, and a chance to swim.

I especially like the scale of the Fadrí. A larger sightseeing boat may offer more seats and wider viewing areas, but this smaller vessel can approach places that require careful handling. One particularly positive account praised the driver’s precision inside the narrow caves. That matters here. The caves are not just a passing view from offshore. The boat is designed to get close enough for you to appreciate their shape and cool, shadowed interiors.

There are tradeoffs. A small boat can feel more lively when the sea moves. In October, one outing became a shorter route because of weather, and the passengers were surprised when the boat returned early. Ask about the planned route before departure if the forecast looks unsettled.

Finding the Fadrí at Espigó de Llevant

The meeting point is at the end of the passeig marítim. You will first see the ticket booths. After the last booth, turn right toward the fishing boats and rental boats. Continue until you find the Fadrí.

Arrive at least 20 minutes early. This is sensible advice for any boat trip, but especially useful here because the meeting point is described by landmarks rather than a formal street address. Give yourself time to walk along the promenade, locate the boat, and settle in before departure.

Wear comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for walking. Bring a hat, sunscreen, water, a camera, and a light jacket or windbreaker. Even on a warm Costa Brava day, the boat can feel cool once it is moving.

Food and drinks are not included, so eat beforehand or bring water. Alcohol and drugs are not allowed on board, and pets are not permitted except for assistance dogs.

The first 15 minutes along the Costa Brava

Once the Fadrí leaves Espigó de Llevant, the first part is about views and orientation. You sail along the Costa Brava toward the protected areas, with time for photographs and broad views of the rocky coast.

The route is not simply a transfer to the Medes Islands. The coast itself is part of the attraction. Small coves appear between the rocky edges, and the water may look especially clear when the weather is calm.

Your guide provides information about local history, marine fauna, and birds. The commentary is available in English, Spanish, French, and Catalan. The quality of the explanation depends partly on the language mix on your departure. One passenger found the French difficult to follow, while another praised the guide’s clear and entertaining French. That difference is worth keeping in mind if the spoken information matters greatly to you.

When English, Spanish, French, and Catalan groups share the same trip, the guide must repeat information several times. That leaves less time for detailed commentary in any one language. I would treat the talk as a useful bonus rather than the main reason to book.

Cala Pedrosa and the swimming stop

A central part of the outing is the stop near Cala Pedrosa, listed for swimming, snorkeling, marine life viewing, and possible dolphin watching. The stop is planned for about 15 minutes, so think of it as a quick splash rather than a long beach break.

Bring your swimsuit or bikini if you want to enter the water. The boat also gives you the option of staying aboard, taking photographs, or relaxing on deck while looking at the cove.

Clear water does not guarantee a good wildlife show. Fish may be visible, but conditions, light, water movement, and your position on the boat all affect what you see. Dolphins are a possibility, not a scheduled part of the trip. The same applies to schools of tuna and other marine animals.

One important caution is that the swimming stop may not happen in poor conditions. A passenger on an October departure reported that there was no swim stop and no animal or plant life visible. That does not mean the stop is always omitted, but it shows why the experience can vary outside the warmer, calmer months.

Roca Foradada and the sea caves

Roca Foradada is one of the most distinctive sights on the route. The name refers to a rock formation with an opening, and the Fadrí’s compact size makes it suitable for approaching this type of coastal feature.

The sea caves are the other major reason to choose this trip. The boat enters narrow rocky spaces, giving you a close look at the stone walls and the way daylight changes inside the cave. The captain’s handling is important here, and the small vessel is an advantage.

Keep your camera ready, but do not expect every photograph to be easy. The boat may be moving, the light can change quickly, and people around you may also be trying to see. If you want the best chance of a clear view, stay alert as the boat approaches the cave entrance rather than waiting until the last second.

The caves also make this trip feel different from a standard coastal cruise. You are not only looking outward at cliffs. You are briefly entering the coast itself, which gives the route a little adventure without requiring special equipment.

The Medes Islands and protected marine life

The Medes Islands are the main destination. The group sits within the Medes Islands Natural Park, an important protected marine area. The trip gives you views of the islands from the boat and a guided look at the surrounding waters.

The marine life program uses underwater windows in the boat. Through them, you may see fish and the seabed as the Fadrí moves around the islands. The windows are a useful feature, but they are small. One passenger found that only people sitting right beside them could see properly.

That is practical advice: do not assume everyone will have an equally good view. If the crew allows passengers to move, take advantage of the chance to look through the windows. If not, your viewing position may shape how much you get from this part of the trip.

The boat may also look for tuna, dolphins, and other marine animals. The word may matters. This is nature observation, not an aquarium visit. A trip can be enjoyable even when no large animals appear, but you should not book it with dolphins as your main goal.

Birds are also part of the guide’s subject matter. The commentary connects the islands, sea, and birdlife rather than treating the cruise as only a scenic ride.

How the 1.5-hour schedule feels

The advertised duration is 1.5 hours, with the route divided among coastal views, a swimming stop, viewpoints, the Medes Islands, and underwater viewing. Some parts are listed as around 15 minutes, while the guided Medes Islands portion is longer.

That makes the excursion feel active. You are not sitting in one place for the entire time, but you also are not getting long stops at every location. If you want a leisurely swim, extended snorkeling, or time to explore on foot, this is too short.

The compact schedule works well for a morning or afternoon gap. It can fit into a day based in L’Estartit, especially if you want to combine it with other activities. It is also a good choice for families or couples who want a boat experience without committing to a full-day outing.

In rougher conditions, the schedule may change. One October trip covered only about an hour around the islands before returning to the harbor. The operator later offered some money back, but it would be better to know the change before leaving. If the full northern route is important to you, ask about sea conditions and the planned route at the dock.

What the guide and crew add

The crew receives strong praise for being friendly, attentive, and capable. The boat operator’s precision inside the narrow caves is a real part of the experience, not a minor detail. A careless approach would make the cave section stressful. Good handling lets you concentrate on the rock formations and photographs.

The guide’s role is more mixed because language delivery varies. Several people found the explanations informative, and one account described the commentary as both educational and funny. Others found a strong accent or approximate French difficult to understand.

You can still get value from the visual side of the trip even if you miss some of the talk. Still, if you want detailed natural-history information, confirm your preferred language when booking and listen carefully during the welcome briefing.

The company offers English, Spanish, French, and Catalan. A guide may need to speak in several languages during one departure, so explanations can be shorter than you expect. The trip is strongest when you treat the commentary as added context and let the coast, caves, and water do much of the work.

Is $27 good value?

At $27, this is a good-value short excursion if the boat leaves on time, covers the planned route, and weather permits the swim and marine viewing. Comparable value comes from the combination of experiences: you are not paying only for transport to the islands.

The Fadrí’s small capacity adds value because it can approach caves and rock formations. The swimming stop adds another layer, and the underwater windows give the trip a simple glass-bottom boat element.

The price is less attractive if your main aim is snorkeling or wildlife. The swimming time is brief, the viewing windows are small, and dolphins are never certain. You also pay separately for food and drinks, with no hotel pickup included.

I would call it a good purchase for scenery and variety, with wildlife as a bonus. The overall rating of 4.7 from 288 reviews supports that broad appeal, but the lower scores point to the same practical weaknesses: weather changes, unclear multilingual commentary, limited underwater-window space, and occasional differences between the planned and completed route.

Who should book this boat trip?

I would recommend it to you if you want:

• A short introduction to the Costa Brava from the water
• Close views of sea caves and Roca Foradada
• A small boat rather than a large sightseeing vessel
• A quick swim in clear water
• A chance to see fish, tuna, birds, or dolphins
• A reasonably priced activity that fits around other plans

You may want a different experience if you need a guaranteed swim, guaranteed wildlife, long snorkeling time, or a full route in uncertain weather. You should also think twice if multilingual commentary is central to your enjoyment and you are uncomfortable with the possibility of a shortened explanation.

Practical verdict: book it for caves and coast

I think the Fadrí trip is worth booking when the forecast is good and you see it as a scenic coastal outing with several moving parts. The sea caves, Roca Foradada, and compact boat are the strongest reasons to go. The swimming stop and fish viewing make the ride more than a photo cruise, but neither should be treated as guaranteed.

Arrive 20 minutes early, sit near the underwater windows if possible, pack a light jacket, and ask whether the full route is running. If you accept the limits of a short nature trip, $27 buys a pleasant and varied look at the Medes Islands.

FAQ

Where does the boat trip start?

It starts at Espigó de Llevant in L’Estartit. The Fadrí is at the end of the passeig marítim, past the last ticket booth, near the fishing boats and rental boats.

How long is the excursion?

The advertised duration is 1.5 hours. Individual stops are short, including scenic viewpoints and the swimming stop.

What boat is used?

The excursion uses the Fadrí, a boat with capacity for 20 people. Its size allows it to approach sea caves and Roca Foradada.

Which languages are available?

Live guiding is available in English, Spanish, French, and Catalan.

Is swimming included?

A swimming stop is part of the planned experience, but it can depend on weather and sea conditions. Bring swimwear if you want to enter the water.

Can I see dolphins?

Dolphin watching is included as a possibility, but sightings are not guaranteed.

Can I see the seabed?

The boat has underwater windows for viewing the seabed and marine life. The windows are small, so sitting close to them gives you the best chance to see clearly.

Is food included?

No. Food and drinks are not included, so bring water and arrange anything else you want before boarding.

What should I bring?

Bring a hat, swimwear, camera, sunscreen, water, and a jacket or windbreaker. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes suitable for walking.

How early should I arrive?

Arrive at least 20 minutes before the scheduled departure. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours in advance, and you can reserve and pay later.