L’Estartit: Boat Trip to the Medes Islands and the NP Caves

Sea caves make this short cruise special. From L’Estartit, the small Nuria boat carries up to 20 passengers past the Medes Islands, along the Montgrí Natural Park coast, and into striking caves and quiet coves. I like the intimate group size and the chance to watch the seabed through glass panels beneath your seat. The price, about $28 per person, is also fair for a 1.5-hour coastal outing.

I especially like that Nuria is an old Catalan fishing boat built on L’Estartit beach in 1942, rather than a large modern sightseeing vessel. The cave passages and clear water are the strongest parts of the trip. One thing to consider is the guiding: some departures offer useful commentary in several languages, while others may provide little spoken information, so this is better for scenery and sea time than for a detailed nature lesson.

Key points to know before you book

• Nuria carries only 20 passengers: The small boat gives the ride a personal feel and makes the glass viewing panels easier to use.
• The caves are a major highlight: The pilot takes the boat close to, and in some cases inside, one of the coastal caves.
• Glass panels reveal the seabed: You can look below the boat from the seat area instead of relying only on views above the water.
• Swimming is seasonal: A roughly 10-minute swim is offered from June 1 through September, subject to weather conditions. The activity information also specifies June 15 through September, so confirm the exact operating dates when booking.
• The trip lasts 1.5 hours: It offers a quick taste of the Medes Islands and Montgrí coast without taking up most of your day.
• Commentary can vary: Catalan, English, Spanish, and French are available, but some departures may be more scenic cruise than guided tour.

Why the little Nuria boat changes the experience

The boat is called Nuria, and its story adds real character to the outing. Built on the beach at L’Estartit in 1942, it began life as a Catalan fishing boat. That gives the cruise a local feel you do not get from a large, anonymous excursion vessel.

With room for just 20 people, Nuria is designed for a limited group. You are closer to the water, the coast, and the person handling the boat. That matters when the boat approaches a cave, since a small craft can make the coastline feel more immediate.

The trade-off is that a small traditional boat may feel less spacious than a larger cruise boat. If the sea is rough, you may notice the movement more. One October outing continued despite noticeable swell and was still described as enjoyable, but calm conditions will make the ride more comfortable and the glass panels easier to use.

The atmosphere is best described as simple and local. You are not signing up for a luxury yacht cruise or a long formal nature program. You are getting a short ride on a historic fishing boat with close views of the coast.

Finding the boat at Port de l’Estartit

Nuria leaves from the Port de l’Estartit, at the beginning of the harbour. The meeting point is not simply a generic spot on the waterfront, so allow a little time to find it.

Follow Passeig Marítim toward the end of the harbour. Continue past the small playground and the information kiosks. After the last kiosk, turn right into the harbour area. You will pass fishing boats, and Nuria is located after them. Look for a white board marked BARCA NURIA in red.

You can go directly to the boat 15 minutes before departure if you already have a booking. That is useful, but I would still avoid cutting it close. Ports can be confusing, and finding the right boat is much easier before the final few minutes.

The advertised price is about $28 per person. For 90 minutes on the water, a visit to the Medes Islands, a glass-bottom viewing area, and the chance to enter coastal caves, I consider that good value. It is especially reasonable if you want a compact activity between beach time and other plans in L’Estartit.

Along the Montgrí Natural Park coast

Once the boat leaves the harbour, the cruise turns toward the Montgrí Natural Park. The route is built around coastal views, photo stops, coves, and cave passages rather than a long stay at one location.

The coast is the main show from the beginning. You can watch the shape of the cliffs change as the boat moves along the water. The ride includes several scenic stretches, giving you time to look above the surface before the attention shifts below the boat.

The itinerary includes guided touring, photo stops, and visits along the park coast. That wording should not lead you to expect a long walk on land. This is primarily a boat excursion, with the focus on viewing the shoreline from the water.

The coves are particularly appealing outside the summer swimming period. In spring and autumn, the trip presents them as quiet places to see from the boat, and the cooler-season setting may suit you if you prefer less emphasis on swimming. The experience provider describes these coves as places you can enjoy like a local, but the exact feel will depend on the weather and the day’s sea conditions.

Entering the sea caves near L’Estartit

The cave section is where the boat trip becomes more than a standard coastal ride. The pilot takes Nuria close to the rock walls and, when conditions allow, into one of the caves. This requires careful handling, and the close passage gives you a strong view of the cave entrance and its interior shapes.

The cave route earned some of the warmest praise in the available feedback. One October outing specifically noted that the pilot was impressive while taking the boat inside a cave. Another described the cave passage as very beautiful even with some swell on the water.

I would keep your camera ready, but do not spend the whole passage looking at a screen. Cave entrances can pass quickly, and the best view may be from the opposite side of the boat. Since this is a small group, you should have a reasonable chance to see the action, though your exact view depends on where you sit.

The cave section is also weather dependent. The boat may adjust the route if waves or wind make a passage uncomfortable or unsafe. That is not a fault in the experience. It is simply part of taking a small boat along a rocky coast.

Seeing the seabed through the glass panels

Nuria has glass panels fitted into the floor in front of the passenger seats. These let you look into the water while the boat is moving or stopped near the Medes Islands and the Natural Park coast.

This feature gives the trip a second point of focus. You are not only watching cliffs, coves, and caves above the water. You can also look for marine life and underwater scenery below you. The experience provider presents this as a way to view the Natural Reserve without needing snorkeling equipment.

The glass viewing works best when the water is clear and the boat is steady. Sunlight, waves, and the number of people looking at once can affect what you see. You might catch a quick glimpse of fish or underwater formations rather than a constant show of marine life.

That is worth understanding before you book. This is a glass-bottom boat ride, not a dedicated wildlife-watching expedition. One person specifically wanted longer periods to look for sea animals. If marine life is your main reason for going, you may find the viewing time a little brief during a 90-minute cruise.

Still, the glass panels are a worthwhile feature for families and anyone who does not want to snorkel. They make the trip more engaging for children, and they give you something to watch during the open-water sections of the route.

The Medes Islands and the Natural Reserve

The Medes Islands are one of the main reasons to choose this excursion. The boat includes a visit to the islands, marine-life viewing, and another glass-bottom boat section. You get to see the island group from the water rather than treating it as a distant backdrop.

The islands and surrounding reserve are valuable because the trip combines above-water scenery with a look at the protected marine area below. Even if the underwater viewing is brief, it helps you understand that the Medes Islands are not only about cliffs and sea views.

The itinerary includes a cruise around the islands rather than a long stop for a land visit. Plan on seeing them from the boat, taking photographs, and looking down through the viewing panels. If you want a full island hike or a long snorkeling session, this particular trip will not provide that.

The length is part of its appeal. At 1.5 hours, you can fit it into a day in L’Estartit without giving up the entire afternoon. You get a clear sample of the coast and reserve, then return to the same harbour.

A short swim when the season and sea allow

The trip includes a swim of about 10 minutes during the summer period, but this is not offered all year. The information gives two slightly different seasonal descriptions: one says from June 1 through September, and another says from June 15 through September. Ask for the exact end date and operating period when you book.

Weather conditions also control the swim. Clear water may make the stop inviting, but wind and waves can lead to a change in plans. Treat the swim as a bonus, not the central promise of the outing.

The swimming stop takes place in the Montgrí Natural Park area. It gives you a chance to leave the boat and enjoy the water rather than viewing it only through the glass panels. Ten minutes is enough to cool off and look around, but not enough for a long snorkeling session.

Bring what you need for a quick swim and expect a short stop. If your main goal is to spend hours in the water, choose a longer swimming or snorkeling trip. If you want a little sea time added to a scenic cruise, this works well.

How much guiding should you expect?

The tour can be operated in Catalan, English, Spanish, and French. That makes it accessible to a wide range of visitors, and French commentary received particular praise on one departure. A friendly, smiling guide also helped make that outing enjoyable.

However, the level of narration may not be consistent. One highly positive experience still noted that there was no real guide or much information during the cruise. That is the clearest point to weigh before booking.

You should expect the boat crew to manage the route and show you the coast, but do not assume you will receive a detailed talk about geology, wildlife, or conservation. If commentary is important to you, ask about the language and guide service for your departure before paying.

For many people, this will not matter. The cave passages, island views, and water are easy to appreciate without a long explanation. But if you want a structured educational tour, a more formal guided excursion may suit you better.

Weather, comfort, and the best season

The boat trip runs in changing coastal conditions, so the day’s weather matters. Calm seas should make the glass viewing and cave passages easier. Some movement is normal on a small boat, and rougher water can affect both comfort and the route.

Spring and autumn are good times to focus on scenery and quiet coves. The swimming stop is tied to the summer season, so you should not book outside that period expecting to get into the water.

Summer gives you the best chance of swimming in clear water, but it also makes that part of the excursion more important. If you book in June, confirm whether your date falls within the swimming schedule, since the supplied information gives both June 1 and June 15 as possible start dates.

The rating is 4.6 out of 5 from 207 bookings, which fits the experience’s strengths: a pleasant boat, a striking cave route, a small group, and attractive coastal scenery. It also leaves room for the main limitations, including limited commentary and sometimes short wildlife-viewing periods.

Who will enjoy the Nuria cruise?

I would choose this outing if you want:

• A short, affordable introduction to the Medes Islands
• A traditional local boat instead of a large sightseeing vessel
• Close views of caves and coves
• A glass-bottom boat ride without committing to a full snorkeling trip
• A possible summer swim
• Commentary in Catalan, English, Spanish, or French
• An activity that fits easily into a day in L’Estartit

Families may like the glass panels and the manageable 90-minute length. Couples and solo visitors who enjoy coastal scenery should also find the small boat appealing.

I would think twice if you need a long nature talk, extensive time watching marine life, or a guaranteed swim. You should also consider how comfortable you are with sea movement, since the traditional boat can feel the swell more than a larger vessel.

Should you book the Medes Islands boat trip?

Book it if you want a well-priced coastal outing with real local character. The historic Nuria, the small 20-person group, and the cave passage give it more personality than a routine harbour cruise. The glass-bottom viewing and seasonal swim add variety without making the trip too long.

Go with realistic expectations. The ride is mainly about scenery, caves, and a taste of the Medes Islands. Guiding may be light, and the time spent watching fish can feel short if underwater life is your top priority.

For most visitors staying in L’Estartit, I think the $28 price is justified. Choose a calm-weather day if you can, arrive at the harbour with time to find the white BARCA NURIA board, and confirm the swimming dates if getting into the water matters to you.

FAQ

How long does the boat trip last?

The boat trip lasts 1.5 hours, including the coastal cruise, cave and cove viewing, Medes Islands visit, glass-bottom viewing, and the possible swimming stop.

Where does the boat leave from?

It leaves from Port de l’Estartit, near the beginning of the harbour. Follow Passeig Marítim to the end, pass the playground and information kiosks, then turn right after the final kiosk. The boat is after the fishing boats and has a white board marked BARCA NURIA in red.

How many people can board Nuria?

Nuria is designed for a limited group of 20 passengers.

Which languages are available?

The tour can be offered in Catalan, English, Spanish, and French.

Can I swim during the trip?

A roughly 10-minute swim is offered during the summer period, from around June through September, when weather conditions allow. The provided information gives both June 1 and June 15 as possible start dates, so confirm the exact dates for your departure.

Does the boat have a glass bottom?

Yes. Glass panels are placed in the floor in front of the passenger seats, allowing you to view the underwater world and marine life.

Can I cancel the booking for a refund?

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. The booking option also allows you to reserve now and pay later.