Sailing route in Getxo, an unforgettable adventure.

Sailing tour in Getxo, a perfect experience to get to know the Basque coast.

The different sailing routes offered by the municipality of Getxo, are one of the most popular activities in the region of Gran Bilbao. An experience that we have had the opportunity to enjoy in first person and that we have fallen in love with. The sea, the cliffs and the saltpeter, typical elements of our coast, accompany us in this journey in which, driven by the force of the wind, we travel through some of the most emblematic corners of Euskadi. And the fact is that, depending on the time we have, it is possible to sail through such spectacular areas as the Bilbao estuary, the cliffs of Punta Galea or the always emblematic Concha Bay. A real luxury. These experiences have been designed with great care and affection so that people of all ages and conditions can enjoy them. Experiences for the whole family. A fact that contributes to the fact that all of us who are encouraged to enjoy this experience are infected by the impressive passion for the sea with which the crews of Getxo welcome us. The perspective from which the Basque coast is seen aboard a sailboat is simply breathtaking. A totally different point of view to what we are used to, which gives us beautiful views of the Basque coast. Remember to take your camera or cell phone on board, taking a picture while enjoying this experience is practically mandatory. Undoubtedly, a nice souvenir to take back home. By the way, if you are passionate about social networks, we encourage you to quote us in your publications so we can follow your experience online. It is said that the Bay of Biscay is one of the roughest seas in the world, an aspect that leads many people to think that sailing in these waters is synonymous with seasickness, huge waves and bad experiences. Nothing could be further from the truth. We can assure you that it is a very pleasant and enjoyable trip. The protection of the different dykes of the outer Abra makes navigating the Bilbao estuary and the inner Abra a real pleasure. An experience to “enjoy like a dwarf”. In addition, in case of adverse weather conditions, companies always tend to stay in port. Safety first and foremost.

From the tourist office of Getxo they propose an extensive list of experiences aboard a sailboat. High quality activities, which can be a great choice for people looking for “what to do on the Basque coast”. Can you imagine enjoying a swim in the sea, watching the sunset from a boat or tasting our famous pintxos on the bow of a sailboat? Experiences to take into account in any trip to the Basque coast. Are you up for a sailing trip in Getxo?

There are many people who contact us looking for information about the different sailing routes offered in Getxo. That is why we have decided to publish this article in which we detail all the necessary information to enjoy these experiences. A small report, in which, in addition to reporting on prices, schedules and other practical information, we also facilitate the booking of these trips to the sea. We hope you find all the information you are looking for, otherwise, we recommend you to leave us a comment in this article, we will try to respond as soon as possible. Good sea!

Sailing routesThe tourist office of Getxo, in collaboration with the different local companies, has designed a great variety of sailing trips. A nice range of possibilities, allowing us to choose the experience that best suits our needs. As we have already mentioned, sailing trips in Getxo have different durations depending on the tourist product we select. It is possible to sail from 2 hours to a whole week. We leave you the list of the sailing trips in Getxo:

Of all of them, the 3 most popular are the trips known as “sailing across the Abra”, “sunset on deck” and “skirting the cliffs from the sea”. 3 experiences, which, managed by the tourist office, are offered by the following local companies: Nautica Galea, Polaris Nautika Eskola, As de Guia, Marmitako Sailing and 2 millas. These are reliable companies, which have sailing boats moored in the marina of Getxo. If you want to know what it feels like to sail with total freedom along the coast of Biscay, we recommend you to book one of the following routes, you will not be disappointed.

These maritime routes have guaranteed departures by the tourist office of Getxo, that is, they are carried out regardless of the people who book a place. An initiative that allows solo travelers and couples to venture into this type of experience without having to wait to form a large group. Are you up for it?

Our experienceIn this section we want to show you our personal experience aboard a sailboat in Getxo. An activity that surprised us showing us the beauty of the Basque coast from the sea. Experts say that the Abra Bay is a great regatta course. A good place to let ourselves be carried away by the wind while enjoying the incredible views of the sea and the Basque coast. A space that will witness the J80 World Championship to be held in Getxo from 13 to 20 July and which we enjoyed during this sea trip. We departed from the marina of Getxo in a sailboat of about 12 meters in length. A sturdy and very comfortable boat that took us to discover an environment full of contrasts. During the navigation, we crossed with different vessels such as cruisers, sailboats, fishing boats, jet skis or the traditional Basque “traineras”. A fact that confirms the great offer of activities that we can find in Getxo. This excursion is designed so that everyone can have the opportunity to participate in sailing or sunbathing quietly on the bow. A real pleasure. In our case, we made the crossing by sailboat through the Abra. A maritime route, which leads us to sail parallel to the coast and allows us to pass under the always impressive Bizkaia Bridge, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2006. A good experience to get started in the world of sailing. We loved it, we are sure you will too. We look forward to your opinion and experiences.

Tradition and historyThe town of Getxo has always lived facing the sea. An urban nucleus, in which, the ships, the sea and the fishing form a trinomial of great historical importance. In fact, the Getxotarras, besides being great fishermen, were once expert lemans, people who guided the boats to avoid colliding with the large sand bar that formed at the entrance of the estuary of Bilbao. As if this were not enough, the sailors of Getxo also came to be recognized in much of the world as experts in maritime rescue. And it is here, in Getxo, where we find one of the most important buildings of maritime rescue of the Basque coast, the Castaway House. This building was designed by Ignacio Smith in 1920 to provide the necessary assistance in case of shipwreck. This building is located on the Arriluze Pier, halfway between Las Arenas – Areeta and the Old Port of Algorta, next to the Marina from where the sailboats that we present today set sail. You can’t miss it. It is a large 2-story structure, which, imitating the popular architecture of Basque farmhouses, emerges from the depths of the sea. Impressive. Currently, it houses the headquarters of the Public Society “Puerto Deportivo El Abra – Getxo Kirol Portua”, the entity that manages the more than 827 moorings, which divided into various types of pontoons, form one of the most important marinas in the Basque Country. As you can see, the sea and Getxo maintain a historical idyll that lasts until today. Tradition, history and 100% Basque culture.

LocationThe magnificent geographical location of Getxo, in the middle of the Basque coast, 15 minutes from the center of Bilbao, at the mouth of the estuary, allows us to enjoy sailing trips of all kinds. From sailing on the high seas to enjoying a pleasant and quiet day of sailing upriver to Bilbao. In addition, after enjoying this sailing experience, its incredible geographical location allows us to visit any of the places of interest in Bizkaia in a radius of less than 1 hour. A strategic location to visit Getxo, Bilbao and surroundings.

How to get to GetxoEach and every one of the sailing routes that we have presented today start from the same place, the marina of Getxo. A place of easy access, which can be reached both by public and private transport. In case you want to use public transport, we recommend you to use the subway to get to the station of Neguri or Gobela, from where we will have to continue on foot for about 18 minutes approximately. Otherwise, in case you opt for private transport, the Getxo Marina has a large number of parking spaces where we can leave our vehicles completely free of charge. That said, it is our duty to mention that at certain times of the year it is often difficult to find parking space. In these cases, we recommend using the cabs that we find next to the metro stations of Areeta-Las Arenas and Algorta. Approximate budget 9 euros per cab per way. You choose.

AttentionBoth the tourist office of Getxo and the rest of the companies involved in these experiences have given us an amazing dedication. People who take care of those who visit us offering them a good portion of kindness and professionalism. Personalized and close attention. A pleasure. In this sense, we must highlight the role that those responsible for these experiences perform before, during and after the departure to the sea. In addition to their work as skippers of pleasure boats, they also act as authentic local guides. In our case, we were struck by the number of curiosities we discovered while sailing along the Basque coast. Quite a surprise. Eskerrik asko!

PriceThe prices of these sailing trips, competitive and adjusted, offer a good quality-price ratio. An aspect that makes sailing on a sailboat along the Basque coast an experience suitable for all kinds of pockets. These rates vary depending on the duration of the experience we hire. In our case, we enjoyed 2 hours of sailing in the Abra Bay for 45 € / person. In our humble opinion, a more than reasonable price. And we must take into account that these rates include boat rental, fuel, services of the skipper / guide, berths, insurance, cleaning and taxes among others. What do you think?

TipsAs usual, after our experience aboard one of the sailing boats in Getxo, we would like to mention a few tips for you to enjoy intensely this experience on the Basque coast. We hope they will be of help to you. If you have any doubt about the above mentioned tips, we will be glad to answer you. We look forward to your comments.

VideoDuring our sailing trip in Getxo we took the opportunity to record a short video to show you in more detail if possible the impressive experience that we have presented today. We hope you like it. If you find this kind of videos attractive, we recommend you to subscribe to our YouTube channel, we are sure you will find many destinations, hotels or restaurants that will catch your attention.

As you have been able to see, the different sailing routes in Getxo that we have mentioned represent a great option to get to know Bilbao, Getxo and surroundings from a totally different perspective. An experience suitable for all budgets, we recommend you to eyes closed. By the way, although it is not necessary, it is advisable to book in advance. We remind you that you can use the comment system of this article to send us your questions and suggestions, we will try to respond as soon as possible. Ondo pasa!