Directory · Biscay
Boat hire in Biscay
20 boat hire companies in Biscay (Bizkaia), 11 of them with boat rental as their main business, mostly in Getxo and on the Bilbao ría. With phone, website and Google rating. No commission.
- Companies
- 20 (11 with boat rental as main business)
- across 6 destinations
- Busiest destination
- Getxo · 12 companies
- Price
- €120 – 1,500 / day (indicative)
- Season
- June – September; peak July and August
- Licence
- No licence needed up to 5 m and 15 hp
Destinations in Biscay
Top-rated companies
Sailing in Biscay
Biscay has 20 boat rental companies and 16 are on the Bilbao ría and the Abra: Getxo, with 12 at the marina at the mouth, and Bilbao city, with 4. The rest of the Biscayan coast (Bermeo, Mundaka, Santurtzi, Ondarroa) has one company each, with the top-rated in the province in Mundaka, and Plentzia, Lekeitio and Elantxobe have harbours but no registered companies. Three companies advertise sailing boats and two skippered hire; one has no-licence boats. The Abra's trip is the coast towards Sopela and Plentzia; Bermeo and Mundaka's, the Urdaibai estuary, a biosphere reserve, and the island of Izaro.
The season runs from June to September. Inside the Abra and Urdaibai you sail in almost any wind; outside, Cantabrian swell and a tide of more than four metres. Scheduled cruises on the Bilbao ría have more demand than rental.
What boat can you hire
Motorboat or RIB
- Requirement
- ICC or a Spanish PNB/PER licence
- Price
- €250 – 650 / day (indicative)
Skippered
- Requirement
- None: the skipper is in charge
- Price
- boat price plus €50 – 250 per day (indicative)
Indicative prices
Indicative high-season prices from the directory's reference table, reviewed September 2026: a no-licence motorboat costs €120–250 a day; a RIB of 6–8 m, €250–650; a 10–12 m sailing yacht, €400–900 bareboat or €600–1,500 skippered; a catamaran, €1,000–2,500; a skippered motor yacht, from €900. Expect 20–40% less outside July and August. Deposits run from €300 to €2,000 and fuel is extra. Each company sets its own prices.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I hire a boat in Biscay?
In Getxo, with 12 companies at the marina on the Abra, and in Bilbao, with 4 on the ría. Bermeo, Mundaka, Santurtzi and Ondarroa have one each.
Do I need a licence to hire a boat in Biscay?
For sailing boats and bigger motorboats, an ICC or Spanish licence, or a skipper (two companies). Motorboats up to 5 metres and 15 hp can be driven without a licence inside the Abra or Urdaibai; one company advertises them.
How much does it cost to hire a boat in Biscay?
Indicatively, €250–650 a day for a RIB with licence and €400–1,500 for a sailing boat depending on skipper. Fuel and deposit are extra.
Can I sail Urdaibai?
Yes, from Bermeo and Mundaka, at high water: the estuary is a biosphere reserve with shallow bottoms and channels. The island of Izaro, off Bermeo, has regulated anchoring.
Are there boat trips in Biscay?
Yes, and in high demand: on the Bilbao ría from the Guggenheim, and round Urdaibai and the coast from Bermeo. They are listed under the boat trips category.
Which Biscay harbour is best to start?
Getxo: the Abra is sheltered water, the marina has the biggest fleet in the province and the largest sailing school in the north. Bermeo and Mundaka are for Urdaibai with a skipper or tidal experience.