Directory · Cantabria
Boat hire in Cantabria
15 boat hire companies in Cantabria, 10 of them with boat rental as their main business, nearly all on the Bay of Santander. With phone, website and Google rating. No commission.
- Companies
- 15 (10 with boat rental as main business)
- across 6 destinations
- Busiest destination
- Marina de Cudeyo (Pedreña) · 6 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 Cantabria
Top-rated companies
Sailing in Cantabria
Cantabria has 15 boat rental companies and 12 of them are on the Bay of Santander, the largest sheltered bay on the Cantabrian coast: Marina de Cudeyo (Pedreña), with 6 and the biggest marina; Camargo (Maliaño), with 3 and the top-rated company in the region; Santander city, with 2; and El Astillero. Outside the bay, Laredo has 2 in its marina, with the Bay of Santoña as its playground, and Noja one. Castro Urdiales, Comillas and San Vicente de la Barquera have harbours but no registered rental companies. Two companies advertise skippered hire and one sailing boats; no-licence boats are rare on the Cantabrian coast.
The season runs from June to September. Inside the bays of Santander and Santoña you sail in almost any sea; outside, swell and a tide of more than four metres. Santander is one of the northern cities with the most demand for boat trips.
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 Cantabria?
On the Bay of Santander: Pedreña (6 companies), Maliaño (3), Santander (2) and El Astillero. Laredo has 2 and Noja one; the other harbours have no registered companies.
Do I need a licence to hire a boat in Cantabria?
For motorboats and sailing boats, an ICC or Spanish licence, or a skipper (two companies). Motorboats up to 5 metres and 15 hp can be driven without a licence in daylight inside the bay; ask which company has them.
How much does it cost to hire a boat in Cantabria?
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.
What should I know about the tide in Cantabria?
That it rises and falls more than four metres and uncovers banks in the bays of Santander and Santoña. You sail the buoyed channels with the tide table.
Are there boat trips in Cantabria?
Yes, and in high demand: round the Bay of Santander from Los Reginas, round the Bay of Santoña and along the coast from Castro and San Vicente. They are listed under the boat trips category.