For our staycation on the Costa Tropical, there is no shortage of Almuñécar summer activities to choose from. Yep, we are staying local for the summer and enjoying all of the normal summer fun, with a mask!
This has certainly been an interesting year, without a doubt! With the COVID pandemic, Spain on lockdown a couple of months, and the kids both graduating without the traditions it has been nowhere near normal. We aren’t making any travel plans this summer, just to stay safe and keep away from that virus! Luckily, we live in the land of summer vacation!
Almuñécar, La Herradura, and all of the Costa Tropical is where much of Spain flocks for the summer. This year has been much lighter on the number of tourists, as they mainly show up on the weekends. I am thinking many people don’t have as much vacation time and need to earn money. This hasn’t been too bad for us, as all of the activities, shops, and restaurants are open, without the hoards of holidaymakers!
Why not take a boat trip?
Since the big crowds aren’t here and our area has been COVID free for many weeks, we thought “why not get out a bit and have a little fun?” It was the end of the school year, two graduates without any final celebration or closure, a boat trip would be a good way to celebrate. It is also our last summer before Lars takes off for university, so a good Wagoners Abroad activity is just what we need!
A local tour company Sailnplay has a new party boat and we wanted to give it a try. We knew we would need to wear masks and the owner assured us they are following all of the safety rules for the 2-hour excursion.
Boy did we luck out!
Arriving at Marina del Este
We arrived at the marina about 20 minutes before departure, wearing our masks! There was just a quick sign-in sheet and it was off to the boat. This party boat can hold up to 50 people, but it was just a couple of families and the crew. It was great, as we could all keep our distance and enjoy all that the trip had to offer. There was a snack bar on board for drinks and food too!
We set off from the Marina del Este and headed east. We hugged the coast all the way past Cotobro, Playa San Cristóbal, and the Peñones del Santo. It was so cool to see our daily stomping grounds from a different perspective. We had been out on local boat trips before, but we usually head west, so this was a real treat.
After cruising to the east a bit, we then turned back and headed towards La Herradura. We were able to get right under some of the stunning homes up on the cliffs and see some of the caves.
When we passed by La Herradura, there were so many people out on the water. There were powerboats, jet skis, kayaks, paddleboards, catamarans, and even someone doing a wakeboard. The water was like glass, so it was a smooth ride the entire way and perfect for all of the watersports. That made my day, as I am prone to a bit of seasickness.
Cool off at the Cove
After about an hour of sightseeing in the warm summer sun, it was time to anchor and enjoy a bit of the sea! All kinds of water toys came out and it was a fun jump off of the side of the boat for everyone. Of course, masks were removed for the water portion. Both Lars and Anya immediately gravitated towards the stand-up paddleboard. Anya showed off quite a bit and she was a natural, as Lars had a few falls but did well. They even tried to both stand on the board together and that didn’t last long.
It was so much fun and the water was the absolute perfect temperature. Just cool enough to feel good when you hop in, but not so cold that you get the shivers. It was very refreshing and loads of fun. The other boat passengers also played with all of the water toys and we all followed the social distancing rules too.
The Fun Crew
I have to say, the crew made the entire experience great. They were very informative, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed for a good time. The snack bar was fantastic and the drinks were cold.
The Party is Over
It was just a 2-hour tour and the time went quickly, but it was so much fun. When we returned, we started brainstorming on when we should go out again and what group of people we could invite. We just went as a family, but it also ideal for a big group to go out together as it is so affordable. You could invite 30 of your closest friends and still have room for more! The party boat was a great time and you are the party!
By the way, the masks came off for the purpose of taking a photo while on the boat. We wanted to be sure to share the smiles!
What summer fun are you having?