Seven islets off L'Estartit, marine reserves circled by glass-bottom vessels and dive charters
Hand-picked by our editors — only the best 4 boat operators from 11 reviewed.
Verified partners for Medes Islands Boat Trips tours, free cancellation where available, and instant confirmation on every booking.
2 hr 30 min
Dive into crystal-clear waters at one of Costa Brava's premier marine reserves on this eco-friendly excursion
Reserve
2 hr
Explore Montgrí Natural Park by boat with swimming, snorkeling, and views through the glass floor
Reserve
1 hr 30 min
Discover protected marine waters, explore dramatic sea caves, and swim in secluded coves along Costa Brava
ReservePrices from verified partners. Availability updates in real time at checkout. Free cancellation policies apply where shown.
Departure from L'Estartit harbor
Coastal sailing along the Montgrí Massif
Underwater viewing and snorkeling stops
Final views of the coastline back to port
The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on Medes Islands Boat Trips tours remember — all visible on a single visit.
The largest island in the archipelago, featuring an old lighthouse and protected nesting sites.
A striking, slender monolith rising 72 meters vertically from the sea.
An impressive natural tunnel through the rock that boats can navigate.
Known for its elongated shape and popularity for underwater exploration.
A rugged, irregular islet with vertical walls that drop sharply into the sea.
Every Medes Islands Boat Trips tour side-by-side — duration, what's included, how you redeem.
| Experience | From | Duration | Rating | Small group | Free cancel. | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Standard Entry Most popular
Medes Islands Snorkeling Adventure from L'Estartit
|
L'Estartit | 2 hr 30 min | ★ 4.5 | ✓ | ✓ | $44 | Book → |
|
Standard Entry
Medas Islands Glass-Bottom Boat Adventure
|
— | 2 hr | ★ 4.4 | — | ✓ | €25 | Book → |
|
Standard Entry
Medes Islands Boat Adventure with Cave Exploration
|
— | 1 hr 30 min | ★ 4.6 | ✓ | ✓ | $29 | Book → |
All prices from verified partners. Availability and exact terms confirmed at checkout.
Medes Islands boat trips offer focused marine-reserve biodiversity, while Cap de Creus excursions provide a broader, rugged coastal sailing experience.
| Feature | Top pick Medes Islands | Cap de Creus |
|---|---|---|
Primary Focus |
Protected marine reserve biodiversity | Rugged coastal geology and sailing |
Accessibility from L'Estartit |
Direct local departure point | Requires travel to northern Girona |
Marine Life Visibility |
High within protected sanctuary | Moderate in open sea areas |
Landscape Style |
Compact rocky archipelago | Expansive cliffs and hidden coves |
Trip Duration |
1.5–2 hours average | 3–6 hours depending on route |
| See tickets → |
Verdict: Choose the medes islands boat trips tour for quick access to diverse snorkeling, or select Cap de Creus boat excursions for a full day of scenic navigation.
Choose your ticket, select your date, and reserve in under two minutes. Secure checkout handled by our verified partner.
Instant confirmation by email, with a mobile voucher you can save offline. No printing, no queuing at a collection desk.
Arrive at the entrance, show your voucher on your phone, and walk in. Most tickets include priority or skip-the-line access.
Practical details for Medes Islands Boat Trips tickets straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
Passeig Marítim, 17258
Follow signs for designated boat docks
Open in Google MapsFollow GI-641 to L'Estartit; public parking available near the seafront.
Regular regional services connect nearby towns to L'Estartit center.
Wear comfortable, quick-dry clothing and swimwear. Non-slip sandals or boat shoes are recommended for safety on deck.
Keep personal belongings to a minimum. Use dry bags for electronics and important documents to protect them from sea spray.
Photography is encouraged throughout your medes islands boat trips. Use a waterproof case or camera strap to secure your equipment while near the water.
Many traditional vessels used for medes islands boat trips are not wheelchair or stroller accessible. Contact operators in advance if you have specific mobility requirements.
Mobile phones are permitted for capturing photos of the medes islands boat trips. A waterproof bag is highly advised to avoid accidental water damage.
These tours are excellent for families, often featuring glass-bottom observation decks to view marine life. Children must be supervised at all times while on the boat.
Carry sufficient water and light snacks to stay hydrated. Some longer medes islands boat trips tours may offer food on board; verify your booking details.
Pets are generally not allowed on board during medes islands boat trips. Confirm this restriction with your specific provider prior to arrival.
Entry to the islands is 0 EUR as they are a protected natural reserve. All fees paid are strictly for boat transport and guided tour services.
Best time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
How crowds, weather, and events shift across the year.
High season with warmest water for snorkeling and daily departures.
Mild weather and fewer crowds perfect for quiet nature viewing.
Pleasant temperatures though sea conditions may become variable.
Excellent visibility for underwater viewing after peak summer crowds depart.
Small details that turn a good visit into a great one.
Plan your arrival between 09:00–11:00 to escape the heat and afternoon wind.
The captains of these medes islands boat trips will often adjust routes for safety if sea conditions change.
Secure your medes islands boat trips tickets ahead of time, especially during summer months.
Confirm if your tour includes snorkeling gear or if you need to bring your own equipment.
The reflection of the sun on the water is strong; wear a hat and high-SPF sunscreen.
Non-bookable sights within a short walk — free to visit, easy to pair.
Iconic arched rock formation on the Montgrí coast.
Hilltop ruin overlooking the entire Empordà plain.
Scenic cove popular for swimming and coastal hikes.
Protected wetland area perfect for birdwatching.
Flexible, no hidden fees.
Full refund available for cancellations made more than 48 hours in advance. No refund is provided for cancellations within 48 hours of the scheduled activity.
Hand-picked options within walking distance — pick a district for vibe, or a specific hotel for convenience.
Located near the beach in the heart of town.
Seafront location with traditional coastal charm.
Wide selection of apartments and budget guesthouses.
The Medes archipelago — seven limestone islets lying eight hundred meters off L'Estartit — has been a protected marine reserve since 1983, the first of its kind in Spain.
What began as a fishermen's redoubt and pirate lookout became, over four decades, the Mediterranean's most biodiverse temperate reef, home to more than thirteen hundred species of algae, mollusks, crustaceans, and fish. Posidonia meadows carpet the seabed between the islands; dusky grouper, once hunted to near-extinction along the Costa Brava, patrol the rocky drop-offs where vertical walls plunge thirty meters into darkness. The reserve's strict protection — spearfishing banned, anchoring prohibited, access limited to licensed operators — has allowed populations to rebound to levels unseen since the mid-twentieth century.
Today the islands draw thirty thousand visitors each year, nearly all arriving by boat from the harbor at L'Estartit. Glass-bottom vessels depart hourly through the high season, their hulls fitted with viewing panels that reveal the underwater landscape without requiring passengers to enter the water. Snorkeling and diving charters account for the remainder of traffic; the reserve's visibility — often exceeding twenty meters in morning hours — and the density of life along the rocky walls make it a benchmark site for Mediterranean underwater photography. Operators run circuits that loop the seven islets, pausing at the Meda Gran lighthouse and the tunnel at Meda Xica, where natural arches frame schools of bream and sea bass.
The reserve's success has made it a model for marine protected areas across southern Europe. Research stations on the mainland monitor fish stocks, algae cover, and visitor impact; seasonal mooring buoys replace permanent anchors to protect the seagrass. Regulations prohibit swimmers from approaching nesting colonies of yellow-legged gulls on the northern cliffs, and dive groups are capped at eight participants per guide. The islands themselves remain uninhabited — no structures beyond the automated lighthouse — but their ecological density rivals tropical reefs, a rare outcome for temperate waters.
Morning departures from L'Estartit's Passeig Marítim offer the clearest water and calmest seas, particularly between April and October when the Tramontana wind subsides. The reserve's proximity to shore — a fifteen-minute crossing — allows even short excursions to include circumnavigation of multiple islets, with most tours lasting ninety minutes to two hours. Operators provide wet suits and snorkeling gear; diving requires advance certification verification and equipment rental or personal gear.
"The reserve's visibility often exceeds twenty meters in morning hours, revealing populations that have rebounded to mid-twentieth-century levels."
A step-by-step walkthrough of Medes Islands Boat Trips tickets — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You board at the Passeig Marítim in L'Estartit, stepping onto a glass-bottom vessel as the captain briefs the route: a counterclockwise loop around Meda Gran, the largest islet, then north to the tunnel at Meda Xica.
The boat clears the harbor breakwater and accelerates across the eight-hundred-meter channel, the limestone cliffs of the archipelago sharpening against the morning light. Within fifteen minutes you slow near the southern shore of Meda Gran, and the captain cuts the engine. You move to the viewing panels set into the hull and peer down through three meters of water at a Posidonia meadow, its ribbon-like fronds swaying in the current. A school of salema porgy drifts past, their silver bodies flashing as they turn.
The boat continues north, hugging the island's eastern wall where the seabed drops away sharply. You spot a dusky grouper hovering near a rocky outcrop, its mottled brown flank the size of a car tire. The guide points out a cluster of red starfish clinging to the vertical face, their arms splayed across algae-covered stone. At Meda Xica the boat idles above the natural tunnel, and you watch as sunlight refracts through the archway, illuminating a column of plankton and the silhouettes of bream passing through. The return leg skirts the northern islets, where yellow-legged gulls wheel above nesting cliffs, their calls carrying across the water.
Accessibility depends on the vessel, as some boats used for medes islands boat trips tours are not equipped for wheelchairs.
The booking offices are open from 09:00–20:00 daily.
Entrance to the islands themselves is 0 EUR, though boat trips are paid services.
You can bring your own gear, though many medes islands boat trips tours provide equipment like snorkels.
We recommend arriving between 09:00–11:00 to avoid mid-day crowds and ensure better sea conditions.
Cancellations made more than 48 hours before your medes islands boat trips tour receive a full refund.
Yes, these excursions are popular with families and children are welcome on most medes islands boat trips.
You may bring small snacks and water, but check with your specific operator about full meals.
Most smaller vessels used for medes islands boat trips do not have restrooms on board.
