Sailboat or motorboat: which boat to choose on the Costa del Sol

“Should I hire a sailboat or a motorboat?” It’s one of the first questions for anyone wanting to head out to sea on the Costa del Sol, and the honest answer is that neither boat is better than the other: there’s a boat for your plan. It changes the pace, the atmosphere, what you feel on board and even the kind of memory you take home. Before deciding, it’s worth knowing what each one really offers, without idealising either. We’ll tell you from the deck, with their upsides and drawbacks.

The classic sailboat: character, pace and history

A wooden sailboat is, above all, an experience with soul. Ours is over forty years old with two trips around the world behind it, and it shows: the teak deck, the ropes, the helm and the gentle roll tell a story that a plastic boat doesn’t have. It’s the plan for anyone after atmosphere, elegance and a photo that looks like no other. The pace is unhurried, meant for enjoying the journey, not for getting there fast.

And here we have to be honest, because it’s the most common misunderstanding. Sailing depends on the wind, and on the Costa del Sol there are calm days. When there isn’t enough wind, the sailboat runs on its engine, like any other vessel; the sails go up when conditions allow. If your dream is to cross the bay heeled over and in silence with the engine off, it can happen and it’s beautiful, but it’s not guaranteed: the sea decides. Going in with that clear expectation is the difference between a perfect trip and a small disappointment.

On board, the sailboat trip is also about the service. It comes with a skipper and crew, who speak Spanish, English and French, so you don’t need to know anything about the sea; you just enjoy it. Every trip includes an on-board toast (cava, sangria or a soft drink) and, when the sea permits, a swim stop out at sea. It’s a plan meant to be savoured slowly, not timed.

The motorboat: speed and practicality

A motorboat is in a different league: speed and practicality. It reaches any cove sooner, lets you move quickly between spots and suits anyone who prioritises the “let’s go, have a swim and come back” without any fuss. The journey is a means, not the end.

In return, it gives up what makes the sailboat special: the atmosphere, the silence, the character. It tends to be a more functional trip and, often, noisier because of the engine running constantly. For a short, direct outing it does the job easily; for a celebration or a trip you want to remember for its atmosphere, it falls short. We’ve chosen the classic sailboat precisely for that reason, but we understand that every traveller is looking for different things.

It’s also worth clearing up a widespread misconception: many people think the motorboat is “cheaper” and the sailboat “pricier” as a rule, and it’s not that simple. The price depends on the type of trip (shared or private), the duration and how many of you there are, not just the hull. A short shared sailboat cruise can work out better value than a motorboat all to yourselves, and vice versa. That’s why the deciding factor isn’t money alone, but what plan you want and for how many people.

A practical comparison: sailboat versus motorboat

If we boil it down to a table, here’s how each option compares on what really matters when choosing:

As for numbers, our private sailboat trips take up to 12 people, enough for a group or a family, and a longer crossing like the open-sea route lasts around 3 h, plenty of time to switch off. You can see that high-seas sailing route if a more seafaring experience appeals to you.

What you’d choose based on your plan

The “sailboat or motorboat” question almost always comes down to another: what you want that trip to be. If it’s a way to cool off for a while between visits, the main factor will be practical. If it’s the plan of the day, the one that opens the holiday photo album or celebrates something, then atmosphere matters more than speed. Getting down to specific cases, here’s what we recommend:

For a calm, affordable cruise, the shared sailboat trip around the bay is the best introduction to the sea; you’ll find it in the 1-hour trip along the coast and bay. For a longer, private route, with the boat just for your group, the skippered sailboat charter fits, letting you decide the course. To discover the neighbouring coast, the private route to Torremolinos combines sailing and coves.

And what if there are lots of you? Then the question changes from “which boat” to “how many people fit”; we sort that out in our guide to how many people fit on a boat. And if your aim is a photo shoot or a film shoot, the classic sailboat is a set that’s hard to match: we explain it in the technical guide to on-board photo shoots. If you’re still torn between a shared trip and hiring the whole boat, it helps to compare a shared or private boat trip.

If you’ve settled on sail and want the most seafaring experience, start here:

Frequently asked questions

Do you get more seasick on a sailboat than on a motorboat?

It depends more on the sea and on each person than on the type of boat. The sailboat has a gentler, longer roll that many people find manageable; the motorboat gives a sharper, quicker motion in a swell. On either, if you’re prone to it, a tablet half an hour beforehand and looking at the horizon help a lot. In the bay and with a calm sea, you barely notice it.

Which is better for going with children?

The sailboat, thanks to its calm pace, is usually a great option for families, especially the early bay trip. It’s equipped with life jackets in all sizes. The key isn’t so much the boat as choosing a short trip in calm waters for the little ones.

Which is better for a photo shoot?

The classic sailboat, without a doubt: the wood, the ropes, the helm and the sails give a backdrop with character that a motorboat doesn’t offer. That said, there are technical details worth preparing, like the light or the batteries, and we go over them in our dedicated guide to on-board shoots.

Do you always sail under sail on the sailboat?

No, and it’s worth knowing. The sails go up when the wind allows; on calm days we run on the engine. The sail is a wonderful extra when the sea permits, not a guarantee. We set honest expectations and enjoy the trip either way.

In short: if you want speed and getting there quickly, the motorboat delivers; if you want atmosphere, calm and a trip remembered for how it feels, the sailboat wins. There’s no single answer, there’s yours, the one that fits the plan you have in mind. And if you’re unsure, ask us: we’ve spent years helping people choose from the very same pontoon.