There are two ways to head out to sea in Benalmádena, and getting the choice right is what separates a perfect afternoon from a slight let-down. You can buy your seat on a shared trip (you climb aboard, share the deck with other passengers and sail for an hour) or book the whole boat exclusively for your group. Neither is better than the other: they are different plans for different intentions. This guide helps you decide which one fits yours, with no fluff, so you step aboard with the right expectations. And that, in the end, is the key to people coming back ashore happy and wanting to do it again.
The shared ticket: when it makes every bit of sense
The shared one-hour trip around the bay is the simplest gateway to the sea. You book one seat or several, not the whole boat: the other seats are taken by people who, like you, want to see the coast from the water. It is the natural choice if you are going solo or as a couple, if it is your first time out, or if you simply want a relaxed afternoon without arranging a bigger plan.
Its advantages are clear. It is the most affordable way to get on board (from 20,00 € per person), it does not require coordinating a group and, with more people aboard, it has a sociable, lively feel: you chat, you share the wonder when the dolphins appear and you toast with the cava that comes included on board. To discover a classic wooden sailing boat with history without committing to anything more, it does the job and then some.
The small print, said plainly: you will be sharing the deck. In high season the boat can be full, and then space is at a premium. One customer put it bluntly: on deck there was barely room to move. It is not a flaw of the boat, it is the nature of the format (you pay less because you share). If you are after privacy, quiet or the freedom to do your own thing, the shared trip will feel too tight. That is where the other option comes in.
The exclusive charter: when paying for the whole boat pays off
Booking exclusively means the sailing boat is yours for the entire outing: only those you invite come aboard, you set the pace and you set the mood. It costs more (logically, you are not splitting the price with strangers) but that is exactly why it solves what the shared trip cannot.
It pays off above all in three situations. When you are going as a group: a birthday, a hen or stag do, a get-together with friends or a team event where you want just your own people. When you are celebrating something and the moment matters (an anniversary, a proposal, a photo to keep): no stranger in the frame and the skipper attentive to your plan. And when you want time without a clock: stopping for a swim wherever you fancy, drawing out the toast, playing your own music. For a group, the skippered boat charter gives you the whole vessel from 240,00 €; and if the occasion is a party with your crowd, the private parties for small groups are designed for exactly that.
An honest note that saves disappointment: this is a classic sailing boat, not a floating nightclub. There are toasts, a swim in the open sea when the water allows and good background music, but anyone after a party boat with the speakers blaring has the wrong vessel. The groups who come aboard knowing this (elegant, relaxed, full of charm) are the ones who step off delighted and recommend it.
Shared or private: the practical comparison
Laid out in a table, so you can decide at a glance what really changes from one format to the other:
| What to consider | Shared ticket | Exclusive charter |
|---|---|---|
| The plan | A trip of 1 h around the bay, with departures as space allows | The whole boat for your group, at your own pace |
| Who you sail with | You share the deck with other passengers (up to 12 aboard) | Just your group, no strangers |
| Price | From 20,00 € per person | From 240,00 € for the whole boat |
| Atmosphere | Sociable and lively, all about discovery | Intimate and made to measure, set by you |
| Ideal for | One person, a couple, a relaxed afternoon | Groups, celebrations, photos, time without a clock |
As you can see, it is not a question of cheap versus expensive, but of sharing versus having the boat to yourself. If your thing is working out the budget to the last euro, in our guide to real boat rental prices in Málaga we break down what each rate includes and why booking direct works out best.
So, which would you choose? Five clear cases
- You are going solo or as a couple and it is your first time: the shared ticket. Seeing the coast, sharing it with others and toasting for an hour is exactly what you are after, without spending more than you need to.
- You are celebrating an anniversary or want a special date: here it depends on the budget. If the sea in the background is enough, a sunset trip does the job nicely; if you want that moment just for the two of you, the exclusive charter is worth it.
- You are a group of six to twelve for a hen do or a birthday: exclusive, no question. The shared trip is not enough for a group that wants its own space, its own music and its own privacy.
- You are organising a corporate event or a photo shoot: exclusive again. You need control of the pace, the numbers aboard and who appears on camera, and only the whole boat gives you that.
- You just want to see dolphins and little else: the shared trip is plenty. Dolphins do not care what ticket you have, so you save without missing what matters.
If you are still shaping the day before settling on the boat, take a look at what to do in Benalmádena by the sea: you will see where each outing fits into your day on the coast.
See available seats and dates for the shared trip
If you have gone for the simplest way to discover the bay, here are the departures and available seats for the one-hour trip:
Price table
1 hRates
Departures
Add-ons
- Soft Drink Included · 1 per person per full hour
All prices include VAT.
And if your thing is the boat for your own group, write to us with the date and the number of people: the skippered charter adapts to what you need. In either case, what matters is that you step aboard knowing what to expect: that is the best guarantee of a perfect outing.
Frequently asked questions
Is the shared trip much cheaper than the whole boat?
Yes, and for a logical reason: on the shared trip you pay only for your seat (from 20,00 € per person), whereas on an exclusive charter you pay for the whole boat even if there are only a few of you. The maths changes with how many you are: for a couple, the shared ticket comes out better; for groups, splitting the whole boat can easily pay off.
How many people are on the shared trip?
The sailing boat takes up to 12 people aboard. In the shared format that means you may be joined by other travellers who have also bought their seat. In low season there are sometimes just a few of you; in August the boat can easily fill up.
Can I book the boat just for my group?
Of course. That is exactly what the skippered charter offers: the sailing boat is yours for the outing, with no strangers aboard. For hen and stag dos, birthdays or any group celebration, it is the formula that avoids the feeling of being cramped.
How long does each option last?
The shared trip lasts 1 h, long enough to cover the bay and raise a toast. On an exclusive charter the length adjusts to your plan: you can draw out the outing, take a longer swim stop or link it up with the sunset, without the rush of a shared timetable.
What if I want to celebrate something special?
For a celebration, the exclusive charter almost always pays off: the moment is yours, with complete privacy, and the skipper can adapt the pace. That said, be realistic about what is included (a toast and a swim, yes; decorations, a photographer or staged surprises you bring yourselves). With that clear expectation, it is a plan that is hard to beat.