Azimut 86

At 26 metres, the Azimut 86 covers real distance without losing the intimacy of a smaller yacht. Cruising at around 27 knots, the Costa del Sol opens up quickly — Estepona is close, the Strait of Gibraltar closer than most guests expect — while the aft deck stays set for al fresco dining whether you're underway or anchored. The swim platform sits low enough that getting in and out of the water feels unhurried rather than an event in itself.

A typical day from Puerto Banús runs west past the Estepona shoreline, where the water tends to be calmer and the beaches quieter than directly off Marbella. Guests swim from the platform mid-morning, then move straight into lunch on deck, the al fresco layout meaning nobody has to choose between sun and shade for the meal. Longer runs toward the Strait of Gibraltar are possible too, though they call for more planning around currents and fuel than a standard coastal loop.

Four cabins put a practical ceiling on overnight groups, even though the yacht is set up to carry up to 12 guests for a day on the water. That distinction matters when deciding between a single afternoon and something longer with cabins booked for sleeping. Fuel and APA costs scale with the route chosen — a short swim-and-lunch loop from Puerto Banús runs noticeably lighter than a full passage to Gibraltar — so it's worth fixing the plan before fixing a budget.