Carthagena September 2018

Highly recommended. This bay is one of very few naturally protected harbours on the east coast of Spain and is therefore also used as a base for Spanish navy.

Electricity and water on every berth. Good toilet and shower facilities and excellent 24/7 gated security. Spar and Lidl inside the city, however a bit long to carry heavy items.

The marina personnel speaks excellent English and are very helpful. They helped me getting in contact to a rigger to check my mast, and Hood sailmaker (in Murcia), that eventually did a repair on five of my sails.

Found there to be a good vibe, many people who do wintering here, also after trying marinas further west or east. The city itself is very interesting. NB! Often there might be 1-2 huge cruising ship berthed just outside the marina, sending hordes of tourists into the city centre.

Pål Andreas Dahl, SY Murphy`s Law, Norway

Some insight into the Cartagena winter community: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx2nQYof90w&t=59s

Boat notes stayed at the RCRC – Real Club de las Regatas, Cartagena.

Spent some time in Yacht Port Cartagena. Marina, facilities and staff are great and helpful. Nice city. Two chandleries right near the marina: one in a fish port – exit marina and go right 200m. Called Oscar. The second one could be found if you continue to go right along the shore for about 500m more. If they don’t have something they can order it in one-two days.

A few supermarkets in the area: Mercadonna, Dia, Lidle Consume. Next, to Mercadonna, there is a Naval Electronic shop – very little English unfortunately.
In the industrial area (Polygone) there is a big and good shop for campingsailingdivingsport equipment and clothes. Right next to it there is a big shop Leroy and Mereline – a lot of tools, bolts, metal and wood.

The last and most important thing: God bless John Snow from “One stop Yacht Care” and Patrick who pointed me to him in the comments! Fixed and tuned my engine (3 other mechanics couldn’t), helped with hatches, wind vane, electricity and 1000 pieces of advice and explanations he gave for free that saved me a lot of nerves and money. Great guy, honestly.

Cartagena (Yacht Port Cartagena) was relatively new when the previous comments were made & believe correct. It has had a lot more money spent on the marina with new shower blocks. Vessels causing wash have been controlled because of complaints (thanks to sailors). Port is VERY pretty?? There 5 chandlers now that I am aware of. Only 3 of them are worth trying first for your needs!
Still GOOD PRICES for being right in a beautiful & safe city.

We have done the maths & bought property here! Friendly people too!

Posted on behalf of SY ChaliVentures III (US flagged)
I can’t say enough good things about Cartagena, Spain. We’re REALLY looking forward to spending several months there. We just spent 8 days there before crossing over to Morocco. The newer marina, Yacht Port Cartagena, is constructed so that no one is ever too far from town. It’s not too huge. We were warned by several cruisers who stayed there that it was a little “bouncy,” but we didn’t find it bad at all during 25kt winds.

It must be a matter of personal sensitivities, and most likely located within the marina! Some of the berths are more protected than others from the comings and goings of the commercial and fishing traffic.
Facilities are good; there are 2 washing machines and a dryer, and the office staff and marineros are all super friendly and helpful.

There are at least 4 supermarkets, a Carrefour hypermarket and a daily fresh food market all a short or medium bike ride away (<1km). The modernist architecture of many of the buildings, the Roman and Carthaginian antiquities, and the whole ambience of the town all contribute to an exceedingly pleasant place to be!

There’s no airport, but there are buses and trains to Murcia, Alicante or Almeria airports.

Re chandleries: there are 2 in Cartagena. One on the western edge of the town, near the town hall. This one is a bit touristy but sells most stuff. The other on the eastern edge, just past the fishing harbour.

They call these shops Naval effects/supplies. The steel double-spring mooring systems sold here are very useful for the surges mentioned – €30 each for 12 m yacht – buy 2.

New shower block nearly finished at YachtportCartagena marina – new building is seen in mid-Sept 2013, inside the main gate – just needed internal plumbing. Existing shower block + washing machines at the Western end of the marina is excellent. Container-based showers [not too bad at all] will probably be removed when new block is finished.