Spend the night on the water in Andalusia

We are pleased to share the experience of Marion Hoogwegt, a guest from the Netherlands, who visited us in November 2023.

It is the dream of many a person; live on a houseboat. Always being on the water, always having an unobstructed view and nature or just the city around you. Wonderful! But apart from that, a home like this also requires quite a bit of maintenance, and is not for everyone. But don't worry: nowadays you can also choose to spend a few nights on a boat in Spain. Have all the fun, but not the burden.

Living on the water

As your houseboat floats on the water, you are slowly rocked to sleep by the waves, a special experience. Spending the night on a houseboat as a recreation is possible nowadays and can be simple or very luxurious. And who doesn't want to wake up like this? You are in a unique place and sleep in a space with its very own character. It is not as anonymous as a hotel room where you sit between walls in one of those thousands of places where everything is more or less the same anyway. A houseboat is always unique. You also never know exactly what to expect, which is what gives it something exciting. You step into a totally different world.

Invited by Boat Haus Mediterranean Experience, I am staying for a few days on the water at the foot of the huge rock of Gibraltar. The port where the 18 houseboats are located is just Spain, and falls under the town of La Linea de la Concepción. From the boat it is only a 200-metre walk to the U.K. border, which is a funny idea. The nice thing about Boat Haus Mediterranean is that all the houseboats are a different colour. It looks cosy and you can see the coloured boats from a distance.

Nice indeed, because while a few hundred metres away the tourists in Gibraltar tumble over each other, here on the jetty I feel like I am in a tiny village of which I am a resident for two days. Entering the code of the lock of my floating abode, I discover a room that would be the envy of many hotels. A cosy accommodation surrounded by wood instead of stone walls. Here I spend the night comfortably without even a glimmer of dullness. Because on a houseboat, nothing is really ordinary.

A boat made home

Spending the night on the boat, with the comforts of a house, brings back many memories as I enjoy the peace and quiet on the water at the marina. I lack nothing on the boat, also called a Tiny house. The living room has a dining area and a sofa bed with cosy colours and lots of yellow. There are windows everywhere, so it is nice and bright. There is a complete open-plan kitchen with all modern amenities and from the tap comes plain drinking water. The bedroom has a spacious bed measuring 2 metres by 1.6 metres. From the bed you look directly onto the water. The boat also has excellent sanitary facilities with a luxurious massage shower, toilet and washbasin as well as ritual products. Privacy is guaranteed as there are curtains everywhere. Special, of course, is the private roof terrace. Here I enjoy the boats and beautiful motor yachts in the marina as well as nature.

From the first moment I stepped onto the boat, I felt at home. Despite the limited space, Boat Haus has managed to make the boat feel warm and cosy. Sunlight comes in through the many windows. Everywhere I look there are cute little things hanging and standing. And everything I need during my stay is there. Of course, there is also Wifi, what more could you want? Every now and then, the boat gently rocks up and down. Wind through my hair and warm sunbeams on my skin. I enjoy the deck chairs on the roof terrace and my reading book. With the wind, the sounds of the sea drift my way. Ropes of the boats around me tap against the masts. Flags flutter in the wind. 

In La Linea de la Concepción, the houseboat floats gingerly on the jetty. Occasionally a fish jumps. I am enjoying a weekend of writing, reading and listening to music. In the evening, I climb onto the roof terrace with a drink. Hundreds of starlings 'dance' above the water and then seek a spot for the night. Before it's time to enjoy the dark starry sky, it's time for sunset. The weather around Gibraltar is ideal for stargazing. Of the 365 days a year, there are as many as 300 clear and cloudless nights a year. In the morning, I enjoy the sunrise with a cup of coffee in my hands. This is definitely worth repeating.

Swimming, sailing and sunbathing

You can book a floating holiday home with one or two bedrooms and the luxury of one or two bathrooms. The beds are made on arrival and bed and bath linen is provided. The seating area in the open-plan living room offers fantastic views over the water. The kitchen is more than fully equipped with an induction hob, microwave, Dolce Gusto machine, kettle and toaster.

Building the houseboats as 'green' as possible became both the mission and the challenge, and that mission has succeeded. If you choose to stay at Boat Haus, you not only choose a unique holiday on the water, you also choose sustainability, comfort and energy awareness. They use sustainable materials, ask you to use water sparingly and use low-energy light bulbs.

Swimming, sailing, catching fish, peering over the water, gazing at passing boats, admiring the sunset: The residence offers so much fun on and around the water, that's all it takes for a successful outing. There is plenty of activity on the water during the day, but at night it is pitch dark and quiet. Except for the sounds of nature. 18 houseboats are lined up on the jetty, but with sufficient distance for pleasant privacy. One thing all these houseboats have in common: It is an experience with a story. When you get home, you are sure to have something to tell!

Digital floating

Before arriving at the port, you will receive a lot of information via whatsapp with the nicest tips for what to see and do around the lake, including the nicest and nearest restaurants and cafes. Most tips are within walking distance of the harbour.

Checking in and out is done digitally. You get a code to access the jetty and another code for access on the boat. There are also two free bikes on the boat to explore the area or for a tour of Gibraltar. What I also really like is that the car can be parked on the guarded quay and with a digital card you can park for free and leave and enter as often as you want.

Incidentally, the accommodation is also pet-friendly and nearby there is a beach where dogs have year-round access.

Of course, going to see some more of the area is highly recommended:

• As mentioned earlier, with Gibraltar just a stone's throw away, you naturally go walking, cycling or driving to have a look around the U.K.

• La Linea is in the province of Cadiz so it is really worth exploring the coast of Cadiz, to the left of La Linea and tasting seafood.

• To the right of La Linea lies the Malaga coast with the golf destination of San Roque and Sotogrande or the cosy town of Estepona

• The interior is called El Campo de Gibraltar, what you should definitely visit there is Castellar de la Frontera, a fortified village and Finca La Almoraima, a huge estate where you can have a great lunch or a drink on the patio.

It is a convenient place to get to:

You can reach Boat Haus via the A7 from both Cadiz and Malaga provinces, taking exit CA 34 for Gibraltar at San Roque. Just before the Gibraltar border, turn right to Puerto Marina Alcaidesa marina and you can park near the boathouses' jetty.