Full Description & Details
Puerto de Bonanza sits inside the Guadalquivir river estuary at Sanlucar de Barrameda, Cadiz, on Andalusia's northwest Atlantic coast. Unlike open-sea harbours, it lies within the river as a natural shelter, with the port infrastructure arranged around a quay and a detached breakwater. The port is primarily a fishing harbour, home to one of the region's most important fleets, with more than 115 vessels. The old town of Sanlucar de Barrameda and the Bajo de Guia waterfront are nearby attractions.
The port is organised around the quay, built in the 1950s and remodelled in later decades, and a detached breakwater about 100 metres to the west, which serves more for berthing than defence. This breakwater reaches 480 metres and runs north-south. Berths are exclusively for fishing vessels, split between the quay and the breakwater. The depth is maintained at around 3.5 metres, and the port offers natural shelter inside the river. A large open area behind the quay holds the port's main facilities.
Facilities include a fish market, the fishermen's guild offices, the port authority offices, and salting rooms. Repair services are available. The northern part of the port is dedicated to net mending, with new lockers and net sheds. A crane for loading and unloading buoys is located on the southern edge of the port area. The port is managed by the Public Agency of Ports of Andalusia, with information available on their website.
Dredging was planned to ensure navigability of the entrance and access channel, with work starting in late 2019 to restore depths to 3.5 metres. A project for a northern expansion and a pedestrian walkway to the breakwater was put out for public consultation in January 2025. This expansion would create a new recreational basin with a new breakwater of about 300 metres, sheltering around 50,000 square metres of water and space for about 400 boats, plus a technical area of about 7,000 square metres. The port is a working fishing harbour, so visiting yachts should expect a busy, functional environment rather than a dedicated leisure marina.
How to get there
Approach Puerto de Bonanza from the Guadalquivir river, entering the port's mouth and access channel. The port lies within the river, so the approach is via the river channel, which has been subject to dredging to maintain depths of about 3.5 metres. The detached breakwater to the west, about 100 metres from the quay, is a key feature for orientation, and the port's berths are along this breakwater and the quay.
No specific VHF channel is given in the sources. For land access, the port is in Sanlucar de Barrameda, Cadiz, with the old town and Bajo de Guia waterfront nearby. The nearest major airport is not specified in the sources.
Formalities are handled through the Agencia Publica de Puertos de Andalucia, whose website provides port information. Since the port is primarily for fishing, visiting yachts should check with the port office for berth availability and any restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many berths are there at Puerto de Bonanza?
Puerto de Bonanza has more than 115 berths, all for fishing vessels, split between the quay and the detached breakwater.
What is the depth at Puerto de Bonanza?
The depth at Puerto de Bonanza is maintained at about 3.5 metres, with dredging planned to ensure navigability in the entrance and access channel.
Does Puerto de Bonanza have repair facilities?
Yes, Puerto de Bonanza offers repair services, along with a fish market, offices, and salting facilities.
Is Puerto de Bonanza a recreational marina?
No, Puerto de Bonanza is primarily a fishing port with only fishing berths, though a project for a new recreational basin with about 400 berths was proposed in 2009 and put for public information in 2025.
How do I contact Puerto de Bonanza?
Puerto de Bonanza is managed by the Agencia Publica de Puertos de Andalucia, and their website at www.puertosdeandalucia.es provides contact information.
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