What to See in the Santa Margarita Canals from the Water
The Santa Margarita canals can be visited on foot or from the viewpoints scattered around the urbanisation. But none of those perspectives comes close to what you see from the water. From a boat the canals reveal a completely different dimension: the houses show their most intimate face, and the pace of the trip — slow, calm, unhurried — turns the outing into something quite unlike anything else on the Costa Brava.
Waterfront houses — unique architecture on the Costa Brava
The most characteristic image of the Santa Margarita canals is that of houses with private jetties. More than 500 homes have direct water access from their gardens — each with its own small dock, a moored dinghy and a terrace overlooking the canal.
From land, you see these houses from behind — the main facade faces the street. From the boat you see them from the front: gardens with palm trees, terraces with sunshades, owners drinking coffee first thing in the morning with their feet almost in the water. It is the private face of Santa Margarita that most tourists never get to see.
The architecture varies considerably from house to house. There are 1960s villas with the original Mediterranean style, modern renovations with large windows overlooking the canal, and some homes that have kept the design intact since the urbanisation was built. For anyone interested in residential architecture, the canal route is a unique catalogue on the Costa Brava.
The pace of the route — slow by nature
The canals require you to navigate at reduced speed. That slowness is not an inconvenience — it is precisely what makes the journey special. In an environment of calm, sheltered water, time stretches and the scenery can be appreciated in detail.
That enforced calm is, paradoxically, one of the most appreciated aspects of the route: in a fast-paced world, the Santa Margarita canals invite you to go slowly and look.
For first-time sailors, the straight stretches, the gentle bends and the visual landmarks of the urbanisation — facades, jetties, vegetation — make it easy to orientate yourself without any rush. The route is easy to follow at any point.
Canal wildlife — what you do not expect to find
The Santa Margarita canals are not just about architecture. The calm, sheltered waters of the inland waterways are home to wildlife that surprises those who do not expect it.
Birds are the stars. Grey herons perched on private jetties, kingfishers crossing the canals like electric-blue arrows, ducks swimming between moored boats without being bothered at all by passing hire craft. For families with children, spotting wildlife during the canal route is often one of the most remembered moments of the trip.
On the submerged walls of the docks and jetties, when the water is particularly clear, you can see small fish moving among the algae. It is not Cap de Creus — but it has its own quiet ecosystem that is well worth observing.
The canals at dawn and dusk — the light that changes everything
The Santa Margarita canals are one of those places where the light of the day matters as much as the place itself. First thing in the morning, when the sun is still low and the reflections on the water are long and golden, the canals have an almost unreal quality. The houses are doubled in the water, the light draws long shadows on the facades and there is a stillness that does not last beyond ten in the morning.
At sunset the transformation is different but equally spectacular. The warm late-afternoon light tints the facades in orange and pink, the water becomes a perfect mirror and the atmosphere fills with that Mediterranean melancholy that is hard to describe but immediately recognisable.
It is exactly for these moments that Experience Boat's Sunset Experience exists: a sunset trip along the Santa Margarita canals that starts with the last light of the day on the water and ends when the sun disappears below the horizon of the Bay of Roses.
The canals through the seasons
The Santa Margarita canals change with the seasons in a way few tourist areas on the Costa Brava can match.
- In spring (April, May, June) — the quietest time and possibly the most beautiful. The house gardens are in bloom, the vegetation bordering some canal stretches is at its most lush and the wildlife is more active than in high summer. The water is clean and calm. For anyone wanting to experience the canals in their most authentic form, spring is the time.
- In summer (July, August) — the canals are livelier and more colourful. Owners are in their houses, the terraces are busy and the urbanisation has the feel of a small seaside resort in full swing. There are more boats in the canals but also more atmosphere. The first hour of the morning is still the best time to set out before the heat builds.
- In September and October — the ideal season for those who prefer the canals without crowds. The water is still warm enough for swimming, tourist numbers have dropped considerably and the canals recover the quietness of early season. Many owners are still in their houses during September, giving the route the residential atmosphere that makes it unique.
How to get to the Santa Margarita canals
The Santa Margarita canals are at the northern edge of Roses, less than 5 minutes by car from the town centre. From our base at Marina de Santa Margarita, access to the start of the navigable canals is immediate — your boat trip begins with the first canal from the very first minute.
To reach Marina de Santa Margarita from Roses town centre, take Avinguda de Rhode northwards and follow signs for the Marina. Free parking is available near the boarding point.
Av. Clot Franquest Nord, 17480 Roses, Girona
Frequently asked questions
Can you visit the Santa Margarita canals on foot?
Yes, there is a pedestrian walkway that runs alongside part of the canals, and viewpoints from which you can see the water and the houses. But the experience from the boat is completely different — from the water you access the most interior stretches and see the urbanisation from the perspective its architects originally designed.
How long does it take to cruise the canals by boat?
The inner canal route at a relaxed pace takes between 60 and 90 minutes. It combines perfectly with a trip out into the Bay of Roses or to Cap de Creus on the same day.
What is the best time of year to visit the Santa Margarita canals?
May, June and September offer the best conditions: calm water, pleasant temperatures, active wildlife and far less boat traffic than peak August. For photography, the first hour of the morning at any time of year is unbeatable.
Can you snorkel in the Santa Margarita canals?
The inner canals are not the ideal environment for snorkelling — the water is calmer than crystal-clear in some stretches. For snorkelling we recommend the coves of the Bay of Roses and Cap de Creus, which have much richer seabeds and clearer water.
Are there navigation restrictions in the canals?
Yes. The canals have speed limits to protect moored vessels and the tranquillity of the urbanisation. Our boats are perfectly suited to those conditions and before each departure we explain the basic navigation rules for the canals.