Navegaria
Navegaria25+ years of sailing

Navegaria · Practical guide

Navigation license in Calpe and Altea: how to get it, plainly explained

If you live in Calpe or Altea and want to start sailing with an official qualification, this is the practical guide: what the Licencia de Navegación covers, how long the course takes, what practice involves and when it makes sense to go straight for the PER.

Summary

The Licencia de Navegación is Spain's first official nautical qualification: it lets you operate vessels up to 6 metres and sail up to 2 miles from port. There is no external exam and you can complete it in a few weeks. Our sailing school runs the course in Altea (15 minutes from Calpe) with practice on our own boat. To see the full programme, visit the Licencia de Navegación course page or the sailing school.

What the Licencia de Navegación allows

The Licencia de Navegación is the entry qualification into sailing in Spain. With it you can:

  • Operate motor or sail vessels up to 6 metres in length.
  • Operate jet skis.
  • Sail up to 2 nautical miles from a port, marina or sheltered place.
  • Sail in daylight only.

How the course works: theory and practice

The course has two parts. Theory is short (about 12 hours total) and covers the essentials: basic terminology, safety, maritime signals, basic weather and collision regulations. At Navegaria you can do it online at your own pace or in person in Altea.

Practice is 8 hours on board in our marina in Altea. It covers docking manoeuvres, man overboard, life jacket use, engine handling and basic knots. Classes are in small groups (maximum 4-5 students per session) with a qualified instructor.

When you finish, the school issues your Licencia de Navegación directly. There is no external official exam: approved training is sufficient.

If you live in Calpe: how to organise it

Many people search directly for a navigation license in Calpe or a sailing school in Calpe. Practical training depends less on the town than on the school's base port, sea conditions and class schedule. Our school is in Altea, 15-20 minutes from Calpe by car on the N-332, and many Calpe students train with us:

  • Online theory: no travel needed. You study at home and ask the instructor questions by email or video call.
  • Practice in Altea: drive in, do the session and return. Sessions last about 4 hours, so two days cover the required 8 hours.
  • Qualification paperwork: we handle it. You do not need to go to Valencia or do admin yourself.

Licencia, PNB or PER: which fits you

When you call the school, the first question is often: is the Licencia enough or should I go straight for the PER? An honest answer:

  • Licencia de Navegación: for sailing near home in small boats. If you will not buy or rent a larger boat, it is enough.
  • PNB (Patron de Navegación Básica): extends to boats up to 8 metres and 5 miles from shore. Makes some sense if you are between Licencia and PER, though more people go directly to PER now.
  • PER (Patron de Embarcaciones de Recreo): the most versatile. Up to 15 metres and 12 miles from shore. Valid for bareboat rental in any Mediterranean marina. If you have time and budget, it is often worth it.
  • If you are still unsure, we recommend starting with a skippered trip in Altea to experience sailing before committing to months of study.

How an approved sailing school works

An approved sailing school meets minimum requirements: authorised by the Directorate General of the Merchant Navy and (in our case) also by the Generalitat Valenciana, instructors with professional qualifications, an inspected practice vessel and valid insurance. That is what lets you register with the authorities when you finish and have a qualification valid throughout Spain.

At Navegaria we train from Altea with small groups, our own boat and personal attention. To see detailed programmes or enrol, visit the sailing school.

Official information: nautical qualifications in Spain

To compare the limits of each qualification with the official source, see the Ministry of Transport - nautical qualifications. There you will find the official table for Licencia de Navegación, PNB, PER, Patron de Yate and Capitan de Yate, with up-to-date lengths and mile limits.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Licencia de Navegación?
It is Spain's first official nautical qualification. It allows you to operate vessels up to 6 metres in length (and jet skis) up to 2 nautical miles from a port or sheltered place. It is the most accessible way to start sailing without relying on a skipper.
How long does it take to get the Licencia de Navegación?
At Navegaria the course combines a short theory block (about 12 hours, in person or online) and a mandatory 8-hour practical block on board. Overall, many people complete it in 1-2 weeks if they have availability. When you finish, the school issues the qualification directly.
If I live in Calpe, do I have to do the course in Altea?
You can do the theory online or in a classroom. Practical sessions are on our boat, which is based in Altea - about 15-20 minutes by car from Calpe. Many Calpe students train with us for proximity and quality.
How does it differ from PER and PNB?
The Licencia de Navegación has the smallest limits (boats up to 6 m, 2 miles from shore). PNB extends to 8 metres and 5 miles. PER is the most versatile: up to 15 metres and 12 miles. The Licencia is a good first step if you want to sail near the coast and are not sure about investing in a longer course.
Do I have to sit an official government exam?
For the Licencia de Navegación there is no external official exam: it is approved training at an authorised school that ends with issuing the qualification. For PNB and PER there is an official Conselleria exam; our school prepares both and handles registration.