Where to Go When Renting a Boat in Datça?

Datça is the most special geography of Turkey, where the Aegean and the Mediterranean mix with its shape extending like a long thin finger on the map. This place is unlike the crowd of Bodrum or the humid heat of Marmaris. In Datça, the air is always crisp, and the water is frighteningly clear.

In these lands where Strabo said "If God wants his created servant to live long, he leaves him on the Datça Peninsula", chartering a boat in Datça means getting your fill of oxygen and history. As our captains say; "In other places you swim on the sea, in Datça you fly in the sea."

Here are 5 strategic routes to discover in those "glass-like" waters of Datça with the wind behind you:

1. Knidos Ancient City: The Tip Where Two Seas Meet

The peak of the Datça route is Knidos at the very tip of the peninsula. This is not just an ancient city, but the point where the Aegean and the Mediterranean are geographically separated. Entering the ancient port of Knidos by boat makes you feel the emotion felt by sailors thousands of years ago. You go ashore and visit the Temple of Aphrodite and the ancient theater.

Most Special Moment: Sunset. While the sun sets behind the Knidos lighthouse, the sky is painted purple. Raising a glass against this view in the cockpit of your boat is the most unforgettable frame of the Datça holiday.

2. Palamutbuku: The Most Transparent State of Water

The exact equivalent of that "glass-like sea" phrase that comes to mind when Datça is mentioned is Palamutbuku. The ground here is not sand, but smooth stones. Thanks to this, the water never gets muddy. Even if your boat anchors at a depth of 10-15 meters, you can count the stones at the bottom one by one. The sea here has an Aegean character; that is, it is cool and vigorous.

3. Domuzbuku (Wishing Cave): Access Only by Sea

Located between Palamutbuku and Hayitbuku, Domuzbuku is an escape point with no road access from land, accessible only by boat. Thanks to its isolated structure, it has preserved its naturalness 100%. The ritual here is the "Wishing Cave". Wishes are made by passing through interesting rock formations (holed stones) on the shore. It is the most strategic stop for those who want to completely disconnect from the crowd.

4. Hayitbuku and Ovabuku: Embrace of Green and Blue

Unlike the sharp and steep cliffs of Datça, Hayitbuku is a bowl-shaped bay with softer lines, sheltered from the wind. This is usually the choice of families and those looking for calmer waters. Its sea is a bit warmer than Palamutbuku. Ovabuku, right next to it, has a wider coastline.

5. Kargi Bay: Paradise Closest to Center

If you boarded the boat from Datça center and want to swim immediately without going too far, your route is Kargi Bay. It is one of the rare places that is so close to the center (only 3 km) and yet has remained so pristine. Since the bay is hidden between mountains, it is closed to northern winds; the sea is usually like a sheet.

Datça Wind and Route Selection

The most critical detail of renting a boat in Datça is the wind. There are serious differences between the two sides of the peninsula: