Trips to Formentera

Formentera is close enough to reach in under an hour and far enough that the day feels like a journey. Nearly every charter we run ends up pointing south at some stage; this page is how that day actually unfolds.

THE ROUTE

1. 09:30

   Leave Marina Ibiza

   Board, stow the bags, and clear the harbour while the water is still glass.

2. 10:30

   Es Vedra or the south coast

   The skipper picks the line that suits the wind that morning. Both give you the first swim of the day.

3. 12:00

   Ses Illetes, Formentera

   Anchor off the sandbank. This is the water people come to Ibiza to see.

4. 14:00

   Lunch on board or ashore

   Eat on the bow, or we drop the tender and you walk up to a beach restaurant.

5. 16:30

   Quiet coves on the way back

   A last swim somewhere the day boats have already left.

6. 18:00

   Back into Ibiza

   Sun behind you on the run home, back at the berth in good time for dinner.

1. Leave Ibiza between 10:00 and 13:00, depending on when your group wants to start.
2. Cross to Espalmador, the small island off Formentera’s northern tip, for the first swim of the day in shallow, clear water.
3. Anchor off Ses Illetes for lunch. The beach restaurants here are booked ahead in summer; tell us the day before and the crew will handle it.
4. Work back up the coast through the quieter coves, with time to paddleboard or snorkel.
5. Return to Ibiza with the light behind you, back alongside eight hours after you left.

WHICH BOAT FOR THE CROSSING

Any boat in the fleet will make it in flat water. In a breeze, size and shape matter more than engines: a heavier hull with a deep forefoot will be dry and comfortable where a light open boat will not.

For a large group we usually suggest the Sunseeker 64 or the Riva Perseo 76. For a smaller one, the Pardo 52. When eleven people need to travel cheaply, the Bambina 44 does it.

WHAT TO EXPECT

• The crossing from Ibiza is short — well under an hour on almost anything in the fleet.
• Anchoring at Ses Illetes and Espalmador is restricted in places to protect the seagrass; your skipper knows where the permitted ground is.
• Lunch ashore needs a reservation in July and August. Ask the crew rather than turning up.
• Bring shade and water. Both islands are exposed and the middle of the day is hot from June onwards.

Sunset departures, beach-hopping days and shorter runs are on the experiences page. If this will be your first private charter, read the new-to-charter notes first, then pick a boat from the full fleet.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long does the crossing take?

Between twenty and fifty minutes from Ibiza depending on the boat and the sea state. It is a short hop rather than a passage, which is why the island works as a day trip at all.

Can we go ashore in Formentera?

Yes. Boats anchor off and the crew take you in, or you swim if the anchorage is close enough. Most groups go ashore for lunch and stay on board the rest of the day.

Which beach do you anchor off?

Ses Illetes on the north-west side is the usual choice, with Espalmador just north of it for the first swim. Where exactly depends on wind direction on the day.

When is the best time to go?

June and September give warm water without the August crowds, and the rates are lower. May and October are quieter still, though the sea is cooler.

Do we need to book a restaurant?

In high summer, yes, and well ahead. Tell us which of the beach restaurants you have in mind when you confirm the charter and the crew will arrange the table.

Can a small boat make the trip?

In normal conditions, comfortably. If the forecast shows a strong swell from the south your skipper will suggest a larger boat or a different route rather than a wet crossing.

The Spanish version of this trip is here: barco a Formentera.