Espalmador by Yacht — The Office's Working Guide
Direct answer
Espalmador is the small, privately-owned island that sits between Ibiza and Formentera. The bay of S'Alga on its eastern side is the clearest swim in the Pitiusas — 3–4 metres of white sand under twenty-metre-visibility water. Most charters spend twenty minutes; the office's quiet recommendation is to stay three to five hours, or anchor overnight.
Espalmador is the small private island that sits between the south coast of Ibiza and the north tip of Formentera. The bay of S'Alga, on its eastern side, is the photograph everyone has seen and assumed was edited — three-metre depth over white sand, twenty-metre visibility, the colour of the water that requires no filter.
The anchorage
Anchor in S'Alga at 38.7836° N, 1.4214° E in 3–5 metres on white sand. Holding is excellent. Wind shelter is good from the west (the prevailing summer direction); the bay is exposed to easterlies and we don't recommend overnight in those conditions. Distance from Marina Botafoc: ≈ 18 nautical miles, one hour at cruising speed.
What to do once you arrive
- Swim in three-metre water over white sand — visibility 15–25m on a calm day
- Walk the sand bar that exposes between Espalmador and S'Espardell at low tide
- Paddle board to the small uninhabited cove on the north-west side
- Snorkel along the rocky south-east — small reef fish, occasional barracuda
Why overnight, not just lunch
Most day charters stop at Espalmador for an hour on the way to Formentera. The office's most-recommended single-night charter in the Pitiusas is the opposite: arrive at S'Alga at 16:00, stay until morning. The bay holds a handful of overnighting yachts, the night is silent, and the sunrise swim is the cleanest water of the season.
Practical notes
- The island is privately owned — guests can step ashore for a short beach walk but no facilities exist
- No rubbish ashore; everything returns to the yacht
- Posidonia-friendly anchoring required — handled by the captain
- Two ashore options nearby: Es Ministre (Playa Illetes, 10 min by tender) or Juan y Andrea (12 min)
People also ask
Frequently asked
- Can we walk on Espalmador?
- Yes, but discreetly — the island is privately owned and there are no facilities. Guests step ashore on the beach for a short walk; we ask that bags and belongings stay on the yacht and no rubbish remains.
- Can we anchor overnight in S'Alga?
- Yes — it's our most-recommended overnight anchorage in the Pitiusas in normal westerly weather. We avoid it when easterlies are forecast as the bay becomes choppy.
- How is Espalmador different from Playa Illetes?
- Illetes is the popular Formentera beach with restaurants and beach clubs on the sand; Espalmador is the smaller, quieter, road-less island just north. Different moods — Illetes for the ashore lunch, S'Alga for the morning swim.
The Office
Send the dates. The day takes shape from there.
One paragraph is enough. Reply within the hour, in working hours, by the channel you prefer.
Reading isn't booking.
Match me with a yacht