Yacht Charter Formentera Day Trip — The Complete 2026 Guide
Direct answer
The Formentera day trip from Ibiza departs Marina Botafoc around 11:00, crosses in 45–60 minutes to Espalmador (the white-sand bay between the islands), lunches at Es Ministre or Juan y Andrea at Playa Illetes, and returns up the west coast of Ibiza by 19:00. Crossing distance: ~20 nautical miles. Suitable for 11–12 guests on a 13–22m yacht; suitable for children of any age in normal summer weather.
Formentera is the small island twenty miles south of Ibiza Town, accessible only by boat. The water at Espalmador and Playa Illetes is the photograph everyone has seen and assumed was edited — three-metre depth over white sand, twenty-metre visibility on a still day. The full-day charter to Formentera is the office's single most-booked itinerary, and rightly so.
The shape of the day
We leave Marina Botafoc at 11:00 with a full provision: ice, water, fresh fruit, soft drinks, towels, snorkel kit. The crossing takes 45–60 minutes at cruising speed on a 15–22m yacht; faster sport boats do it in 30 minutes.
The first anchorage is the bay of S'Alga at Espalmador — the small private island between Ibiza and Formentera. We anchor in 3–4 metres of white sand, drop the swim platform, and the children are in the water before the engines have fully cooled.
Late morning, we move to Playa Illetes for lunch. The chef serves on board, or the office secures a table at Es Ministre or Juan y Andrea (reservations are essential — these tables fill weeks in advance in August).
The afternoon is the long swim at Cala Saona, the slow return up the west coast of Ibiza with a stop at Cala Comte for the sundown light, and alongside in Marina Botafoc by 19:00.
What it actually costs
A full-day Formentera charter ranges roughly:
- Sport boat with skipper (11 guests): €4,500–€7,000
- Sport yacht with chef (12 guests, 2 crew): €6,000–€9,000
- Sport flybridge (12 guests, 2–3 crew): €8,000–€13,000
- Superyacht 25m+ (12 guests, 4+ crew): €18,000–€30,000
Fuel is billed by consumption (typically €500–€1,200 for the day); ashore restaurant bills are separate; tip 10–15% on multi-day bookings. See our full cost guide for the structure.
What to bring, what to leave
Soft luggage only — rigid suitcases don't store well on a dayboat. Sun cream, hat, sunglasses, swimwear (under casual clothes so you don't need a moment to change), a light layer for the return cruise. The boat provides towels and snorkel kit.
Booking timeline
July and August: book 4–6 weeks ahead for the best boats. May, June, September, October: 7–14 days is usually fine. The Es Ministre and Juan y Andrea tables in August fill 6–8 weeks in advance — let us know at the time of charter booking.
People also ask
Frequently asked
- How long does it take to reach Formentera from Ibiza by yacht?
- 45–60 minutes at cruising speed on a 15–22m yacht; 30 minutes on a faster sport boat. The route runs south from Marina Botafoc past Es Cavallet, then east across the Pitiusas channel.
- Can children come on a Formentera day trip?
- Yes — the office's most-suggested family day. The water at Espalmador is shallow and calm, the bay is sheltered, and the crossing is on flat water more days than not in summer.
- Do we need anchor permits at Espalmador or Illetes?
- No paperwork on your side, but Posidonia (protected seagrass) restrictions apply. We use only Posidonia-friendly anchoring; the captain selects the bottom and the technique.
- Can the office book Juan y Andrea or Es Ministre?
- Yes. Tables at both fill weeks ahead in August; the office holds standing-relationship reservations and books on your behalf at the time of charter.
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