Ses Illetes, Formentera1 hr from Ibiza
The Caribbean-white sandbank that tops every Balearic list — anchor off the beach on authorised buoys, swim in impossibly clear water, lunch at Juan y Andrea by tender.
Turquoise & sunset
Yacht Charters in Ibiza & Formentera
Anchor over white sand off Formentera in water the colour of a swimming pool, watch the sun drop behind Es Vedrà, then choose your night — Ibiza's harbour buzz or a silent northern cala. Two islands, every mood.
Ibiza and Formentera are the same short sail apart and worlds apart in feel. Formentera is the reward: a low, roadless-feeling island fringed by the clearest water in the Mediterranean, where boats anchor over the Ses Illetes sandbanks in turquoise so vivid it looks retouched. Lunch is grilled fish at a beach chiringuito reached only by tender; the afternoon is swimming off the back of the boat.
Ibiza is the range. Its west coast gives you the pilgrimage sunset behind the Es Vedrà islet; its north hides quiet calas — Benirràs, Portinatx — under pine hills; its harbour delivers the famous night whenever you want it, and none of it when you don't. That switch, made simply by choosing where to anchor, is why a charter is the only way to have both Ibizas on one trip.
What to look for in the right vessel
Filters we pre-applied to the ibiza & formentera shortlist below.
Formentera's turquoise
The Ses Illetes and Espalmador sandbanks hold the clearest water in the Med — anchoring here is the trip's postcard.
Es Vedrà sunset
Anchor off Cala d'Hort as the sun drops behind the sheer islet — Ibiza's west-coast ritual, best from a deck.
The night, on your terms
Ibiza town for the harbour scene, or a silent northern cala — a charter lets you pick a different island mood each evening.
Beach chiringuitos
Formentera's tender-only beach restaurants — grilled fish, feet in the sand, the boat at anchor twenty metres off.
Shortlisted vessels
See full vessel directory →Finding the right vessels…
When to go
Ibiza & Formentera charter season at a glance. Air and sea temperatures are typical daytime values.
| Month | Air | Sea | Crowd | Vibe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May | 23°C | 19°C | Quiet | Islands green, calas empty, the club season just opening. Cooler water but the most peaceful sailing of the year. |
| June | 27°C | 22°C | Moderate | Warm, long days, Formentera's sandbanks at their clearest before the peak. The all-round best month. |
| July | 30°C | 25°C | Peak | High summer and full-swing Ibiza — turquoise water, packed day-anchorages off Formentera, the scene at full volume. |
| August | 31°C | 26°C | Peak | Hottest and busiest. Book berths and beach-club tables far ahead; anchor early at Illetes before it fills. |
| September | 28°C | 25°C | Moderate | Warm sea, softening crowds, closing parties on the calendar — many regulars' favourite month. |
| October | 24°C | 23°C | Quiet | The island exhales. Warm-enough water early on, quiet coves, easy prices. Some breezy days to plan around. |
MayQuiet
Air 23°C · Sea 19°C
Islands green, calas empty, the club season just opening. Cooler water but the most peaceful sailing of the year.
JuneModerate
Air 27°C · Sea 22°C
Warm, long days, Formentera's sandbanks at their clearest before the peak. The all-round best month.
JulyPeak
Air 30°C · Sea 25°C
High summer and full-swing Ibiza — turquoise water, packed day-anchorages off Formentera, the scene at full volume.
AugustPeak
Air 31°C · Sea 26°C
Hottest and busiest. Book berths and beach-club tables far ahead; anchor early at Illetes before it fills.
SeptemberModerate
Air 28°C · Sea 25°C
Warm sea, softening crowds, closing parties on the calendar — many regulars' favourite month.
OctoberQuiet
Air 24°C · Sea 23°C
The island exhales. Warm-enough water early on, quiet coves, easy prices. Some breezy days to plan around.
Getting there
IBZ · Ibiza Airport
8 km to Marina Botafoch / Ibiza town
From marina
15–20 min
Transfer
€20–30 to Ibiza town / Marina Botafoch
Taxi cost
Ibiza is one of the Mediterranean's best-connected islands in season — direct flights from across the UK, Germany, France, Italy and the whole of Spain. Charters board at Marina Botafoch, Marina Ibiza or the Santa Eulària marina; Palma (PMI) is the alternative gateway for a wider Balearic loop.
Practical info
What you should know
- Posidonia & anchoring rules
- The seagrass meadows between Ibiza and Formentera are a protected UNESCO natural site — anchoring on posidonia is prohibited and fined. Crews use the authorised buoy fields and sand-only zones (booked via the official Balearic apps); your captain handles it.
- APA & berths
- Crewed charters run on an APA of about 25–35% of the base for fuel, food, drinks and berths. Peak-season marina nights in Ibiza town and Palma are a real cost — many days are spent at anchor in the calas instead.
- Day vs week charters
- The Ibiza–Formentera day charter (skippered catamaran, roughly €2,000–€2,900 for up to ~10–12 guests, fuel and berths on top) is the classic outing; a full crewed week opens up Mallorca and Menorca beyond the day-trip radius.
- Licensing
- CelesteSail focuses on skippered and crewed boats, so no licence is needed — a professional runs the boat. Bareboat charter in Spain requires a recognised licence (e.g. an ICC) plus a VHF certificate.
- Tipping
- Discretionary, for good service: 5–15% of the charter fee is the Mediterranean norm, in cash (EUR) to the skipper or captain at the end of the day or week.
Anchorages within reach
Where most week-long itineraries from this port actually go. Sail times are approximate, in fair conditions.
S'Espalmador1 hr from Ibiza
The uninhabited islet between Ibiza and Formentera, with a shallow turquoise lagoon and a natural mud spa. A protected anchorage — buoys only, no dropping the hook on the seagrass.
Es Vedrà1 hr 30 min (SW coast)
The sheer limestone islet rising 400 m from the sea off Cala d'Hort — Ibiza's most mythologised sunset. You anchor off nearby to watch it; the rock itself is a reserve.
Cala Comte (Platges de Comte)1 hr from Ibiza
The west-coast sunset beach, looking out to little islets. Clear water for swimming and one of the best places on the island to time the light.
Cala Salada1 hr (NW of Sant Antoni)
A pine-framed twin cove north of Sant Antoni, more sheltered and local-feeling — a calm lunch anchorage away from the day-boat crowds.
Cala Saona, Formentera1 hr 15 min
Formentera's prettiest west-facing cove — red cliffs, white sand and a sunset over the water. A gentler alternative to the Illetes crowds.
Onshore
What to do the day before boarding and after disembarking, plus a short list of restaurants worth the walk.
Day before charter
Spend the evening in Dalt Vila, Ibiza's UNESCO-listed walled old town — climb to the cathedral for the harbour view, then dinner in the ramparts. Marina Botafoch across the water is the polished, boarding-side base with restaurants and a short hop to the airport.
Day after disembarking
Flights leave through the day, so a last swim at Talamanca or Cala Bassa is easy. With a spare day, the Wednesday hippy market at Punta Arabí (Es Canar) or a slow lunch in Santa Gertrudis inland show the other, quieter Ibiza.
Where to eat ashore
- Juan y Andrea (Formentera)Beach seafood
The Ses Illetes institution reached by tender — paella and grilled fish with your feet in the sand. A shuttle collects you from your anchored boat; book ahead.
- Es Torrent (Ibiza)Fish shack
A no-frills cove restaurant on the south coast where you anchor off and tender in — the day's catch, grilled, and little else. A sailor's favourite.
- Sa Caleta (Ibiza)Ibicenco seafood
Red-earth cliffs and a beachfront terrace — bullit de peix and arròs a banda, the island's traditional rice dishes done properly.
- Casa Maca (Ibiza)Farm-to-table
A restored finca above the town with a garden and sunset views — the relaxed, greener counterpoint to the beach clubs.
Or consider another port
Same coast, different starting line — the brief case for each alternative.
Mallorca →
A bigger, more varied ground — Palma, the wild Tramuntana coast and the calas of the south and east for a calmer, scenery-first week.
Menorca →
The quietest Balearic — turquoise calas, a biosphere reserve and a fraction of Ibiza's crowds. The antidote island.
Costa Brava →
Cross to the mainland for pine-clad coves, the Medes Islands' marine reserve and Catalan seaside towns.
Frequently asked questions
For ibiza & formentera.
Where do Ibiza charters start?
Ibiza town (Marina Botafoch / Ibiza Magna) and Santa Eulària are the main bases, 15–25 minutes from Ibiza airport (IBZ). Formentera has no airport — you reach it by charter or ferry, which is exactly why arriving by boat is special.
When is the best season?
June and September are the sweet spot — warm sea, the turquoise at its best, and space at the Formentera anchorages. July–August are peak: spectacular but very busy, with the Ses Illetes anchorage crowded by noon, so early moves matter.
Is it only about the party?
Not at all — that's the point of a boat. Formentera and Ibiza's north and west are serene and natural; you dip into the harbour scene only if and when you choose. Many charters here are couples and families after the turquoise, not the clubs.
How's the sailing?
Short, easy hops with reliable summer breezes; the Ibiza–Formentera channel is a 30–60 minute sail. It's a relaxed ground where the swimming and anchoring, not big passages, are the focus.
Ready to find your charter?
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