Ibiza by Boat

Broadly: a motor yacht is fast and covers distance quickly — useful if you want to reach Formentera or the west coast. A catamaran sits wide and stable with plenty of room to stretch out, but travels more slowly. A RIB or small speedboat is nimble and affordable and gets into little coves where bigger boats cannot anchor. Sailing boats are the loveliest when the day itself, rather than the destination, is the point.

A wide, stable boat with shade and an easy step down from the bathing platform. Children get seasick from a boat that pitches, not from a boat that moves — so choose comfort over speed, and plan a shorter run along sheltered bays rather than the whole west coast. Tell us the children’s ages when you enquire and we will send the boats we know families do well on.

From marinas around the island, including Ibiza Town. Which one depends on the boat you pick and where you are staying — sometimes a different departure marina saves you half an hour of driving, or half an hour of sailing. We confirm the exact departure point and the time to be there when you book, over WhatsApp, with a location pin so you are not hunting for it.

Swimwear, a towel, high-factor sunscreen, a cap or hat and a light layer for the way back — it cools down faster on the water than you expect. Pack into a soft bag rather than a case, because hard luggage stows badly. Skip black-soled shoes: they leave marks on the deck. And bring your passport or ID, as the marina sometimes asks for it.

Usually it is fine: in summer the morning is often glassy and the wind only builds in the afternoon. But we will not pretend it is always like that. In sustained wind it can heave properly around the headlands, and then a run to Es Vedrà or Formentera really is bumpy. If you are sensitive, sail in the morning, stay on deck, watch the horizon and consider taking something beforehand. The skipper will tell you honestly when a route is better left for another day.

Do not start with the boat, start with the day you are picturing. Four questions are enough: how many people, how many hours, do you mainly want to swim and lounge or actually cover distance, and what do you want to spend. With those answers we usually narrow it to two or three that fit, and explain why. Message us even if you know nothing yet — that is what we are here for, and we will also say when a different day or a different type of boat would serve you better.