Formentera has no airport, so the only way to reach it is by sea. From Ibiza there are three routes, and what really separates them is how much freedom you have along the way. The table below puts them side by side; exact times and rates change by day and by operator, so we confirm those over WhatsApp before you book.

Comparison of the three ways to cross from Ibiza to Formentera: crossing time, what it suits, flexibility and how to book.
Way to cross	Crossing time	What it suits	Flexibility	Booking route
Scheduled fast ferry	Roughly 30 minutes port to port	Getting across fast and exploring the island on your own, by rented scooter or bus	Fixed departure times; you are tied to that day’s timetable	Pick a crossing in the agenda above and book it online right away.
Day trip with beach stops	Longer than the direct crossing, because the boat stops to swim along the way	A full day on the water, where the trip itself is the outing	Route and stops are set in advance; you travel with the group	Pick a date in the agenda above, or ask us over WhatsApp to look with you
Private charter	You set the pace; the crossing itself is short, the day as long as you book it	Groups, families and anyone who would rather not share a boat with strangers	The highest: departure time, coves and length of day are agreed with the skipper	Enquiry over WhatsApp; we confirm boat, time and rate before you commit

To be straight about it: the weather has a vote. In strong wind a crossing can be delayed, shortened or rerouted to more sheltered water, and sometimes we only hear that on the morning itself. The season runs roughly from May to October; outside those months the choice is a good deal thinner.

What a crossing costs

Measured across 137 dated crossings with a published price in our own agenda, between 2026-09-23 and 2026-11-30. This is a count of what is actually bookable rather than a market estimate. What a fare includes — return or single, port fees, luggage — differs per operator and is stated per departure.

What a crossing costs
Cheapest crossing in the agenda	€22per person
MedianHalf of all departures cost less than this	€24per person

Ferry or private boat to Formentera?

On price the ferry wins, and not narrowly. A crossing typically costs €24 per person, with €22 as the cheapest in the agenda. The cheapest boat in our own fleet is €680 a day for 7 guests — filled to capacity roughly €97 each, and that is before fuel. That is more than 4 times a ferry fare, and the smallest boats are not the ones you would take on that crossing anyway. A private boat is not a cheaper ferry; it is a different day.

Take the ferry if…

Formentera itself is the point: the beach, the village, a rented scooter.
you are travelling with fewer than a handful of people.
you would rather not plan the day — something sails all day.

Take a boat if…

the sailing is the day, and Formentera the destination along the way.
you want to swim at the sandbanks no ferry reaches.
you want to decide yourself when you head back.

Our boats, with day rate and availability →

Rather a day trip than a crossing?

The ferry gets you there and back. These trips make a day of it — food, drinks and swim stops included.

Calas de Formentera boat trip

The long version: a full day from Playa d’en Bossa with breakfast, dinner and drinks on board, a swim stop along the way and free time on Formentera.

from €150 · 14 departures until Oct 24

Crystal Waters boat trip

Up to seven hours towards Formentera with food on board, drinks, swim stops and free time on the island — the middle ground between ferry and private boat.

from €30 · 10 departures until Oct 15

Brunch on the boat

A three-hour brunch cruise from Playa d’en Bossa: open bar with cava, mimosas and sangria, brunch food, a DJ on board and a swim stop. Adults only.

from €100 · 12 departures until Oct 16

Sunset boat excursion with DJ

The sunset version: around three hours from Playa d’en Bossa with an open bar, a DJ and a swim stop at sea. Adults only.

from €80 · 12 departures until Oct 31

Frequently asked questions

How long does the crossing from Ibiza to Formentera take?

On the fast ferry it is roughly half an hour. Slower vessels, and boats that make a stop on the way, take longer. Sailing times differ per operator and per part of the season, so we send you the current departures over WhatsApp rather than quoting a timetable that may already have changed by tomorrow.

Is the ferry the only way to reach Formentera?

Yes — the only way there is by water. Formentera has no airport, so everyone reaches it by boat: residents, supplies, day trippers alike. In practice you have two options: the scheduled ferry from Ibiza, or your own chartered boat anchoring off a cove. The ferry is the simplest choice; a private boat lets you decide where you stop.

Can you do Formentera as a day trip from Ibiza?

Absolutely — it is by far the most common trip people make. Go early, though: no queue, more choice of scooters, and the beaches look their best in the morning. One thing to reckon with: the island is bigger than it looks on the map, so do not try to see all of it in a day. Two beaches and a long lunch makes for a lovely day; five beaches means rushing.

What is there to do once you arrive in Formentera?

Most people pick up a scooter, bike or car right by the port and ride out to the beaches on the north and east side, where the water is shallow and clear. Beyond that: the lighthouse on the eastern tip, the salt lagoons, a long lunch at a beach shack and the village market. It is a small, quiet island — the charm is in doing very little somewhere beautiful, not in ticking off a list.

Can I take a scooter, bike or car on the ferry?

That depends on the vessel. Fast passenger ferries often take bicycles but not vehicles; for those there are separate car ferries with a vehicle deck, which take longer and are priced differently. In practice, hiring on Formentera itself is simpler and cheaper than shipping something across for most day trippers. Tell us what you have in mind and we will say which option makes most sense for your day.

Can the ferry be cancelled because of bad weather?

Yes, and it is fairer to say so plainly. In strong wind an operator may drop departures or switch to a bigger, slower vessel; it is not common in summer, but it happens. Two tips from experience: do not plan Formentera on the day you fly home, and do not book the very last return of the day, so there are still sailings behind you if one is dropped. If we see bad weather coming, we warn you in advance over WhatsApp.