FORMENTERA DAY TRIP FROM IBIZA

A day in Formentera is the most consistently requested boat trip for guests staying on Ibiza. The smaller island has some of the clearest water in the Mediterranean, a string of beaches that look better than the photographs, and a handful of restaurants that have remained genuinely interesting even as the island's reputation has grown. The Solutioner's private boat and charter programme for the Balearics regularly designs Formentera days, and this guide describes how the better versions of the trip are put together.

Choosing the Boat

The right boat for a Formentera day depends on the group and the pace. A fast motor yacht in the 50 to 80 foot range covers the crossing in under an hour and gives the group the deck space and shade they need at anchor. A traditional Mallorcan llaüt or a smaller motorboat is slower and more intimate, suiting a couple or a small family who want a relaxed format. A sailing catamaran offers a third option, slower still, but with the experience of arriving in the bay under sail.

The Solutioner sizes the boat to the group rather than maximising it. See also our guide on the range of boats available for day charters.

The Anchorages

The main anchorages on Formentera's western shore are Cala Saona, the bays in front of Es Caló d'es Mort, and the famous shallows off Illetes. Each has a different character. Cala Saona is sheltered and quiet, suitable for swimming and a long anchored lunch. Illetes is busier in season and is best either early in the day or late afternoon. The eastern side of the island offers calmer water on days when the western breeze is fresh.

The skipper reads the conditions and chooses the anchorages accordingly. More on the broader navigation between the islands is in our guide to moving between Ibiza and the smaller Balearic islands.

Lunch Ashore

Most guests prefer to spend lunch onshore at one of Formentera's beach restaurants, which combine grilled fish, simple Mediterranean cooking, and the kind of beach setting that defines the island. The Solutioner books the table in advance, arranges the tender transfer from the anchored boat to the beach, and coordinates the timing so the group does not arrive at a packed venue at the worst possible hour.

For groups who would rather stay on board, a chef-prepared lunch served at anchor is the alternative, often with locally caught fish and a wine list curated for the day.

Sunset and the Return

The drive back to Ibiza in the late afternoon is one of the best moments of the day. A glass of cava on deck, the light catching the cliffs of the south Ibiza coast, the slow approach to the harbour or the cala where the trip began. The Solutioner designs the timing so the boat is in unhurried mode for the last hour. The team can also coordinate a transfer from the marina back to the villa alongside the elements covered here, so the day ends without anyone needing to organise their own way home.