10 boat routes in Ibiza & Formentera

Skipper guide — Season 2026

10 boat routes in Ibiza & Formentera

The itineraries we actually sail each season: where each one stops, how long it takes, which boat suits it and what wind it needs.

10 itineraries Half day to multi-day Skipper included

A good day at sea is not about how many coves you fit in. It is about arriving at the right one at the right time, with the wind on the right side of the island.

These are the ten routes our skippers sail most often across Ibiza and Formentera, from the classic Formentera day trip to a rock arch on the north-west coast most people never see. For each one you will find the stops in order, roughly how long it takes, who it suits and whether it works better under sail or on a motorboat.

Every route is a starting point, not a fixed timetable. The skipper adjusts it on the morning of your charter based on the forecast — which is exactly what keeps you in flat water instead of a bumpy afternoon.

How it works

How the skipper picks your route

The wind decides. On the morning of your charter the skipper checks the forecast and picks the side of the island that will be sheltered that day: with a southerly we head to the protected west coast bays, with an easterly to Cala Saona or Cala Salada, and with a northerly the whole south coast of Ibiza opens up.

That is why we agree a plan with you before departure and keep the option to adjust it on the water. It is also why a route that reads well on paper may not be the right one for your particular day — and being told that honestly is part of the service.

The itineraries

The 10 routes, one by one

Tap any route to jump straight to it. Each one links to the coves it visits.

  1. 01 The Classic Paradise Route

    1. Home port
    2. Es Freus crossing
    3. Espalmador (morning swim)
    4. Ses Illetes (lunch and afternoon)

    This is the route almost everyone pictures when they imagine a day on a boat in Ibiza, and for good reason. We cross Es Freus, the channel between Ibiza and Formentera, and anchor first at Espalmador for a morning swim while the island is still quiet. Then we drop down to Ses Illetes for lunch and the afternoon. We leave early on purpose: reaching Illetes ahead of the fleet is the difference between a prime spot and anchoring far from the shore.

    Ideal for
    Any group. Our most requested route and the one we recommend for a first charter.
    Duration
    Full day
    Recommended boat
    Sailing yacht or motorboat
    Coves on this route
    Espalmador Island Ses Illetes

  2. 02 West Coast VIP Triangle

    1. San Antonio port
    2. Cala Bassa (water sports)
    3. Cala Comte (lunch and sunset)

    Little sailing and a lot of time at anchor: the three stops sit close together, so the day is spent in the water rather than in transit. Cala Bassa in the morning for paddleboarding and swimming in flat water, then Cala Comte in the afternoon, which is where the sun sets. If your group wants a relaxed outing without an early start or long passages, this is the one.

    Ideal for
    Relaxed outings, groups with children and sunset without long passages.
    Duration
    Half day or full day
    Recommended boat
    Sailing yacht or motorboat
    Coves on this route
    Cala Bassa Cala Comte

  3. 03 Exclusive South Route

    1. Ibiza port
    2. Cala Jondal (VIP beach club)
    3. Porroig bay
    4. Es Xarco

    The island food route. We anchor off Cala Jondal and take you ashore by tender to whichever beach club you have booked, then find calmer water at Porroig bay and Es Xarco, both far quieter than Jondal at midday. Book your table well ahead: in July and August the southern clubs fill up weeks in advance.

    Ideal for
    Food, a stylish crowd and groups who want lunch at a beach club.
    Duration
    Full day
    Recommended boat
    Best by motorboat
    Coves on this route
    Platja des Jondal

  4. 04 Magnetic West Route

    1. Ibiza port
    2. Anchoring at Cala d'Hort
    3. Sailing around Es Vedrà and Es Vedranell
    4. Atlantis

    The most photogenic route in Ibiza. We anchor at Cala d'Hort with Es Vedrà behind us, then sail around the islet and Es Vedranell, which have a scale from the water you simply cannot appreciate from land. We finish off Atlantis, the old quarry the stone of Dalt Vila came from. This stretch is exposed to the south-west, so the skipper confirms the route against the day forecast.

    Ideal for
    Landscape, photography and guests who want to actually sail, not just anchor.
    Duration
    Full day
    Recommended boat
    Best under sail
    Coves on this route
    Cala d'Hort

  5. 05 Full Circuit of Formentera

    1. Ibiza port
    2. Ses Illetes
    3. La Mola lighthouse
    4. Migjorn beach
    5. Cala Saona
    6. Return

    The whole of Formentera, unhurried. We sail around the island past the La Mola lighthouse — the highest point and its eastern tip — then down along Migjorn to Cala Saona on the west coast. Because it is a full circuit there is always one side of the island sheltered from whatever wind is blowing, which makes it very reliable. This is a weekend route: a single day does not do it justice.

    Ideal for
    Weekends, multi-day charters and guests who want to sleep at anchor.
    Duration
    2 days or more
    Recommended boat
    Best under sail
    Coves on this route
    Ses Illetes Cala Saona

  6. 06 Wild North Route

    1. San Miguel / Ibiza port
    2. Portinatx
    3. Cala d'en Serra
    4. Sunset at Benirrás

    The opposite face of southern Ibiza. The north coast is cliff and pine forest, with far fewer boats around even in August. Portinatx and Cala d'en Serra are clear-water anchorages with a calm feel, and we finish at Benirrás for sunset, the drumming bay. If you already know Formentera and want something different, this is the route.

    Ideal for
    Escaping the crowded south; adventurous guests and returning clients.
    Duration
    Full day
    Recommended boat
    Sailing yacht or motorboat

  7. 07 Eastern Escape

    1. Ibiza port / Santa Eulalia
    2. Tagomago islet
    3. Cala Nova
    4. Aigües Blanques

    The east coast is the calmest side of Ibiza to sail: flat water, little traffic and short distances. The private islet of Tagomago is the highlight, with a sheltered anchorage you will practically have to yourself. Then Cala Nova and Aigües Blanques, with their red clay cliffs. Ideal for anyone prone to seasickness or sailing for the first time.

    Ideal for
    Quiet sailing and a private anchorage at Tagomago.
    Duration
    Full day
    Recommended boat
    Best under sail

  8. 08 West Coast Nature Reserves Route

    1. San Antonio bay
    2. Anchoring off Sa Conillera
    3. S'Espartar island
    4. Cala Tarida

    The route for putting your head underwater. The Sa Conillera and S'Espartar islets form a nature reserve with rocky bottoms and excellent visibility, very different from the sandy beds of the coves. We carry masks and snorkels on board. We finish at Cala Tarida, which has plenty of room to anchor and eat at a relaxed pace before heading back.

    Ideal for
    Snorkelling, diving and marine wildlife.
    Duration
    Full day
    Recommended boat
    Sailing yacht or motorboat
    Coves on this route
    Cala Tarida

  9. 09 Dramatic Cliffs Route

    1. San Antonio
    2. Cap Nonó
    3. Ses Margalides (through the rock arch)
    4. Anchoring at Es Portitxol

    Our route for guests who have already seen the obvious. The highlight is Ses Margalides: two islets off the north-west coast, one of them with a rock arch you can pass through in calm seas and good visibility. We finish at Es Portitxol, a pebble cove with fishermen huts that is essentially only reachable by sea. Going through the arch depends on sea state and the skipper decides on the day.

    Ideal for
    Returning guests after places you cannot reach by land.
    Duration
    Full day
    Recommended boat
    Best by motorboat

  10. 10 Migjorn Secrets

    1. La Savina (Formentera)
    2. Es Arenals
    3. Caló d'Es Mort
    4. Lunch at Es Caló de Sant Agustí

    The south coast of Formentera, which almost nobody sails because everyone stops at Illetes. Es Arenals and Caló d'Es Mort have absolutely clear water and a rustic feel of old fishermen huts you will not find anywhere else in the islands. We finish with lunch at Es Caló de Sant Agustí. It needs a steady northerly: in a southerly this coast is exposed and we change the plan.

    Ideal for
    Northerly wind days, couples and small groups.
    Duration
    Full day
    Recommended boat
    Best by motorboat
    Coves on this route
    Caló d'Es Mort

The boats

Which boat for which route

A sailing yacht for full days, weekends and anyone who wants the sailing itself. A sport motorboat for reaching Formentera faster and getting into tighter spots. Both with skipper.

Moana — Beneteau First Yacht 53

Beneteau First Yacht 53

Moana

Luxury Beneteau First Yacht 53 in Ibiza & Formentera. Day or weekly charter with expert skipper and transparent booking.

See boat and availability
Little Moana — De Antonio Yachts D28

De Antonio Yachts D28

Little Moana

Sport day boat in Ibiza & Formentera: speed, style and space. Skippered D28 charter and booking.

See boat and availability

Check availability

Frequently asked questions

Which boat route should I choose in Ibiza? +

If it is your first charter, the Classic Paradise Route to Espalmador and Ses Illetes. If you want a relaxed day without long passages, the West Coast VIP Triangle. If you care about landscape and sailing, the Magnetic West Route past Es Vedrà. And if you already know the island, the Wild North Route or the Dramatic Cliffs Route will show you places most visitors never see.

How long does a boat trip from Ibiza to Formentera take? +

Crossing Es Freus, the channel between the two islands, is a short passage — the day is spent at anchor, not sailing. A Formentera day trip is a comfortable full-day charter: we leave early to beat the crowds at Ses Illetes and return in the late afternoon. To go all the way round the island you need a weekend.

Can the route be customised? +

Yes. These ten are the itineraries we run most often, but they are a starting point. Tell us what matters to you — coves, food, sunsets, snorkelling, quiet — and the skipper builds the day around it, within what the forecast allows.

What happens if the weather changes? +

The skipper changes the route, which is the whole point of having one. Most days there is a sheltered side of the island whatever the wind is doing, so a bad forecast usually means a different itinerary rather than a cancelled charter. If conditions genuinely do not allow sailing, we tell you before you board.

Sailing yacht or motorboat? +

A motorboat gets you to Formentera faster and reaches tight anchorages like Caló d'Es Mort, so it suits days with several stops. A sailing yacht gives you more space and shade, is more comfortable for a full day on board and is the only real option for weekends and multi-day charters. Each route below says which one we recommend.

Is a skipper included in all routes? +

Yes, all our charters are skippered. Beyond handling the boat, the skipper is the one who knows which anchorage works on the day, where the anchor holds and where to take you ashore for lunch.

Tell us the day and we will build the route

Send us your dates, group size and what you are after, and we will propose the itinerary that best fits the forecast.

Write to booking@moanacharter.com

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