Ibiza: Small Group Day Trip to Formentera by Catamaran

The best part of this day is the chance to reach Ses Illetes and S’Espalmador by boat, then spend hours in clear water instead of rushing through a short beach stop. You can swim, snorkel, paddleboard, sunbathe, or go ashore by dinghy, all at a pace set by your skipper.

I like the small group of up to 12 and the useful mix of gear: four paddleboards, snorkeling equipment, inflatables, and a dinghy. I also like the relaxed help with lunch, as captains such as Fran and Franco have arranged restaurant tables for passengers who wanted to eat in Formentera. The main drawback is that lunch and water cost extra, so the $141 price is not the full day’s spending.

Key points at a glance

• Three hours at Ses Illetes: Plenty of time for swimming, sunbathing, snorkeling, and beach time.
• Two hours at S’Espalmador: A quieter stop with clear water and access by dinghy.
• Up to 12 passengers: More personal than a large boat cruise, though the deck can feel busy at full capacity.
• Bring your own supplies: Food is welcome, but water and lunch are not included.
• A captain-led, flexible day: The skipper manages the route and can help arrange lunch ashore.

Why this Ibiza to Formentera boat day works

This is a full day on the water, not a quick ferry ride followed by a few hours at the beach. You leave from Beso Beach Ibiza and cross toward Formentera by catamaran, with the boat itself becoming part of the holiday.

The one-hour sailing period gives you time to settle in, watch Ibiza recede, and get comfortable with the boat. The catamaran has a fridge and Bluetooth stereo, so you can connect your music and shape the mood for your group. One glass of Champagne is included, which feels like a pleasant touch rather than a substitute for lunch or drinks.

The boat holds up to 12 passengers plus the captain. That is small enough for a more sociable day, and several captains have been praised for keeping the mood easy and giving people room to choose their own pace. Fran, Franco, Frank, Nacho, Rama, Pali, and Romero are among the captains named in the feedback, though your skipper will depend on the date.

The catamaran has been described as spacious and well maintained, but do not picture a private yacht with endless room for everyone to stretch out. One passenger found that a full group of 12 left too little deck space for everybody to lie down. If you want a quiet, private charter, this is not that. If you want a friendly shared boat day without a crowd of dozens, the size is appealing.

Leaving Beso Beach Ibiza for the open water

The meeting point is Beso Beach Ibiza, to the left of the lifeguard booth. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you need to reach the beach on your own and arrive ready to board.

Once underway, the crossing to the Formentera area takes about an hour. That timing matters because this is not a speedboat sprint. A catamaran gives you a broad platform for sitting, talking, taking pictures, and listening to music, but sailing time can feel different depending on the weather and your comfort on the water.

Bring comfortable shoes for boarding and moving around the deck. Pack swimwear, a towel, a change of clothes, and weather-appropriate layers. Even on a sunny Ibiza day, a spare layer is useful after swimming or during the ride back.

The boat includes lifejackets, snorkeling equipment, four paddleboards, and a dinghy. Those inclusions save you from renting separate equipment, and they give the day some variety. You can float, paddle, swim, or simply sit with your feet up. Equipment is shared, so you may need to take turns with the paddleboards when the boat is full.

Three hours at Playa de Ses Illetes

Ses Illetes is the main long stop, with about three hours of free time. This is the point where the day shifts from a boat ride to a proper beach outing.

The water is the star. It is clear enough for snorkeling and inviting enough for a long swim, while the low, pale beaches provide the classic Formentera setting people come to see. You can stay on the catamaran, use the snorkeling gear, paddleboard, sunbathe, or go ashore if the conditions and captain’s plan allow.

Three hours is a useful amount of time. You are not forced to choose between a quick swim and a hurried lunch. You can spend part of the stop in the water, dry off on deck, and still have time to explore the beach.

The tradeoff is that Ses Illetes is a popular place. A boat trip gives you a fine view of it and a way to reach the coast, but it does not turn a busy beach into a private one. Your experience will also depend on wind, sea conditions, and how many boats are in the area on the day you go.

For photography, this is likely your strongest stop. The contrast between the pale shore, bright water, and catamaran makes easy postcard material. Keep your phone protected from spray, and do not bring anything onto the dinghy that you cannot afford to get wet.

Two hours at S’Espalmador

The second major stop is S’Espalmador, with about two hours of free time. The area is known for its clear water and quiet, open feel, and the boat gives you a simple way to enjoy it without arranging separate transport.

This stop is well suited to swimming and paddleboarding. The four SUP boards add an active option for people who want more than a dip, while the inflatables offer an easier way to float. Snorkeling gear is also available, though visibility can change with water and weather conditions.

The dinghy is particularly useful here. It lets you reach the nearby beach rather than staying on the main catamaran all day. You can use the time for a short shore visit, a swim near the beach, or more time on deck with your group.

Do not expect a guided walking tour of Formentera. The focus is the water, the beaches, and unstructured free time. That suits you if you want to set your own rhythm. It may disappoint you if you are hoping for detailed sightseeing, local history, or a long inland tour.

Some people have even spotted dolphins during the trip, although wildlife sightings are never part of the guaranteed program. Treat that as a bonus, not a reason to book.

Lunch: bring it aboard or eat ashore

Lunch is not included, and neither is water. This is the most important cost detail to understand before booking.

You can bring food to eat aboard the catamaran. The fridge gives you somewhere to keep drinks and provisions, though the available space is shared. Pack sensibly rather than bringing a full picnic hamper for a large group.

You can also ask the captain to help arrange a restaurant reservation in Formentera on the day. Several captains have done this for passengers, including Fran, who was repeatedly praised for helping with lunch plans and keeping the schedule relaxed. Beach-bar dining and paella are mentioned as options, and Manolito Formentera was singled out as a successful lunch stop.

Eating ashore adds local flavor and a break from the boat, but it also adds to the bill. One passenger felt the excursion became expensive without water and lunch included. That is fair. At $141 per person, you are paying for a full eight-hour boat day, equipment, a skipper, and access to beaches that are easier to enjoy from the water. You are not paying for a meal package.

For the best value, bring your own lunch and bottled water, then decide on the day if a restaurant feels worth the extra cost. If you want a more carefree afternoon, let the captain help with a reservation and accept that the final cost will rise.

The captain sets the tone

The captain matters a great deal on a shared boat day. The most warmly praised captains were described as relaxed, helpful, attentive, and good at explaining what passengers needed to know.

Fran appears often in the feedback, with special praise for his restaurant help, calm handling of the day, and ability to give people free time without making the schedule feel rushed. Franco was also described as easygoing and helpful with lunch arrangements. Names do not guarantee who you will get, but they show how much the human side of this outing affects the experience.

Your skipper is responsible for the route and the practical side of the trip. That includes handling the boat, managing the water stops, and assisting with an ashore lunch reservation if you want one. The captain can also adjust the feel of the day within the planned route, giving you more time to swim or allowing a beach visit by dinghy.

The languages listed are Spanish, English, Portuguese, Italian, and Catalan. That is useful for mixed international groups, and it makes basic instructions easier to follow. Still, this is not presented as a formal history tour. The captain’s role is mainly to run a safe, enjoyable boat day.

What the $141 price really covers

At $141 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Formentera. A public ferry and a self-planned beach day may cost less, especially if you already have transport and equipment.

The value comes from combining several costs and decisions in one experience. You get an eight-hour outing, a skipper, a catamaran, snorkeling equipment, four paddleboards, a dinghy, lifejackets, and stops at two of Formentera’s most appealing coastal areas. You also avoid working out your own boat route or finding separate water equipment.

The small group improves the value compared with a large cruise. You have more space, a more personal atmosphere, and better access to the captain. At full capacity, though, the boat may not feel spacious enough for everyone to stretch out. If you are booking with a group of six or fewer, the space should feel more comfortable than it did for the passenger who expected a smaller group and found 12 people aboard.

The included Champagne is a nice welcome drink, but do not mistake it for an open bar. Bring or buy the other drinks you want, especially water. Since water is specifically excluded, pack enough for your own day.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this trip if you want a relaxed day built around swimming, beaches, and time on a boat. It suits couples, friends, and solo passengers who enjoy meeting a small international group and do not need a packed schedule.

It is also a good fit if you want several ways to enjoy the sea. You can snorkel, paddleboard, use inflatables, take the dinghy ashore, or do very little beyond sitting in the sun. That freedom is one of the strongest reasons to choose it.

You should think twice if you dislike shared spaces, need a guaranteed quiet deck, or want a private charter. A maximum of 12 passengers is small by excursion standards, but it is still a full group when everyone wants the best deck position.

The trip is not suitable for wheelchair users. Mobility on a catamaran, transfers to the dinghy, and beach access can be difficult, so this restriction should guide your decision before booking.

Practical ways to make the day better

Bring more water than you think you need, since it is not included. Add food if you prefer to avoid the extra cost of a restaurant, and pack it in a container that can handle movement and spray.

Wear swimwear under your clothes and carry a dry change of clothes. A towel is required for comfort, and non-slip comfortable shoes are more useful than fashionable sandals when moving around a wet deck.

Use the Bluetooth stereo if your group wants music, but remember that you are sharing the boat. A playlist that suits a mixed group will work better than assuming everyone wants the same sound all day.

If you want lunch ashore, tell the captain early in the day. The skipper can assist with a reservation, but restaurant timing needs to fit the boat’s route and the group’s plans.

Finally, leave room for a flexible schedule. The listed pattern is one hour of sailing, three hours at Ses Illetes, and two hours at S’Espalmador, followed by the return to Beso Beach Ibiza. Sea conditions and the captain’s judgment may affect the exact rhythm.

Should you book this catamaran trip?

Book it if you want a full, easygoing day on the Mediterranean with two excellent beach stops, shared water equipment, and a captain who helps keep the day moving. The strongest parts are the generous free time, small group, clear water, and chance to combine boat relaxation with snorkeling, paddleboarding, and a short beach visit.

Skip it if you want an all-inclusive price, a private boat, or a structured cultural tour. The $141 fee is reasonable for eight hours and the equipment provided, but lunch and water are extra, and a full group may feel crowded on the deck.

For the best experience, bring your own food and water, expect to share the boat with up to 12 people, and treat the restaurant option as an extra rather than part of the package. If that sounds like your kind of Ibiza day, this is a strong way to see Formentera without rushing from one stop to the next.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran depart from?

The meeting point is Beso Beach Ibiza, to the left of the lifeguard booth.

How long does the experience last?

The trip lasts eight hours. The planned route includes about one hour of sailing, three hours at Playa de Ses Illetes, and two hours at S’Espalmador, followed by the return to Beso Beach Ibiza.

How many people can join the catamaran?

The catamaran can accommodate up to 12 participants plus the captain.

Is lunch included?

No. You can bring your own food to eat aboard, or ask the captain to help arrange a restaurant reservation in Formentera on the day.

Is drinking water included?

No. Water is not included, so you should bring your own.

What equipment is provided?

The trip includes snorkeling equipment, four paddleboards, a dinghy, lifejackets, and one glass of Champagne.