Region · yacht charter
Balearic Islands.
Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca: four islands within short passages, at the height of the western Mediterranean summer.
- Formentera
- Ibiza
- Mallorca
- Menorca
Overview
What to expect.
The Balearic Islands are one of the most concentrated summer cruising grounds in the western Mediterranean, a compact chain where four islands lie within short passages of one another. Mallorca is the yachting centre and the base for most of the fleet; Ibiza carries the social season; Formentera holds the clearest water for day anchorages; and Menorca, the quietest of the four, suits calmer weeks.
Palma is the yachting capital of the islands, with one of the largest concentrations of marinas, yards and crews in the Mediterranean, and Mallorca's coves and the Tramuntana coast within reach. Ibiza runs its season from Marina Ibiza and Marina Botafoch on the town side, with Formentera a short hop south. The Posidonia seagrass meadows are protected across the islands, which limits where yachts may anchor, above all around Formentera, and the route is planned around them. Menorca, to the north-east, holds calm coves and the long natural harbour of Mahón.
The season runs from May to September. July and August are the peak, when Ibiza and Formentera fill and the anchorages are busiest; June and September are the most rewarding, with calmer water and more room at anchor. The high-summer weeks are the tightest for yacht availability and for berths in Palma and Ibiza.
A Balearic yacht charter is planned around the islands and the anchoring rules, and run end to end by one advisor: the yachts and crews that fit, the embarkation from Palma or Ibiza, and a day-to-day route set to the weather. Because much of the western fleet concentrates here in summer, July and August reward early planning.
Destinations
Where we cruise in the Balearic Islands.
4 destinations curated through our network of brokers, owners and management firms.
Season
When to cruise.
- Best months
- May to September
- Prevailing winds
- Sea breeze · Tramuntana
- Base ports
- Palma · Ibiza · Mahón
May to September, with June and September the most rewarding. Ibiza and Formentera fill from mid-July; Mallorca and Menorca offer wider, calmer cruising all season. Summer days run on the sea breeze, and when the tramuntana blows from the north, the route moves to the sheltered southern coasts.
Frequently asked
Practical questions.
- When is the best time for a Balearic yacht charter?
- From May to September. June and September are the most rewarding, with calmer anchorages and fewer boats; July and August are the warmest and busiest, when Ibiza and Formentera fill.
- Which islands does a Balearic charter cover?
- Most charters take in Mallorca, Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca, all within short passages. Mallorca is the base and the yachting centre; Ibiza carries the social season; Formentera holds the day anchorages; Menorca is the quietest of the four.
- How far ahead should a Balearic charter be arranged?
- Six months is comfortable for a standard summer week. July and August tighten yacht availability and berths in Palma and Ibiza, so earlier is safer for those weeks.
- How do you reach a Balearic charter?
- Palma, Ibiza and Menorca each have an international airport a short transfer from the marinas where charters embark, and Formentera is reached by sea from Ibiza. The advisor arranges the transfer to the yacht.
- Are there anchoring restrictions in the Balearics?
- Yes. The Posidonia seagrass meadows are protected across the islands, and around Formentera and parts of the coast anchoring is limited to sand or to designated moorings. The captain plans each stop to the current rules.
- What does a Balearic yacht charter cost?
- Rates follow the Mediterranean pattern: from around EUR 30,000 to EUR 80,000 a week for a 20 to 30 metre motor yacht, and from around EUR 80,000 to EUR 250,000 for 30 to 45 metres, before running costs. Yachts above 50 metres start from around EUR 250,000, quoted individually. The APA, VAT and a customary gratuity bring the all-in cost to roughly 130 to 150 percent of the base rate.
- What size of yacht suits the Balearics?
- The full range, from smaller motor yachts for day and short cruising to superyachts for a full week. Berths in Palma and Ibiza are the main constraint in peak weeks, so the yacht's size is matched to the marinas on the route.
Plan your charter
Guides and charter services.
Elsewhere
Other cruising grounds.
Plan a charter
Plan a charter in the Balearic Islands.
A private advisor will return a short, curated proposal within the hour.