Private yacht charter in Ibiza
Ibiza is the larger of the two main Pityusic islands, in the south-west of the Balearics, with Formentera six kilometres to the south. From the water, the island is less about its clubs than its coast: the walled old town above the port, the sunset bays of the west, the islets off Cala Comte and the rock of Es Vedrà. An Ibiza yacht charter links them in short passages, with Formentera's sandbanks a short crossing away.
Much of the best water lies on the west and south coasts, and the protected seagrass meadows beneath it decide where a yacht may anchor.
Ibiza from the water
Ibiza Town and Dalt Vila. The Renaissance walls of the old town, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1999, overlook a port whose marinas hold some 1,400 moorings for pleasure craft. Evenings ashore start here.
Sant Antoni and Cala Salada. The island's second town lies on a wide bay on the west coast, with its sunset bars along the shore; Cala Salada, a small cove, is just to the north.
Cala Comte. On the south-west coast: shallow, clear water over sand, with the islets of S'Espartar, Illa des Bosc and Sa Conillera offshore. A classic anchorage for the late afternoon.
Cala d'Hort and Es Vedrà. Es Vedrà rises 413 metres out of the sea about two and a half kilometres off Cala d'Hort, within the Cala d'Hort nature reserve. A yacht at anchor in the bay has the rock in view all afternoon.
Ses Salines and Es Freus. The southern tip of the island, the strait of Es Freus and the north of Formentera form the Ses Salines natural park, declared in 2001, with some 13,000 hectares of sea. Its Posidonia meadows, part of the UNESCO listing and among the best conserved in the Mediterranean, decide where yachts may anchor.
Formentera. Six kilometres south across Es Freus, with Ses Illetes, Espalmador and Cala Saona; our Formentera page covers its anchorages and the anchoring rules.
A week from Ibiza Town
A week that starts in Ibiza Town often takes Formentera first, crossing Es Freus to Ses Illetes and Espalmador on a calm morning, then Cala Saona on Formentera's west coast. Back on Ibiza, the route works north along the west coast: Cala d'Hort beneath Es Vedrà, Cala Comte for the afternoon, then Sant Antoni bay and Cala Salada, before the run of about two hours round the south back to Ibiza Town. Most other legs take under an hour at a typical cruising speed, and the order follows the wind.
When to go
The main season runs from May to late September, and most visitors come between June and September. July and August are the busiest months at the anchorages and in the marinas; August averages highs of about 30°C, with the sea near 26°C. June and September are quieter and still warm. The club season stretches the year at both ends, from the opening parties at the end of April to the closing parties around mid-October.
Summer winds are generally moderate, and because the island is small, a sheltered coast is rarely far away; the captain chooses each day's anchorage by the forecast.
Marinas and arrival
Ibiza Airport lies about 7 kilometres south-west of Ibiza Town, with year-round flights to mainland Spain and many seasonal routes in summer. The port of Ibiza Town, a short drive away, holds Marina Ibiza, with 425 berths for yachts up to 110 metres, as well as Marina Botafoch. Sant Antoni, on the west coast, is the island's second port. Berths in July and August are in demand, so they are requested as early as the dates allow.
Yachts and what a week costs
The yachts around Ibiza run from 20-metre motor yachts to superyachts that take Marina Ibiza's largest berths, with catamarans, thanks to their shallow draught, well suited to the sandbanks of Formentera.
Weekly rates follow the Mediterranean pattern. Before running costs, a 20 to 30 metre motor yacht runs from around EUR 30,000 to EUR 80,000, a 30 to 45 metre yacht from around EUR 80,000 to EUR 250,000, and yachts above 50 metres from around EUR 250,000, quoted individually; sailing yachts usually sit below motor yachts of the same length. The APA, typically 25 to 35 percent of the base rate, VAT at a rate set by the country and cruising area, and a customary gratuity of 5 to 15 percent bring the all-in cost to roughly 130 to 150 percent of the base rate. Our guide to charter costs explains each line.
How an Ibiza charter is arranged
We shortlist the yachts that suit your group, request the berth in Ibiza Town for your dates, and plan the anchorages around the Posidonia rules and the forecast. Ibiza pairs naturally with Formentera; with ten days or more, the route can continue north-east to Mallorca and Menorca. Our Ibiza and Balearics guide covers the timing of the anchorages, and the Balearic Islands page sets out the archipelago.
Tell us your dates, the size of your group and what you have in mind, and we will come back with a shortlist. Start the conversation.
