A Calm-Water Day Charter: Ibiza's East Coast to Formentera and Back
This route departs Marina Botafoc heading east and south, threading sheltered coves before crossing to Formentera — roughly 30 nautical miles that favour families with young children and anyone who values quiet water over crowded anchorages.
From the port outwards
- 01
09:00 — Departure from Marina Botafoc
Board at the north quay, where fuel and last provisions are handled the evening before. The captain clears the harbour mouth and turns east along the coast, keeping the shoreline close. Morning light on this heading is behind you, and the sea between Ibiza Town and the eastern headlands is typically flat before any afternoon thermal builds. Crew serves breakfast on the aft deck as you pass Talamanca beach to port.
- 02
10:15 — Swim Stop at Cala Mastella
A narrow inlet on the north-east coast, well protected from prevailing westerlies and shallow enough for children to wade from the bathing platform. The sandy bottom holds anchor well in two to three metres. There is rarely more than a handful of boats here, even in July — a different reality from the west coast coves at the same hour. Allow forty-five minutes for swimming before the captain lifts anchor for the Formentera crossing.
- 03
12:00 — Es Palmador Sandbar, Formentera
The crossing from Ibiza's south-east tip takes roughly twenty minutes in a fast motor yacht. Es Palmador's sandbar sits between the two islands in water that can be ankle- to knee-deep in places — ideal for small children to wade safely while adults float nearby. Arriving by noon means you claim a position before the midday rush. The crew sets a cold lunch on board: local charcuterie, grilled fish, chilled rosé or soft drinks, served while you dry off in the sun.
- 04
15:00 — Afternoon Anchorage off Cala Saona, Formentera
Rather than retracing the morning route, the captain motors south-west around Formentera's tip to Cala Saona — a broad, west-facing bay with a gently sloping seabed and warm afternoon light. The anchorage is open but calm in settled summer conditions. For corporate groups, this is a natural pause for a private briefing or quiet conversation on the foredeck, well away from any shoreside noise. Families can take the tender to the beach, which is sandy and gradual enough for younger swimmers.
- 05
18:30 — Sunset Return via Cala d'Hort
The return leg crosses back to Ibiza and hugs the south-west coast. Timing the arrival at Cala d'Hort for the last hour of light puts Es Vedrà's rock silhouette directly ahead as the sun drops behind it. No need to anchor — the captain holds position under slow power while guests watch from the flybridge or cockpit. From here, Marina Botafoc is roughly an hour's cruise at comfortable speed, arriving back around 20:30 with the harbour lights already on.
About Ibiza
Ibiza sits at the centre of a cruising ground that rewards short distances with dramatic variety. From Marina Ibiza or Botafoc you can reach the turquoise shallows off Formentera in under half an hour by fast motor yacht, anchor beneath the limestone cliffs of Es Vedrà before sunset, or spend a quiet morning in a north coast cove like Cala Xarraca where the only company is pine forest and clean rock. The island's scale means a single day charter can cover two or three distinct stops without rushing — and a multi-day itinerary opens the full Formentera coast, provisioned from the marina quay before departure.
Our fleet of 31 yachts is selected to match this range. A 10 m Riva Aquariva suits a couple's half-day along the west coast coves — Cala Bassa, Cala Tarida, Cala Conta — while a Sunseeker 115 or Azimut 116 carries a larger group across to Formentera with deck space, cabins and crew to support a proper overnight programme. For families, the sheltered anchorages at Cala Bassa and Cala Mastella offer calm, shallow water where children can swim close to the boat; for corporate hosts, a crewed superyacht provides the privacy and catering infrastructure to hold a working lunch at anchor without a reservation or a neighbouring table. Day-rate pricing with a transparent APA structure means you know your costs before stepping aboard — fuel, provisions, marina fees all accounted for separately from the base charter fee.
Season shapes the experience as much as the route. June through September delivers the longest days and warmest water, but peak months bring crowded anchorages — Es Palmador's sandbar fills by late morning in August. May and October open the same waters with lighter traffic and strong availability across the fleet, often at shorter booking lead times. Whether you're planning a single afternoon or a week-long Balearics passage, the practical starting point is the same: your dates, your group size, and the kind of day you want on the water. We work from there.