Review · SAILING

Ibiza & Formentera Private Deluxe Sailing: Full Day

5.0 · 262 reviews 8 hours (approx.) Operated by Nomad Sailing Trips · Bookable on Viator
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Cala Jondal is the starting point for a full day at sea, and the real pleasure here is the freedom to enjoy Ibiza and Formentera from the water. You get private use of a 41-foot modern sailboat, with swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and time on the white sand of Ses Illetes.

I like the relaxed personal service, especially the way skippers such as Agus have helped arrange lunch and onward taxis. I also like the choice between eating ashore or staying aboard, plus the excellent chance of a calm sunset sail on the way back. The main consideration is the boat’s size: it is comfortable for up to seven, but anyone expecting a large yacht may find it smaller than imagined.

Key points to know before booking

Ibiza & Formentera Private Deluxe Sailing: Full Day - Key points to know before booking

  • Private boat for up to seven: You share the sailboat only with your own group, which makes the day easy to shape around your pace.
  • Two SUP boards and snorkeling gear included: Swimming stops are not just for looking at the water from the deck.
  • Ses Illetes gives you lunch flexibility: Eat on Formentera or bring food back aboard, with lunch itself not included.
  • The skipper can add useful local help: Agus has arranged restaurant bookings and taxis, while other crew members named in the feedback include Carlota, Tom, Nuria, and Marcelo.
  • The route depends on conditions: Formentera may not be possible in poor weather, but the crew can visit other Ibiza coves instead.
  • Plan for a full eight hours: The day includes long periods aboard, so bring sun protection and be ready for a moderate level of activity.

A private start from Cala Jondal

Ibiza & Formentera Private Deluxe Sailing: Full Day - A private start from Cala Jondal

Your day begins at Tropicana Eivissa in Cala Jondal, on Ibiza’s south coast. The meeting address is Cala Jundal, s/n, in Sant Josep de sa Talaia. The boat returns to the same place after roughly eight hours.

Starting here puts you close to some of Ibiza’s best southern-water scenery. Cala Jondal is known for clear water, rocky sides, and a polished beach-club setting, but the boat quickly carries you away from the shore and into a quieter rhythm.

This is not a crowded excursion where you wait for a large group to board. Your party has the boat to itself, up to seven people, and that matters. You can spend more time swimming if everyone agrees, stay on deck when the sun is strong, or let the skipper adjust the pace.

The crew is an important part of the experience. Names connected with this sailing company include Agus, Carlota, Tom, Nuria, and Marcelo, though your skipper will depend on the date. Agus is particularly noted for handling practical details, from lunch reservations to arranging taxis after the boat returns.

Along the south coast to Playa des Codolar

The first sailing stretch follows Ibiza’s southern coast toward Playa des Codolar. You pass beaches, rocky inlets, cliffs, and sea caves, with the view changing as the boat moves beyond Cala Jondal.

This section lasts about an hour, making it a good time to settle into the boat. You can sit on deck, listen to music through the onboard WiFi, and take photos without having to manage the boat or watch a clock.

The WiFi is a useful modern touch, especially for a private group that wants to stream music or upload photographs during the day. It also helps create the right mood for the return trip, when the crew may be able to set up a slower, more scenic sail.

Keep your expectations realistic about the sailing itself. The boat may sail under wind power when conditions allow, but parts of the route can involve engine travel. The appeal is the whole day on the water, not a guaranteed racing-style sailing session.

Swimming and snorkeling near Ses Salines

Ibiza & Formentera Private Deluxe Sailing: Full Day - Swimming and snorkeling near Ses Salines

Next comes a secluded cove near the Ses Salines Natural Park. The boat anchors for about an hour, giving you time to swim in clear water and use the supplied snorkeling equipment.

This is one of the most useful parts of the day because you are not limited to sightseeing from the rail. You can get into the sea, look for fish, and cool off before returning to the deck. The water is the main attraction here, so pack swimwear under your clothes and bring a towel.

The tour calls for a moderate level of physical fitness. You do not need to be an athlete, but you should be comfortable climbing in and out of the water, moving around a boat, and spending much of the day in the sun.

The supplied equipment adds value for a private charter. You do not have to arrange a separate snorkeling rental, and the boat already has a restroom for the long day aboard. Alcohol is not included, so plan your drinks accordingly.

Paddleboarding around S’Espalmador

Ibiza & Formentera Private Deluxe Sailing: Full Day - Paddleboarding around S’Espalmador

The route then heads toward S’Espalmador, the small natural reserve between Ibiza and Formentera. You have about one hour and 50 minutes here, including time for paddleboarding, swimming, and snorkeling.

Two paddle surf boards are included. For a group of up to seven, two boards will not let everyone paddle at once, but that is still enough for pairs to take turns while others swim or relax on deck.

S’Espalmador is a good place for this equipment because the water is generally the focus rather than a town or a busy beach. You can paddle close to the boat, return for a swim, and keep the stop flexible. The crew’s local knowledge also matters here, since the best anchoring spot can depend on wind and sea conditions.

Do not count on every stop looking exactly like the photographs. Weather may change the route, and the skipper has to balance safety with the day’s plans. When conditions have made Formentera unsuitable, the crew has instead taken groups to other Ibiza coves, preserving the swimming and sightseeing parts of the day.

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Two hours at Ses Illetes

Ibiza & Formentera Private Deluxe Sailing: Full Day - Two hours at Ses Illetes

The main Formentera stop is Playa de Ses Illetes, famous for pale sand and clear water. You have about two hours here, which is long enough to go ashore, walk the beach, and eat lunch without turning the visit into a rushed stop.

Lunch is not included, and you have two choices. You can leave the boat and eat on Formentera, or bring lunch aboard and enjoy the view from the deck. In practice, asking the skipper to help with a reservation can make the first option much easier, especially during a busy season.

Agus has been especially helpful with this part, arranging a lunch booking and even helping with taxis after the sailing day. That sort of assistance is worth noting because logistics on Formentera can take time away from the beach if you leave everything until the last minute.

The beach stop also gives you a break from the boat. Eight hours at sea sounds wonderful, but some people will appreciate standing on firm ground, walking along the shore, and having a proper meal. Others will prefer to stay aboard and avoid the cost and fuss of going ashore.

The return to Cala Jondal

Ibiza & Formentera Private Deluxe Sailing: Full Day - The return to Cala Jondal

The return leg takes about an hour and 30 minutes. After the activity at S’Espalmador and Ses Illetes, this is your quietest stretch, with time to lie back, watch Ibiza’s coast, and let the day slow down.

The timing can produce beautiful late-day light, and one group had a proper sunset sail back toward Ibiza. That is a possibility rather than a fixed promise, since departure timing and weather control the view.

This final sail is also where the private format pays off. You are not being hurried toward a fixed transfer or sharing the deck with strangers. The skipper can keep the return relaxed, and you can use the WiFi for music or share photos before arriving back at Cala Jondal.

A few comments also make clear that the boat feels personal rather than anonymous. Agus described the boat as his home, and his warm Argentinian welcome left a strong impression. That is not a feature every skipper will replicate in exactly the same way, but it gives you a sense of the human side of the experience.

What the $1,088.86 price really buys

Ibiza & Formentera Private Deluxe Sailing: Full Day - What the $1,088.86 price really buys

The listed price is $1,088.86 for the entire group, not per person, with up to seven people aboard. At full capacity, that works out to about $155.55 per person for eight hours, before lunch and any alcoholic drinks.

That is a serious price for a day out, but it becomes easier to justify with a full group. You are paying for a private boat, skipper, fuel, restroom, snorkeling gear, two SUP boards, and a full route between Ibiza and Formentera.

For two or three people, the cost per person is much higher. In that case, compare it with a shared cruise or shorter charter. The private format is most valuable when your group wants control of the pace, music, swimming stops, and lunch plans.

The boat is 41 feet long, which is modern and substantial for a small private charter. Still, one person expected something larger and found the boat smaller than imagined. If you picture a large luxury yacht with many separate areas, reset that expectation before booking.

What to bring and how to plan the day

Ibiza & Formentera Private Deluxe Sailing: Full Day - What to bring and how to plan the day

Bring swimwear, sun protection, a hat, sunglasses, and a towel. The supplied gear covers snorkeling and paddleboarding, but you should still bring any personal items you need for a full day outside.

Lunch is the main extra expense to plan. You can arrange a meal on Formentera, ask the skipper for help with a reservation, or bring food back aboard. Alcoholic drinks are also excluded.

Wear footwear that works for a boat and a beach. The tour includes time on deck, swimming, paddleboarding, and walking ashore, so comfort matters more than dressing up.

The experience is booked an average of 36 days ahead, a useful sign that summer dates may fill well in advance. Confirmation is normally provided at booking, although reservations made within one day of departure are confirmed as soon as possible and depend on availability.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that window are not accepted for a refund.

Who will enjoy this private sailing day

I would choose this for a family, a group of friends, or a mixed-age party that wants a flexible day at sea. The reported age range of one group was 25 to 56, and the combination of swimming, beach time, food, and relaxed sailing worked well across that spread.

It is also a good choice if you care about personal service. The strongest part of the experience may be the skipper’s practical help, not just the scenery. A crew member who can arrange lunch, suggest a better cove, and help with transport can save you a lot of small hassles.

You should think twice if you want a tightly scheduled sightseeing program, a very large yacht, or a low-cost boat outing. You also need to accept that wind and sea conditions may change the route, including the possibility of staying around Ibiza instead of reaching Formentera.

Should you book this Ibiza sailing trip?

Book it if you have a group of up to seven, want a private boat, and value time in the water more than a long list of sights. The mix of Ses Salines, S’Espalmador, Ses Illetes, SUP boards, snorkeling, and a slow return sail gives the day plenty of variety.

The best value comes with five to seven people, especially if you use the boat for most of the eight hours and take advantage of the included equipment. Just budget separately for lunch and drinks, and remember that the 41-foot boat is comfortable but not enormous.

If your ideal Ibiza day means swimming in clear water, eating near Formentera, listening to your own music, and letting the skipper handle the practical details, this is a strong pick. If weather changes the route, the day can still work well, but you should book with flexibility rather than treating Formentera as a guaranteed stop.

FAQ

Where does the sailing trip begin and end?

The trip begins at Tropicana Eivissa in Cala Jondal, Cala Jundal, s/n, 07830 Sant Josep de sa Talaia, Ibiza. It ends back at the same meeting point.

How long is the sailing experience?

The experience lasts about eight hours.

How many people can join the private boat?

The private booking is for up to seven people. Only your own group participates.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included. You can eat on Formentera or have lunch aboard the boat.

Are alcoholic drinks included?

No. Alcoholic beverages are not included in the price.

What equipment is provided?

The boat includes two paddle surf boards, snorkeling equipment, a restroom, fuel, and a skipper or captain.

Can the tour always reach Formentera?

No route can be guaranteed in unsuitable weather. When conditions do not allow the trip to Formentera, the crew may visit other coves around Ibiza instead.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience begins. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund.

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