Formentera is about 35 minutes from Ibiza by private boat, leaving from Marina Botafoch in Ibiza Town. That short crossing leaves most of the day for swimming, lunch and the calas, and your skipper chooses where to stop by looking at the seabed and the wind, because anchoring over Posidonia is banned in the Balearics.
How long does it take to get from Ibiza to Formentera by boat?
From Marina Botafoch, plan on about 35 minutes by private boat in calm conditions. Local operators quote between 30 and 45 minutes from Ibiza Town, and the crossing is shorter from the south of the island (Playa d'en Bossa, Ses Salines) and longer from Sant Antoni on the west coast. The public ferry from Ibiza Town to La Savina, Formentera's port, runs on a timetable and takes from 25 to 60 minutes depending on the service. By your own boat there is no queue and no schedule: you leave when the group is ready.
Which calas are worth a stop on a boat trip to Formentera?
There is no single best stop, because the right one changes with the wind. These are the ones skippers return to:
- Es Palmador. A small uninhabited islet between the two islands, with shallow water and a sandy bottom. It is the usual first stop on the way over, best reached in the morning before it fills up.
- Ses Illetes. The long white strip on Formentera's north tip, with very shallow, clear water. The anchorage is organised with buoys to protect the seabed.
- Cala Saona. On the west coast, with red cliffs and sand. It is sheltered from the north but open to the south and west, so it depends on the day.
- Platja de Migjorn. Five kilometres of south-facing coast with room to anchor on the sandy patches between the Posidonia beds. The eastern end is the quietest.
If you want to see which calas on Ibiza itself suit which kind of day, our guide to the best beaches in Ibiza goes through them.
Where can a boat anchor in Formentera without damaging the seabed?
Over sand, or on a buoy where the area is regulated. Under Decree 25/2018, anchoring on the Posidonia oceanica meadow, the seagrass that keeps the water so clear, is prohibited as a general rule, and the Govern runs a monitoring service that advises boaters and asks badly anchored boats to move. The same stretch of water can be allowed at one end and closed at the other, so the seabed decides. That is one reason every Singular charter comes with a professional skipper, who checks what applies on the day, including the buoy fields approved in Ibiza at Porroig and Cala d'Hort in 2023.
What does a day on the water look like?
A relaxed day has three stops, not five. A typical rhythm from Marina Botafoch:
- Morning: board, brief the skipper on the group and the wind, cross to Es Palmador for the first swim.
- Midday: move on to Ses Illetes or the south coast for lunch, on board or ashore by tender.
- Afternoon: a last swim at Cala Saona or Migjorn, then the crossing back with the light low.
Rushing between many stops tires a group out. The better plan is fewer, longer stops, and leaving the exact order open until the morning, when the skipper has seen the forecast.
What is included, and what is not?
Every boat comes with a professional skipper and insurance. Fuel and crew tips are not included. Fuel is used on the day and settled at the end, at cost, with no mark-up from Singular, and the amount depends on the route: a calm day along the south coast and a return trip to Formentera are not the same bill. We give you a realistic figure for your route before you commit. Twelve passengers is the legal maximum for a day charter, so a larger group travels on two boats.
When should you book a boat day?
The summer is decided between October and March, and the boat that fits your group and dates is easier to find now than in June. See the fleet on our yachts page, pair it with one of our villas, or read when to book a villa. If you would like to talk it through, write to us with your dates and the size of your group, and we will suggest a boat and a realistic plan, with no pressure.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the boat from Ibiza to Formentera?
About 35 minutes by private boat from Marina Botafoch in calm conditions. The public ferry to La Savina takes between 25 and 60 minutes depending on the service.
Do I need a boat licence to go to Formentera?
Not on a Singular charter. Every boat comes with a professional skipper who handles navigation, so you only choose the day and the stops.
Can a boat anchor anywhere in Formentera?
No. Anchoring over Posidonia is prohibited in the Balearics. Boats anchor over sand or use regulated buoys, and the skipper checks what applies on the day.
Is fuel included in a Formentera boat day?
No. Fuel is settled at the end at cost, with no mark-up, and depends on the route. We tell you a realistic figure before you book.
How many people fit on a day charter?
Up to 12 passengers per boat. A larger group travels on two boats.
Sources: Govern de les Illes Balears, Cuidamos la Posidonia (information for boaters); Decree 25/2018 of the Balearic Islands; PeriĂłdico de Ibiza, 4 May 2023; EasyBoat, Ibiza to Formentera by Boat guide, and Just Enjoy Ibiza Boats, Boat Trip from Ibiza to Formentera (both consulted 10 October 2026).
