Formentera & Espalmador: Full-Day Private Sailboat Trip

Paradise here comes with a private boat.

This seven-hour sailing trip gives you a relaxed way to see Formentera’s best swimming spots, from the protected island of S’Espalmador to the red rock coves around Cala Saona. I especially like the private format for up to seven people and the chance to move between beaches without packing and unpacking for every stop. The two paddleboards, snorkeling gear, filtered water, and onboard restroom also make the day feel properly set up rather than bare-bones.

The main consideration is the price: $941.32 per group is a serious outlay for a small party. It becomes far better value when divided among six or seven people, but a couple or small family may find it expensive. You should also plan around the weather, since poor conditions can lead to a date change or full refund.

Key points to know before booking

• S’Espalmador starts the day with quiet, undeveloped shorelines, clear water, and good flat conditions for paddleboarding.
• Ses Illetes offers the broadest choice of activities, including swimming, snorkeling, SUP use, a beach walk, and lunch either on the boat or at a beach restaurant.
• Cala Saona brings a different side of Formentera, with reddish rock, caves, and sheltered water for paddling.
• Es Pujols and Es Calo add variety, mixing sandy bays, rocky swimming areas, restaurants, and less crowded stretches.
• The 35-foot boat has practical comforts, including a restroom, WiFi, filtered water, snorkeling equipment, fuel, and two paddleboards.
• The private group setup gives you more breathing room, especially useful for families or friends who want to choose how much time to spend swimming or relaxing.

What the seven-hour private sailing day feels like

You meet at Platja de Ses Illetes in Formentera, and the trip returns to the same point. That matters because the day is built around the water, not a series of land transfers. Once you are aboard, the boat becomes your base for swimming, lunch, changing pace, and storing your things.

The schedule uses the full seven hours:

• S’Espalmador: about one hour
• Playa de Ses Illetes: about two hours
• Cala Saona: about one and a half hours
• Es Pujols: about one hour
• Es Calo: about one and a half hours

That is a generous amount of time for five stops, though the day will feel active rather than slow. You will repeatedly stop, swim, paddle, and move on. If your ideal boat day means lingering in one cove for hours, this route may feel a little busy. If you want a broad look at Formentera’s coast in one outing, the pacing works well.

The private arrangement is the key advantage. Only your own group participates, so the day is not shaped around strangers or a fixed public-boat crowd. The tour is offered in English, and one review specifically praises a guide named Augustin for being kind and for taking the group to beautiful beaches. That personal touch may matter most on a private trip, where the captain or guide can influence the rhythm of the day.

S’Espalmador: a natural first stop

S’Espalmador is only accessible by sea, which gives the opening stop a more remote feel. It has no bars, restaurants, or hotels, and buildings are not allowed because the island is a protected natural park. Bring that fact into your planning: this is a nature stop, not a place to buy lunch or find a café.

The most distinctive feature is El Paso, a natural sandbar that acts as a bridge toward Formentera. The shore and shallow water make this a good place to get comfortable with the day before the longer stops begin. I like that the first hour is not overloaded with facilities or commercial activity. You get a clear sense of the island as a protected coastal setting.

This is also the strongest stop for paddleboarding if the water is flat. Two paddleboards are included, so you can take turns rather than paying extra for equipment. The trip description specifically highlights the conditions here as well suited to paddle surfers.

The limitation is simple: there are no services. You will not have a restaurant, hotel, or beach bar as a backup. Use the boat’s bottled or filtered water, and treat S’Espalmador as a swim and paddle stop.

Ses Illetes: two hours at Formentera’s famous beach

Playa de Ses Illetes receives the longest stop, and that makes sense. It is one of the most striking beaches in the Mediterranean, with views toward Formentera, Ibiza, and Es Vedra. The 360-degree outlook gives you more than a pretty strip of sand. You can look out across the surrounding islands and get a strong sense of where you are.

You can swim in clear water, use the SUP boards, snorkel with the included equipment, or walk around the beginning of Formentera. The two-hour window gives you time to do several of these without turning the stop into a rushed photo break.

Lunch is flexible here. You can stay aboard and eat there, or leave the boat for one of the beach restaurants at Illetes. Brunch is not included, so you need to budget for a restaurant meal or bring suitable food for the boat. Since the boat has WiFi, a restroom, and water, eating onboard can be convenient, but the beach restaurants offer a change of scenery.

Ses Illetes is likely to be the most popular and developed stop on the route. That is not a criticism, but it does mean the atmosphere may feel less solitary than S’Espalmador or Es Calo. If you want quiet above all else, use the boat time and smaller coves for that. If you want the classic Formentera beach experience with the most choices, this is your main opportunity.

Cala Saona: red rock, caves, and a change of scenery

After the pale beach setting of Ses Illetes, Cala Saona changes the mood. This is the rocky part of Formentera, with reddish rock and clear water around the cove. The contrast gives the day more visual variety than a route that visits only sandy beaches.

The stop lasts about an hour and a half. You can swim around the rocky shore, paddle through the area, and look for some of the hidden caves mentioned in the route. The caves are a reason to keep your snorkeling equipment ready, although the provided details do not promise a particular cave route or guided exploration.

I like this stop for people who want more than a beach day. The reddish rock and sheltered water create a different setting for photos, swimming, and quiet time on the boat. It is also a good place to use the paddleboards at a slower pace after the open beach at Ses Illetes.

Keep your expectations practical. This is a rocky cove, not a long sandy beach. If you prefer easy barefoot walking and broad sand, Ses Illetes will suit you better. If you enjoy swimming around rocks and looking into small coastal spaces, Cala Saona may be one of the day’s strongest stops.

Es Pujols: a sheltered bay with lunch options

Es Pujols mixes rocky and sandy shoreline, and it is often protected from the wind. That makes it useful for paddling, especially if conditions elsewhere feel less calm. The one-hour stop is shorter than at Cala Saona or Es Calo, so you will want to decide quickly if you are swimming, using the board, or going ashore.

There are restaurants in the bay, giving you another choice for lunch. You can also eat onboard. For a group with different habits, this flexibility helps. Some people can head to a restaurant while others remain on the boat, though you should confirm the exact arrangement with the provider if your group plans to split up.

The route also mentions cliff jumps around the corner for adventurous participants. This is an optional feature, not the central purpose of the trip. You should not treat it as a required activity, and the supplied details do not specify height, supervision, or safety conditions. The sensible approach is to enjoy the bay, paddle, or swim unless you are fully comfortable with the local conditions and instructions.

Es Pujols works well as a practical stop because it combines water time with access to food. Its weaker point is the limited hour. If lunch is important, the time spent going ashore may reduce your swimming time.

Es Calo: a quieter final stretch

Es Calo closes the route with about an hour and a half in a less crowded setting. The appeal here is relaxation, clear water, and the mix of rock and sea colors. After four earlier stops, this longer final period gives you room to slow down.

I would use Es Calo as the day’s unhurried swim. You can relax on the boat, spend time in the water, or enjoy the rocky coastal setting without trying to check off another attraction. The route description presents it as less crowded than the other bays, though conditions can vary.

This stop also helps balance the day. Ses Illetes gives you the famous beach, Es Pujols gives you services and a sheltered bay, and Es Calo gives you a quieter finish. If you care more about a calm final hour than collecting landmarks, that is a useful design choice.

What is included, and what you still need to plan

The boat is 35 feet long, a comfortable size for a private group of up to seven. It is not an enormous yacht, but the group limit should prevent the cramped feeling common on larger shared excursions. The included restroom is especially useful during a seven-hour outing.

You also receive:

• Two paddle surf boards
• Snorkeling equipment
• Fuel surcharge
• WiFi onboard
• Bottled or filtered water
• Use of the onboard restroom

Alcoholic drinks and brunch are not included. That is the main extra cost to consider beyond the booking price. If you want to keep spending under control, plan your food before departure and use the boat’s water supply. If you prefer a restaurant meal, Ses Illetes and Es Pujols provide the clearest options named for this route.

The listing does not provide details about the boat’s shade, seating layout, towels, or changing facilities. I would ask the provider about those points before booking if they matter to you. The tour does confirm a mobile ticket, English service, and a return to the starting point.

Is $941.32 good value for your group?

The price is $941.32 for the entire group, not per person, with a maximum of seven people. At seven passengers, that works out to roughly $134 per person. With six, it is about $157 per person. For a group of four, it rises to about $235 per person, and for two people it becomes a costly private outing.

That makes the tour most appealing for a family or friend group that can fill most of the available places. You are paying for privacy, a full 35-foot boat, fuel, equipment, a restroom, and a custom-feeling day across five coastal stops. The ability to eat onboard or at selected bays also reduces the need to arrange separate beach plans.

The value is less convincing for a couple unless privacy is a top priority. A shared boat may cost less, though this particular experience is designed around having the group to yourselves. You are also paying for access to S’Espalmador, which cannot be reached by road, and for the convenience of visiting several parts of Formentera without arranging separate transport.

The rating is five out of five from 63 ratings, with 98 percent of participants recommending the experience. One especially positive account calls it exceptional, praises Augustin’s kindness, and says the day reached beautiful, almost paradise-like beaches. That matches the trip’s strongest qualities: scenery, variety, and personal service.

Practical details that can shape your day

The meeting point is Platja de Ses Illetes, 07871 Formentera, Illes Balears, Spain. The activity ends at the same place. Since the tour begins and ends there, check your own transport plans carefully and allow enough time to reach the departure point.

Confirmation is normally sent at booking. If you book within one day of departure, confirmation may arrive as soon as possible and depends on availability. This is worth noting if your Formentera plans are last-minute.

Most people can take part, and service animals are allowed. The location is near public transportation. The tour requires good weather, so a poor forecast can result in another date or a full refund. You can cancel without penalty up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund.

Bring the practical basics for a water day: swimwear, sun protection, a towel if needed, and food or money for lunch. The provided information does not confirm towel service, so I would not assume one is supplied.

Who should book this private Formentera sailing trip?

I would recommend it most strongly to groups of five to seven who want a full day on the water without sharing the boat. Families can benefit from having a restroom, water, boards, and snorkeling equipment close at hand. Friends can divide their time between swimming, paddling, beach restaurants, and lunch onboard.

It also suits people who want variety. In seven hours, you see an undeveloped protected island, a famous beach, reddish rock, a sheltered bay, and a quieter cove. You are not limited to one beach or one kind of scenery.

I would hesitate if your budget is tight, if you dislike moving between several stops, or if you want a land-based cultural tour. This experience is about water, coast, swimming, and flexible beach time. It does not include brunch or alcoholic drinks, and the price is hard to justify for a very small party unless private sailing itself is the main goal.

Should you book it?

Book this trip if you can share the cost with a nearly full group and want to see several of Formentera’s best coastal areas in one day. The private boat, two paddleboards, snorkeling gear, onboard restroom, and flexible lunch choices give the price real substance.

Skip it if you mainly want one quiet beach and a low-cost outing. For everyone else, this is a well-rounded way to experience Formentera by sea, with S’Espalmador and Es Calo supplying the quieter moments and Ses Illetes providing the classic beach views.

FAQ

How long is the private sailing trip?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours.

Where does the tour begin and end?

It begins at Platja de Ses Illetes in Formentera and ends back at the same meeting point.

How many people can join the private boat?

The private activity is for your group only, with space for up to seven people.

Is lunch included?

No. Brunch is not included. You can have lunch onboard or visit restaurants at Playa de Ses Illetes or Es Pujols.

Are paddleboards included?

Yes. Two paddle surf boards are included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Use of snorkeling equipment is included.

What other facilities are included onboard?

The 35-foot boat includes a restroom, WiFi, fuel, and bottled or filtered water.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If it is canceled because of poor conditions, you can receive a different date or a full refund.