Playa de Ses Illetes Sailboat Full Day Private Trip

Paradise is easier by boat. This private Formentera sailing day takes your group to Playa de Ses Illetes and S’Espalmador, with a skipper handling the route while you swim, paddle, listen to music, or simply stretch out in the sun. I especially like the freedom of having the boat to yourselves and the included snorkel gear and paddleboard, which turn the ride into more than a scenic transfer.

I also like the practical touches: a large cool box, fuel, a dinghy for getting ashore, and a Megaboom Bluetooth speaker. Skippers named Tincho, Rolan, Jose, Diego, Carlos, Alejandro, and Ale have all been associated with especially well-liked trips, though your assigned skipper may differ. The main drawback is cost: $1,621.89 is a serious outlay, even when split among nine people, and food and drinks are not included.

Key things to know before booking

• Two famous Formentera stops: You get roughly three hours at Playa de Ses Illetes and two hours around S’Espalmador.
• Private boat for up to nine: Your group does not share the activity with strangers, making the price easier to justify for a full party.
• Skipper-led sailing: You are free to enjoy the day while the skipper manages sailing and navigation.
• Water gear included: Snorkeling equipment and a stand-up paddleboard are provided, along with a dinghy for shore access.
• Food is your responsibility: Lunch at Ses Illetes is possible, but restaurant meals and drinks are not part of the price.
• Weather matters: The booking cannot be changed or refunded by choice, but poor weather may lead to a new date or a full refund.

A full day on the water, not just a boat transfer

This is best understood as a private floating base for a day around Formentera. You are not simply being carried from one beach to another. The boat gives you a place to swim, sunbathe, paddleboard, play music, and return to whenever you want a break from the shore.

The experience lasts about seven hours, beginning at 10:00 a.m. and returning to Es Molí de Sal in Formentera. That timing gives you a long, useful stretch of daylight. It also leaves room for a relaxed lunch stop rather than forcing you to hurry between anchorages.

The group limit is nine people. That number is large enough for a family, a group of friends, or a small celebration, but still far more personal than a large shared cruise. Since the boat is private, your group controls the mood. You can keep the Megaboom speaker quiet and enjoy the sea, or turn the day into a floating party.

Your skipper handles the actual sailing and navigation. That matters because you can focus on the views and water activities instead of watching charts, checking directions, or worrying about the boat. The strongest praise for this experience centers on the skippers’ warm manner, responsibility, local suggestions, and ability to make the group comfortable.

Starting at Es Molí de Sal at 10:00 a.m.

The meeting point is Es Molí de Sal, at Calle Afores, s/n, 07871 Formentera. The activity also ends there, which keeps the day simple. You do not need to arrange a separate return point or work out how to get back from a distant beach.

The early start is useful. Playa de Ses Illetes is one of Formentera’s best-known coastal stops, and arriving with several hours available gives you time to enjoy it without treating lunch as a rushed pit stop. You should still allow enough time to reach the meeting point before 10:00 a.m., since the stated start time is firm in the booking details.

The boat carries fuel, insurance, taxes, final cleaning, and the auxiliary dinghy. Those inclusions remove several costs that can otherwise appear later in a private charter. The cool box is especially useful, since food and drinks are not supplied. Bring what you want for the day, then use the onboard storage to keep it cool.

Playa de Ses Illetes: three hours for swimming and lunch

The first main stop is Playa de Ses Illetes, where you have about three hours. The beach is the most structured part of the day because you can leave the boat and eat at one of the restaurants along the shore.

That flexibility is valuable. You can make lunch a proper beach stop, or you can stay aboard, swim nearby, and use the time for water activities. The auxiliary dinghy helps with getting to shore, so you are not dependent on stepping directly from the sailboat onto the beach.

Plan your budget around lunch. Restaurant food and drinks are not included, and the tour price does not cover your personal purchases. The cool box makes bringing your own refreshments a practical choice, though a meal ashore may be the part of the stop you remember most.

Three hours is long enough to avoid the usual beach-stop problem: arriving just as you need to leave. You can eat, walk along the sand, swim, and return to the boat without compressing every activity into a few minutes. If your group has different priorities, this is also the easiest place to split up briefly, with some people choosing the shore and others staying near the boat.

The possible downside is that the stop is not fully private once you go ashore. You are visiting a popular beach, not a secluded inlet reserved only for your group. The private element belongs mainly to the boat, the skipper, and the way you arrange your time.

S’Espalmador: two hours for a quieter change of pace

The second stop is S’Espalmador, with about two hours set aside. This creates a useful contrast with Ses Illetes. Instead of spending the whole day in one setting, you get a second chance to swim, walk, or enjoy the boat from a different stretch of coast.

The supplied details do not promise a specific activity ashore at S’Espalmador, so you should think of this as flexible time rather than a guided land tour. Your skipper can help shape the stop, while you choose how much time to spend in the water or on land.

This is where the included gear earns its keep. Snorkeling equipment is provided, and the stand-up paddleboard gives you a calm, active way to explore near the boat. You do not need to pack specialist equipment for either activity, although you remain responsible for bringing personal items not listed among the inclusions.

The two-hour allocation is long enough to settle into the stop, but shorter than the Ses Illetes visit. That balance works well for a seven-hour outing. You get a headline beach, a second coastal setting, and plenty of time aboard without turning the day into a series of quick photo stops.

What the skipper adds to the day

A private boat is only as good as the person running it. Here, the skipper is responsible for navigation and sailing, but the best part of the role is often the human touch. The strongest accounts describe skippers who were reliable, friendly, responsible, and happy to suggest beaches and places to eat.

Tincho, also called Martin, is singled out for taking a group across to Formentera, sharing local knowledge, and helping the day feel easy and sociable. Rolan is praised for making everyone comfortable. Jose is described as a good companion, while Diego, Carlos, Alejandro, and Ale are also named in positive accounts.

You should not assume that you will receive a particular skipper unless the operator confirms it. Still, these details give you a useful standard to expect: a captain who does more than steer, who explains the area, and who helps the group make good use of its time.

A good skipper also matters when the group wants different things. One person may want to paddleboard, another may prefer lunch, and someone else may want quiet time in the sun. On a private charter, the crew can usually shape the rhythm around your group instead of following a fixed shared-cruise program.

The onboard extras that make the price easier to judge

At $1,621.89 per group, the charter is expensive for two or three people. Split nine ways, however, the cost is about $180 per person before personal food and drinks. For a full group that plans to spend the day together, the price becomes easier to compare with several individual boat tickets, although the exact comparison depends on your alternatives.

The inclusions are more useful than a long list of decorative extras. Fuel and taxes are covered, so the headline price is not immediately followed by basic operating charges. Required insurance and final cleaning are also included.

The auxiliary dinghy is practical rather than glamorous. It helps you get between the sailboat and shore when you want to visit the beach. The cool box supports a bring-your-own lunch plan, while the snorkel equipment and paddleboard give you activities without extra rental fees.

The Megaboom Bluetooth speaker is a small but telling touch. It lets your group set the soundtrack, which suits a celebration or a friends’ day out. If your ideal boat trip is quiet, simply leave the music off. The private format lets you decide.

The sunset bonus on the return

The scheduled plan focuses on Ses Illetes and S’Espalmador, but the day can also deliver a memorable return across the water. Several accounts describe an outstanding sunset on the way back to Ibiza, following swimming, lunch, paddleboarding, and music during the day.

That sunset is not listed as a guaranteed feature, so treat it as a possible bonus rather than a promise. The exact light and timing depend on the date, weather, and route. Still, a late return after seven hours on the water gives the day a natural closing scene.

This also explains why the experience feels fuller than a simple beach excursion. You have the outward journey, time in two places, active hours around the boat, and a return that may become part of the highlight. You should bring whatever personal sun protection and clothing you need, since the provided equipment list does not cover those items.

Who will enjoy this most

I would recommend this trip most strongly to a group of friends or family members who will use the boat for the full day. Nine people sharing the cost makes the private format far better value than a small party paying the entire amount alone.

It also suits people who want choice. You can swim, snorkel, paddleboard, go ashore for lunch, sunbathe, or play music. The tour does not force you into a single style of sightseeing.

The experience is a good fit for a celebration, too. The speaker, private group, water toys, and long hours make it suitable for a birthday or a special day in Ibiza and Formentera. The skipper’s role adds a social element without requiring your group to manage the boat.

It may be less suitable if you want a low-cost way to see Formentera, a fully guided walking tour, or a package that includes meals. It is also not the right choice if your plans cannot handle weather changes, since the booking is non-refundable and cannot normally be amended.

Booking rules and weather planning

Confirmation is provided when you book, and the activity is private. Only your group participates, which is one of the clearest advantages over a shared sailing trip.

The experience requires good weather. If the operator cancels because conditions are poor, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. That protection applies to a weather cancellation by the operator, not to a change of mind on your part.

For any other cancellation or amendment, the amount paid is not refunded. I would only book once your group is confident about the date, and I would keep the weather policy in mind when planning the rest of your Formentera visit.

Should you book the Formentera private sailboat day?

Book it if you have a group large enough to share the cost and want the boat itself to be part of the holiday. The strongest reasons are the private setting, two excellent coastal stops, a skipper who handles the work, and useful equipment for swimming and paddleboarding.

Think twice if you are booking for only one or two people, need food included, or want a fixed refund policy. For a full group, though, this is a strong choice for a relaxed Formentera day with room for lunch, water sports, music, and a possible sunset return.

FAQ

Where does the sailboat trip start?

The trip starts at Es Molí de Sal, Calle Afores, s/n, 07871 Formentera, Illes Balears, Spain.

What time does the experience begin?

The scheduled start time is 10:00 a.m.

Where does the activity finish?

The trip ends back at the meeting point at Es Molí de Sal.

How long does the private trip last?

The experience lasts approximately seven hours.

How many people can join the private boat trip?

The private group can include up to nine people.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You can have lunch at a restaurant on Playa de Ses Illetes or bring provisions for the day.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you can receive a full refund or choose a different date.