The Best Day Charter Routes from Ibiza Marina: Formentera, Tagomago, Es Vedrà

Most Ibiza charters spend their day in one of five places. The trick isn't finding the spots — it's knowing which to skip in August, when to leave the marina to avoid the crowds, and which anchorages are worth the extra forty minutes of cruising.

These are the routes our captains actually run. We've set them up around what works for a typical six-to-twelve-guest day with one lunch stop and one swim stop. For multi-day passages, see our itineraries section.

1. The Formentera Circuit

The default. Leave Marina Botafoch by 10:30 to beat the crowd at Illetes. Cruise south past Es Caná and Santa Eulària, arrive at Espalmador around 12:00 for a sand-bottom anchor swim. Lunch at Beso, Juan y Andrea, or Big Sur — book the day before, never the morning of. Slow return up the west coast via Cala Saona for a sunset swim. Back to Botafoch around 19:30.

Best on: any 40ft+ sport boat or flybridge. Day charter range: 80–120nm depending on stops. Fuel burn: count €600–€1,400 at cruise.

2. The Tagomago Loop

Tagomago is the small private island off the north-east coast. The channel between Tagomago and the mainland gives flat water in most conditions and almost no other boats by mid-afternoon. Anchor on the west side for sun until 16:00, swim, lunch on board. The drive back via Es Caná takes 35 minutes at cruise.

Best for: smaller groups (four to eight) who want to skip the Formentera traffic entirely. Range: 40nm round trip from Botafoch.

3. Es Vedrà Sunset

The island most photographed in Ibiza. Cruise to Cala d'Hort at 17:30, anchor in deep water 200m off Es Vedrà's south face, watch the rock turn gold for forty-five minutes. Captains will pull the boat into the small bay at Cala d'Hort if conditions allow for a final swim before dark. Back to the marina by 22:00.

Pairs well with: a late lunch at Es Boldadó or a quick stop at Atlantis (only with the right boat and a calm sea).

4. North Coast Caves and Portinatx

The route most clients don't know exists. From Botafoch, north past Cala Llonga, Pou des Lleó, then the cliff faces of Cala Mastella, Cala Xarraca and the caves at Portinatx. Anchor at Cala Xuclà — flat sand, electric blue water, almost no traffic outside peak August. Lunch on board. Return via the back of Tagomago.

Best on: any boat with shade. The water is colder here, but the coast is dramatic.

5. San Antonio Sunset Drift

For the right group — and the right boat. Cruise west around 17:00, anchor between San Antonio Bay and Cala Salada. Music up. Sunset is straight off the bow. Back to Botafoch by 22:30. Done well, this is the best night of the week. Done poorly, it's a traffic jam.

Best on: a flybridge or sport boat with a proper sound system. We point most clients to Dark Knight, La Romana, or Superhawk for this one.

What we don't recommend in August

• Cala Bassa weekday lunches — the cabanas are full from 11:00, the anchorage is crowded by 13:00. Same beach, weeknight only.
• Salinas day anchorage — tour boats now park here by 12. Beautiful, but not a private day.
• Atlantis without a small tender — the access is shallow and exposed, only works with a 25ft+ tender on board.

Build your day

Tell us the date and the group; we'll come back with two routes and a boat we'd send for each. The charter guide covers how to pick between the categories of boat. The monthly calendar covers when each route is at its best.