Ibiza and Formentera Sailing Itinerary from Barcellona: A 7-Day Cruise Through the Balearic Islands
Barcellona, ES
7 days cruise, 26 dates available
Catamaran
Price may vary depending on the cruise date.
Reservations are subjected to acceptance after availability checks. In case, the selected cruise is not available we will contact you with similar offers.
A one week sailing holiday from Sant Antoni exploring the western coast of Ibiza, the turquoise lagoons of Formentera, the volcanic silhouette of Es Vedrà and the UNESCO-listed old town of Ibiza Town.
The cruise sails through the western Balearic Islands, covering Ibiza and Formentera in a circular route that departs from Sant Antoni de Portmany, a natural harbor on the western coast of Ibiza with comprehensive marina infrastructure and direct access to the best coastal scenery on the island.
Sailing distances between stops are generally short, leaving most of each day free for the destination rather than the crossing. The shallow channel between the two islands, known as Es Freus, is a marine protected area where posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows filter the water to the characteristic pale turquoise clarity that defines this part of the Mediterranean. Several anchorages are approached only by boat, with road access either absent or impractical compared to arriving from the sea.
Ibiza's coastline divides into two distinct experiences. The northern coast and interior carry a quieter, more natural character, with pine covered hills and small farming villages that have changed relatively little over time. The southern and western coastlines hold the island's most celebrated bays, from Cala Bassa and Cala Comte to the offshore rock of Es Vedrà rising nearly four hundred meters from the sea, and a quality of afternoon light that remains the defining visual memory of a sailing week in this part of the Mediterranean.
Formentera, the smallest inhabited island in the Balearics, provides a deliberate contrast to Ibiza. Its beaches at Ses Illetes and Cala Saona are among the most photographed natural landscapes in Spain, and both are best approached from the water. The island moves at a pace entirely its own, with cycling the preferred way to move between villages and a natural environment given stronger legal protection than almost anywhere else in the archipelago.
Ibiza Town anchors the cultural side of the itinerary, with the fortified upper city of Dalt Vila, enclosed within Renaissance walls and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, rising directly above a harbor in continuous use since the Phoenician period. Days generally combine a short morning sail with an afternoon spent swimming, exploring ashore or simply at anchor, with evenings alternating between quiet bays and waterfront towns depending on the stop.
Itinerary
Day1
Boarding in Sant Antoni and First Anchorage at Cala Bassa
Boarding takes place at Sant Antoni Marina during the afternoon, with time to settle into the cabins and a safety briefing covering the plan for the week. After provisioning, the boat leaves the harbor for a short first sail along the western coast of Ibiza toward Cala Bassa, a sheltered bay with a sandy bottom and pine trees descending almost to the waterline, with water clear enough to see the anchor from the deck. The bay faces southwest and the light in the late afternoon is among the best on the island. Dinner is served onboard at anchor, with the first Balearic sunset from the cockpit.
Day2
Cala Comte and Es Vedrà
After breakfast at anchor, the boat sails south along the coast toward Cala Comte, a bay formed by a series of rocky islets and platforms that break the western coastline into a sequence of clear water channels with sandy seabeds and consistent depth. The combination of color and underwater visibility here is consistently cited as among the finest on the island, and the morning swim stop is unhurried. Navigation continues in the afternoon toward Es Vedrà, the uninhabited limestone island rising from the sea off the southwest coast of Ibiza, subject to persistent local mythology connecting it to the Odyssey and various navigational legends of the western Mediterranean. The overnight anchorage is in one of the protected bays near the southern tip of the island.
Day3
Crossing to Formentera and Ses Illetes
The morning crossing from the southern coast of Ibiza to Formentera covers the shallow channel of Es Freus, where the water changes color progressively as the depth decreases from the dark blue of the open passage to the pale turquoise of the lagoon approaching the northern spit of Formentera. Ses Illetes is the anchorage destination, a narrow strip of white sand extending into the channel with water on both sides and posidonia meadows below the hull that give the bay its extraordinary color. The afternoon is dedicated entirely to swimming and paddleboarding in remarkable clarity. The night is spent at anchor in the Formentera channel.
Day4
Exploring Formentera
A full day is dedicated to the coastline and character of Formentera, the most naturally intact of the Balearic Islands. The boat moves between anchorages through the day, with Cala Saona on the western coast offering a sheltered bay enclosed by orange limestone cliffs that contrast directly with the turquoise water below. Cap de Barbaria on the southern tip is the most remote point of the island, with an eighteenth century lighthouse on a flat plateau of low scrubland above vertical sea cliffs that see very little boat traffic. Guests who prefer time ashore can explore the island by bicycle, a common way to move between villages on an island flat enough to make cycling practical. The pace of Formentera is distinctly unhurried compared to Ibiza, and the contrast between the two islands becomes a defining characteristic of the week.
Day5
Formentera to Ibiza Town
The passage north from Formentera follows the eastern side of the channel before opening into the longer crossing toward the southeastern corner of Ibiza, with swim stops in sheltered bays on the southern coast possible depending on timing and wind. The arrival beneath the walls of Dalt Vila is the most architecturally dramatic moment of the itinerary, with the Renaissance fortifications rising directly above the harbor entrance and the old town visible in layers above the waterfront. The afternoon is free for walking up through the Dalt Vila gate into the medieval streets, visiting the cathedral at the summit with its views over the harbor, or exploring the lower town and waterfront. Dinner is ashore in the Marina Botafoc area or within the old town, with the night spent in the marina or at anchor in the harbor.
Day6
Ibiza Town to Cala Benirràs
Navigation heads north along the eastern coast of Ibiza, a stretch of less visited coastline with small coves and forested hillsides descending to rocky platforms accessible only from the water. The destination is Cala Benirràs on the northern coast, a bay enclosed by pine covered slopes with a distinctive rounded rock formation at its center and water calm enough in settled conditions for snorkeling over the rocky seabed below the cliffs. Cala Benirràs retains an atmosphere shaped by the island's alternative community history rather than its international tourism reputation, and the beach at sunset has a long-established tradition of informal gathering that gives it a particular character among the northern bays. The last full day is spent in the quietest and most natural section of Ibiza available from a Sant Antoni base.
Day7
Return to Sant Antoni and Disembarkation
The final navigation follows the northern and western coastline of Ibiza back toward Sant Antoni, passing familiar waters from the first days of the cruise with a perspective that the week has changed. A last swimming stop in a sheltered bay along the western coast is possible depending on timing and sea conditions before the approach to the marina. Arrival is planned for the afternoon or early evening, with the final night spent onboard. Disembarkation takes place the following morning after breakfast.
Important Note
This itinerary may vary depending on weather conditions, currents and marine activity. Anchorages and daily schedule are adjusted by the skipper to ensure safety and the best possible sailing experience throughout the week.
The Bali 4.2 is a 42-foot catamaran from the Catana Group that premiered at the Cannes Yachting Festival and brings the signature features of the larger Bali models into a more compact platform: the aft garage door, the solid forward deck lounge, the flybridge helm station and a saloon that opens completely to the outside when conditions allow.
The Bali 4.2 sits between the Catspace and the 4.4 in the Bali line and shares the same design DNA as both: the Bali door, the forward solid deck replacing the traditional trampoline, the flybridge-mounted helm station and the organizing principle that the boundary between inside and outside should be removable rather than fixed. At 42 feet with a beam of just over 23 feet, the boat extracts a disproportionate amount of living space from its dimensions, a quality that reviewers from Yacht Style and Sailing Magazine noted as among the most distinctive characteristics of the model.
The Bali door itself is a full-width pneumatically operated rear wall between the cockpit and the saloon. When raised, it merges the two spaces into a single open-plan living area running from the transom to the forward bulkhead, adding natural light, ventilation and spatial continuity that transforms the onboard atmosphere entirely. When closed, the saloon becomes a self-contained interior with generous headroom between 6 feet 6 inches and 6 feet 10 inches throughout, a dining table that seats six to eight comfortably and a forward galley arrangement with an L-shaped countertop, a long central work surface and a 326-liter refrigerator and freezer unit.
The flybridge places the helm station above the main deck with full forward visibility over both bows, leaving the cockpit below free from sail control hardware and organized purely for social use. A built-in grill on the port side of the cockpit and the stern sugar scoop steps providing direct water access complete the aft living arrangement.
Forward of the mast, the solid deck replaces nets with a proper lounge surface, adding a third distinct outdoor space suited to morning breakfasts, afternoon reading or evening gatherings depending on where the group gravitates during the day.
Below deck, the Bali 4.2 is available in three and four cabin configurations. The three-cabin version dedicates the port hull to a full owner's suite with private head and shower. The four-cabin version distributes accommodation across both hulls with ensuite facilities in each. Ventilation in the cabins benefits from opening portlights and overhead hatches, and the general build quality reflects the Catana Group's background in high-performance catamaran construction applied to a platform designed for Mediterranean charter and coastal cruising.
The exact cabin configuration will be confirmed before departure while maintaining the same standard of onboard comfort and space.
What to pack for a sailing holiday?
Pack smart for your yacht charter: choose a soft bag instead of a hard suitcase, bring lightweight layers, reef-safe sunscreen, and non-slip shoes for onboard use. A couple of swimsuits and motion sickness remedies can also make a big difference. Each boat has limited storage, so pack light, but wisely! Need help building the perfect list? Read our full guide: What to pack in a suitcase for a yacht charter
What’s a Typical Day Like on a Yacht Charter?
Start your day with a swim in a quiet bay, sail to hidden beaches or seaside villages, and enjoy a slow lunch on deck. Afternoons mean snorkeling, sunbathing, or exploring ashore. As the sun sets, your boat anchors in a scenic cove or near a harbor, ready for a relaxed dinner and a night under the stars. Curious about the full experience? Discover more in our guide: What’s a typical day like on a sailing holiday?
Who Handles Cooking and Cleaning on a Yacht Charter?
On skipper-only charters, guests usually share cooking and cleaning duties, think salads, pasta, and good teamwork. If there's a hostess, light meals and tidying are included, but it's still a casual, collaborative vibe. On fully crewed yachts, you’ll enjoy full service with a chef and crew managing everything. Want to know what’s included in your setup? Read the full guide: Who takes care of cooking and cleaning on a sailing charter?
What Happens in Case of Bad Weather During a Sailing Holiday?
Summer sailing holidays rarely face major weather issues, but when the sea gets rough, skippers adjust the route for your safety. Expect protected bays, marina stops, or a change in plan. These moments often lead to unexpected gems: local towns to explore, time to relax on board, or cozy dinners ashore. Curious about how crews handle these changes? Read the full FAQ: What to do in case of adverse weather conditions or changes to the itinerary
Reservations are subjected to acceptance after availability checks. In case, the selected cruise is not available we will contact you with similar offers.
