BOAT-COMPARATOR Guide

Catamaran Rental in Ibiza: Es Palmador and Formentera

Catamaran rental in Ibiza: sail to Es Palmador and Formentera, anchor in shallow turquoise water, budget from €800 a day and tips for comparing offers.

A catamaran is probably the best-suited boat for the waters between Ibiza and Formentera: stable at anchor, roomy for a group and, thanks to its shallow draught, able to edge close to the sandbanks where keelboats cannot follow. Here is how the classic day unfolds, and how much to budget.

Why a catamaran rather than anything else?

Between Ibiza and Formentera, the finest anchorages are pale sandy bottoms in two or three metres of water. A catamaran tucks in close to the beach, stays perfectly level over lunch and offers genuinely separate spaces — trampolines forward, cockpit aft, two hulls to change in. It also spares guests who fear seasickness: with two hulls in the water, the rolling that tires people out on a monohull largely disappears. For a group of friends or two families, it is the most comfortable platform for the classic Balearic day out, as our guide to the catamaran day charter explains.

Es Palmador and Formentera: the classic route

From the marinas of Ibiza Town, about an hour under way brings you to Espalmador — often written Es Palmador — a private lagoon-like islet whose northern anchorage is one of the most photogenic in the Balearics. Next come Ses Illetes, Formentera's sand spit, for lunch and an afternoon of swimming. Mind the protected posidonia meadows: anchor on sand, never on the dark patches. Our guide to Ibiza and Formentera by boat maps out the permitted zones.

For more festive groups, many offers propose an afternoon departure returning at sunset opposite Es Vedrà, the spectacular islet off Ibiza's south-west coast — an alternative that skips the crossing and leaves the morning free. Tell the operator what you have in mind when you enquire: music, stops, timings, all of it is easier to arrange in advance than on the pontoon. Whatever the format, confirm the passenger count early, as the authorised capacity is a hard limit no operator will stretch.

Budget: by the day or by the week

Expect €800 to €1,500 a day for a catamaran, or €3,000 to €8,000 a week depending on size, age and season. A skipper, if you are not qualified, adds €150 to €350 a day; fuel stays reasonable on a sailing catamaran but is often billed on actual consumption. July and August sell out very early: book several months ahead to have real choice.

Compare before you sign

The same catamaran is frequently listed on several platforms, with a 10 to 25% price gap and service fees of 0 to 9% depending on the site. Boat-Comparator queries Boataround, SamBoat, Click&Boat and GlobeSailor live and puts catamarans for rent in Ibiza side by side, with no affiliation to any platform. Check each offer's cancellation policy, which varies from owner to owner, before paying the deposit.

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