Ibiza: Formentera Full-Day Boat Tour with Lunch & Snorkeling

The best part of this Ibiza day trip is that it combines three very different pleasures in one outing: a small-group catamaran ride, a swim stop at Cala Saona, and several hours to make your own plans in Formentera. The paella is cooked live on board, so lunch becomes part of the entertainment rather than a rushed meal.

I like the limited capacity of 40 passengers, which should make the bar, water equipment, and seating easier to manage. I also like the choice between a beach stop and free time ashore. The main drawback is simple: if you want a long, unhurried day on Formentera, three hours at the port may feel short, and sea conditions can change the plan.

Key points to know before booking

• Cala Saona is the main water stop: Swim, snorkel, paddleboard, or use the inflatables in clear Mediterranean water.
• Paella is cooked live on board: The meal includes traditional Spanish paella made with meat and fresh seafood.
• Formentera time is independent: You receive three hours at La Savina, with help arranging bikes or scooters if you want to explore farther.
• The boat is capped at 40 passengers: That is a more manageable size than a large party boat, with a seat provided for everyone.
• The open bar runs throughout the trip: Wine, beer, sangria, water, and soft drinks are included.
• A Balinese bed is an optional upgrade: It suits two or three people and includes a bottle of Cava on the return sail.

A day at sea from Ibiza to Formentera

This is not simply a ferry ride with a short beach stop. It is a full-day boat outing built around the ride itself. You leave from the Figueretas area of Ibiza, settle into a seat, and spend much of the day on the water with music, drinks, lunch, and swimming.

The boat has a maximum capacity of 40 passengers, an important detail at this price point. At about $100 per person, you are paying for more than transport to Formentera. You are also getting drinks, water equipment, lunch, and roughly eight hours of organized time. A regular ferry may cost less, but it will not provide the Cala Saona stop, paella cooking, or open bar.

The mood is social and relaxed, rather than quiet and formal. Chill-out music plays during the cruise, and the crew speaks English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish. You should expect a friendly day around other people, not a private charter or a guided historical tour.

Leaving from Figueretas with drinks and music

Check-in is 30 minutes before departure. The meeting point can vary with the option you book, so confirm the exact location before setting out. The departure area is connected with Yokubo Club, the Japanese and Thai restaurant, and the listed start and return points use the same Yokubo name.

Once aboard, you have a comfortable seat for the journey. The open bar includes wine, beer, sangria, water, and soft drinks. That is useful on a warm day, though you should still bring sunscreen and drink water regularly. The bar is part of the fare, not a separate package you need to purchase during the cruise.

The boat ride to Cala Saona takes about an hour. This is a good time to settle into the rhythm of the day, watch Ibiza recede, and enjoy the sea rather than treating the crossing as dead time. Music keeps the trip lively, but the setting still gives you plenty of room to sit back.

A word about the departure choices: from Monday through Thursday, the advertised options are 10:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. The later departure is the one that offers Balinese beds. The 10:45 boat follows the same basic plan and services, but it uses a similar, slightly smaller catamaran.

Cala Saona: three hours for swimming and lunch

Cala Saona is the central stop for water activities. The boat pauses in the area for about three hours, giving you time to swim, snorkel, paddleboard, and use the inflatables. Equipment is supplied, so you do not need to pack your own mask or board.

The water is described as turquoise and clear, which makes this the strongest part of the day for anyone who wants to get in the sea. If you prefer to stay dry, you can remain aboard, enjoy a drink, and watch the activity around the boat. Still, this is not a sightseeing stop where you simply look at the cove. Bring swimwear and a towel, because the water time is a major part of what you are paying for.

The paddleboarding activity is not guaranteed in rougher conditions. The operator may also move to another swimming location if the sea is less cooperative. That flexibility is sensible for safety, but it means you should treat Cala Saona as the planned destination rather than an absolute promise.

Lunch is served during this stop or around it, with the crew putting on a live paella cooking show. The chef prepares traditional Spanish paella with meat and fresh seafood. I like this format because it gives the meal a sense of place without turning lunch into a formal presentation. You see the dish being prepared, then eat it aboard while the boat remains part of the setting.

A vegetarian or vegan meal can be arranged with at least 24 hours’ notice. Make that request before departure. Without advance notice, you should not assume that a special meal will be available.

What the paella lunch adds to the trip

Paella is an especially useful choice for a boat excursion because it is filling, communal, and closely tied to Spanish cooking. The live preparation also breaks up the swimming period. You are not just grabbing a packaged meal between activities.

The supplied details specify meat and fresh seafood in the standard paella. If you have dietary restrictions, make them clear when booking and confirm the vegetarian or vegan request in advance. The meal is one of the stronger value points of the tour, since it is included along with the drinks and water equipment.

Do not expect a restaurant tasting menu or a quiet meal with table service. This is a casual lunch on a working catamaran, with music, sea air, and passengers moving between the water and the boat. For most people, that is exactly the point.

Three hours at La Savina in Formentera

After Cala Saona, the boat makes a short crossing of about 20 minutes to the Port of La Savina. You then have three hours of free time on Formentera. This is independent time, not a guided island tour, so you decide how far to go and what to see.

The two suggested targets are Playa de Ses Illetes and Es Pujols. Ses Illetes is known for its striking beach and pale, clear water. Es Pujols is a seaside village with a different feel, giving you a place to walk and explore away from the boat.

The key question is transport. If you stay near La Savina, three hours gives you time to look around without much fuss. If you want to reach Ses Illetes or Es Pujols, renting a bike or scooter makes more sense than trying to cover the island on foot. The crew can help arrange rentals at discounted prices, but the rental cost is not included.

You must bring your driving license if you plan to rent a vehicle. An ID is also listed as something to carry. The tour does not include a guide on Formentera, so you are responsible for choosing your route, watching the time, and returning to the port before departure.

Three hours will suit you if you prefer a quick look rather than a full island day. It may feel long if you only want to sit on a beach, or short if you hope to see several parts of Formentera. The time allocation is one of the more personal parts of the decision. One passenger found two hours would have been enough, while another described the island time as the only real limitation of an otherwise successful day.

Returning to Ibiza by catamaran

After your time ashore, you return to the boat for the sail back to Ibiza. The return crossing takes about 45 to 60 minutes, depending on sea conditions. The schedule can shift, so avoid making a tight dinner reservation or airport connection immediately afterward.

Music and drinks continue on the way back. If you reserved a Balinese bed, you receive a bottle of Cava for the return journey. These beds are limited and must be booked ahead. They hold a maximum of two or three people, making them more useful for a couple or small group than for solo passengers.

The bed is not essential for enjoying the tour. Every passenger has a seat, and the standard boat experience includes the same food, drinks, music, and activities. The upgrade makes sense if you want a more private place to stretch out, or if you are marking a special occasion.

How good is the value at about $100?

At roughly $100 per person, this outing sits above a basic ferry transfer but includes much more. You receive:

• An eight-hour excursion
• Return catamaran travel
• Unlimited wine, beer, sangria, water, and soft drinks
• Paella lunch with live cooking
• Snorkeling equipment
• Paddleboards and inflatables
• Music throughout the day
• Three hours of independent time in Formentera
• Help arranging bike or scooter rental

The value is strongest if you plan to use several of these inclusions. If you drink little, skip the water activities, and do not care about the cooking show, a cheaper ferry and independent beach day may suit you better. If you want food, drinks, swimming, and transport bundled together, the price is easier to justify.

The group size also matters. A limit of 40 passengers does not make this a private boat, but it should reduce the crowding and long waits that can spoil a large party cruise. Easy access to the bar and water equipment is part of the appeal.

The overall rating is 4.7 from 151 ratings, and the strongest praise focuses on the crew, the smooth organization, the paella, and the value for the price. A group of 12 friends on a late departure paid about $95 each and considered the day worth the money. That late option can be useful if you do not want an early start, though the later departure may leave you with less flexibility for the island portion.

Who should book this boat trip?

I would recommend it to couples, small groups, solo visitors who enjoy a social setting, and anyone who wants a simple way to combine Ibiza and Formentera in one day. It is especially good for people who want the ride to be part of the holiday, not just a way to get from one port to another.

It also suits a group celebration. The open bar, music, paella, swimming, and optional Balinese bed create a festive day without requiring you to organize each piece separately.

Families and mixed-interest groups may find it useful because you can choose your own level of activity. One person can snorkel, another can paddleboard, and someone else can remain aboard with a soft drink. The free time in Formentera also lets you split up for a while, provided everyone returns on time.

I would hesitate if your main goal is a quiet beach day, an in-depth island tour, or a private sailing experience. You should also think twice if you dislike fixed schedules. The tour gives you plenty to do, but the timing of the swim stop, port visit, and return crossing is set by the boat.

People using wheelchairs should know that the activity is not suitable for wheelchair users. Oversize luggage and large bags are not allowed, so pack lightly. Comfortable shoes, a hat, swimwear, towel, camera, sunscreen, ID, and a driving license if needed are the practical basics.

My call: a strong all-in-one day, with one timing tradeoff

I would book this tour if I wanted a lively Formentera day without arranging ferries, lunch, drinks, and water gear separately. The live paella, small passenger limit, and Cala Saona stop give it more character than simple island transport.

The main compromise is the three-hour port visit. It is enough for a focused look at Formentera, especially with a scooter or bike, but not enough for a slow island tour. Sea conditions may also change the swimming location, shorten time ashore, or suspend paddleboarding.

Book it when you want a social boat day with plenty included. Choose another plan when Formentera itself is your only priority and you want the freedom to spend all day exploring its beaches and villages.

FAQ

How long does the Ibiza to Formentera boat tour last?

The experience lasts about eight hours. The return journey can vary with sea conditions, and the final crossing from Formentera to Ibiza usually takes about 45 to 60 minutes.

Where does the boat depart?

The meeting point can vary by booking option. The listed departure and return locations are connected with Yokubo Club and the Japanese and Thai restaurant Yokubo in the Figueretas area of Ibiza.

What drinks are included?

Unlimited wine, beer, sangria, water, and soft drinks are included throughout the trip.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes a live paella cooking show, with traditional Spanish paella prepared using meat and fresh seafood.

Can I choose a vegetarian or vegan meal?

Yes, but you must request a vegetarian or vegan meal at least 24 hours before departure.

Are snorkeling and paddleboarding included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment, paddleboards, and inflatables are included. Paddleboarding may be suspended if sea conditions are unsuitable.

How much free time do I get in Formentera?

You get three hours of independent time at the Port of La Savina. Guided sightseeing is not included.

Can I rent a bike or scooter on Formentera?

Yes. The crew can assist with bike or scooter rental at discounted prices, but the rental fee is not included. Bring your driving license if you plan to rent a vehicle.