Ibiza: Boat Trip to Formentera with Open Bar and Paella

Formentera is the star here, but the boat ride gives the day its shape. You sail from Ibiza to S’Espalmador and Ses Illetes, eat paella on board, use the slide and paddleboards, then get five full hours on Formentera to make the day your own. It is part beach outing, part social cruise, and part island transfer.

I like the easy value: at $102 per person, you get breakfast, lunch, drinks, beach stops, and music on the return. I also like the range of activities, from a quiet swim to a slide into the sea, plus the warm service from hosts such as Sophie, Sofia, Gustavo, Alex, Flo, and Pepe. The main caution is comfort: the ride can be windy and choppy, and sun protection or seating may feel limited at busy points.

Key points to know before booking

• Five hours in Formentera: You have enough time to explore independently rather than rushing through a short shore stop.
• Two beautiful water stops: S’Espalmador and Ses Illetes offer swimming, snorkeling, paddleboarding, and photo time.
• Food is built into the fare: Breakfast, tropical fruit, pastries, drinks, and Ibicencan paella are included.
• The boat is made for social fun: A slide, music, open bar, and return-trip performers keep the cruise lively.
• Gold adds a barbecue: Choose the Gold ticket if grilled meat and vegetables matter to you.
• Plan for sun and motion: Bring a towel, hat, sunscreen, and a warm layer for the ride back.

A full day from Ibiza to Formentera

This is a 10-hour outing from Happiness Beach Ibiza. It is not a quick ferry crossing with a few hours on shore. You spend much of the day on a large catamaran, with food, drinks, swimming stops, music, and free time in Formentera folded into one package.

The boat is 25 meters long and 9 meters wide, with two decks and a shaded lower room. That gives you more room than a small excursion boat, though the open areas can still feel busy when everyone wants a seat, a sunbed, or a turn on the water equipment.

You need to arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. A hostess checks you in and provides a silver wristband, and you must have a printed or digital ticket to board. This is not the time to cut things close, especially since the trip returns to the same meeting point at Happiness Beach Ibiza.

Breakfast begins the Mediterranean crossing

The first part of the cruise includes a welcome cocktail and a light breakfast. Expect tropical fruit, assorted packaged pastries, juices, coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.

This is useful rather than lavish. The advertised breakfast does not include ham, cheese, Spanish omelet, or avocado, so eat accordingly if you need a substantial morning meal. The boat then settles into its cruise toward the Formentera area, with views across the Balearic Islands and time to get comfortable.

You can sit in the sun, find shade in the lower main room, or settle into a shared common area. The 14 Balinese beds are not included in the regular fare. They can be bought on board for €60, with champagne included. That extra cost may appeal if you want a more private place to stretch out, but the basic package already provides access to the common spaces.

S’Espalmador brings the first swim

The first major stop is S’Espalmador, a small island near Formentera. The visit includes walking along the shoreline, swimming, snorkeling, and time for photographs.

This stop works best as a taste of the area rather than a long island visit. You can see marine life from the water, use a paddleboard, and enjoy a drink from the boat. Snorkeling masks are provided, but they come without tubes for hygiene reasons.

Water equipment is available at the staff’s discretion. The catamaran carries paddleboards, snorkel masks, a kayak, and a seabob. The kayak is reserved for families with children and people with reduced mobility, while seabobs are available from the end of May and generally from June through September as noted in the trip details.

The captain can change the route or cancel water activities if conditions turn poor. That is sensible on an open-water trip, but it means you should treat the water sports as an extra possibility rather than the central promise of the day.

Ses Illetes is the postcard stop

Ses Illetes is the scenic high point for many people. It is known for pale sand and clear water, and it is often listed among the world’s most beautiful beaches. The catamaran stops here for swimming, snorkeling, drinks, lunch, and more time on the water.

The setting is the reason to bring a good phone case or camera protection. The water and shoreline are the main attraction, while the boat gives you a base for food and shade. You can swim from the boat, use a paddleboard, or simply sit with a drink and watch the shore.

Keep expectations practical. This is a popular beach area, and the boat is serving a full group. You may need to wait your turn for equipment, and seating can feel tight when everyone returns from the water. Bring your own towel, sunglasses, hat, sunscreen, and beachwear. A long-sleeved layer also helps if you are sensitive to wind.

Paella, fruit, and an open bar

Lunch is Ibicencan paella with aioli bread. You can choose seafood, vegetarian, or mixed paella, but vegetarian guests need to select the vegetarian option when booking.

The meal is one of the stronger reasons to compare this excursion with a simple ferry ticket. You are not just paying to get from Ibiza to Formentera. You also receive a hot lunch, fruit, breakfast, and drinks during the boat portions of the day.

The open bar includes beer, sangria, soft drinks, juices, and water. It does not include wine, cocktails, or other drinks outside that selection. The supply is designed for a relaxed day at sea, not a cocktail menu.

Gold ticket holders also receive a mixed barbecue with hamburgers, loin, chicken breast, German sausages, and vegetables. The standard meal remains paella, so the Gold upgrade makes most sense if you want extra grilled food rather than simply more time on the boat.

Food service can shape the day’s rhythm. You will not be free to wander off during lunch, but you also do not need to search for a restaurant during the main cruise. That is a useful trade for a long day with several scheduled stops.

Five hours to make Formentera your own

The largest practical advantage is the five-hour break in Formentera. After the organized boat stops, you have time to explore independently rather than being led from one viewpoint to the next.

The details of your time are deliberately open. You can walk, find a beach, explore at your own pace, or arrange an optional bike or scooter rental. Those rentals are not included, so budget extra if you want to cover more ground.

Five hours is long enough to make this feel like a real island visit, but you need to manage the clock. The boat’s return schedule is fixed, and the activity ends back at Happiness Beach Ibiza. Keep your ticket and meeting details handy, and leave enough time to return to the agreed point.

This free period also helps balance the group nature of the cruise. The organized parts are social and timed. Formentera gives you a chance to step away from the music, find your own pace, and choose how much activity you want.

The return cruise turns into a party

The ride back is not just transportation. Music continues on board, and the return can include a DJ, saxophonist, or electronic violinist. The atmosphere is intended to build toward sunset, with drinks, views, and live performance.

That makes the trip a good fit for friends, couples who enjoy a social setting, and anyone who wants more than a quiet ferry crossing. It may be less appealing if you want a silent ride or a calm, private boat day.

The sound system is designed for a lively atmosphere, and the two-deck layout gives you a choice between the music and the shaded lower room. The atmosphere can also depend on the group aboard that day, so think of this as a shared celebration rather than a private sailing trip.

Comfort, crowds, and the small print

The catamaran is spacious by excursion standards, but comfort is not identical everywhere on board. The shaded lower room offers relief from the sun, while the upper deck is more exposed. At busy times, you may find that open-bar and paella passengers concentrate on the roof or upper areas, leaving limited protected seating.

The ride can also be windy and choppy. People prone to motion sickness should avoid this activity, and even confident swimmers may want a light jacket for the crossing. You will spend many hours on the water, so sunscreen and hydration matter even with drinks available.

The boat is listed as wheelchair accessible. The crew also provides water equipment with some restrictions, including the kayak policy for families with children and people with reduced mobility. Ask the operator directly about the exact access arrangements if you need more than general accessibility.

The photographs and some visual details may change from season to season. The boat arrangement, sunbeds, breakfast presentation, and colors may not look exactly like the images used when booking, while the broad itinerary remains the same.

Is $102 good value?

At $102, this is good value if you want a full day with food, drinks, beach stops, and entertainment. A basic ferry may give you more independence, but it will not include breakfast, paella, an open bar, water equipment, a welcome drink, or return-trip music.

The package is less compelling for someone who wants to spend the entire day on land. You pay for the catamaran experience, and the five-hour independent period is only one part of the 10-hour schedule.

I would compare the standard and Gold options based on your appetite. The regular fare covers paella and the main drinks. Gold adds the four-meat barbecue and vegetables, which may be worthwhile for a long day, but it does not remove the other optional costs such as rentals or Balinese beds.

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and the option to reserve now and pay later make planning easier. Weather can still affect the route and water activities, so keep some flexibility in your schedule.

Who will enjoy this catamaran day?

I would recommend it to you if you want Formentera without arranging every detail yourself. It suits people who like a social boat, a built-in meal, an open bar, music, and a mix of organized stops and free time.

It is especially useful for a first Ibiza visit when you want to see the famous beaches and still have time on Formentera. Families may appreciate the range of activities, though the water equipment is controlled by staff and the kayak has limited access.

You may prefer a regular ferry if your main goal is quiet independent sightseeing. You should also think twice if you dislike boats, struggle with motion, or need guaranteed shaded seating throughout the day.

Hosts speak English, Spanish, and Italian. Several staff members, including Sophie, Sofia, Gustavo, Alex, Flo, and Pepe, are named in the experience details and praised for friendly, attentive service. The human side matters here because a 10-hour boat day depends heavily on how well the crew manages food, drinks, equipment, and timing.

Should you book this Formentera boat trip?

Book it if you want a social, all-day package that combines the best-known water stops with five hours of independent time. The paella, open bar, breakfast, slide, paddleboards, and return music give the day more variety than a simple ferry ride.

Skip it if you want solitude, a guaranteed sunbed, or a purely land-based Formentera visit. Bring sun protection, a towel, a warm layer, and realistic expectations about shared space. For the right passenger, the $102 price covers a lot, and the long free period keeps the experience from feeling like a nonstop group schedule.

FAQ

Where does the boat trip start and end?

The trip starts and ends at Happiness Beach Ibiza.

How early should I arrive?

You should arrive at least 30 minutes before departure for check-in. Bring a printed or digital ticket because it is required to board.

How long does the activity last?

The full activity lasts 10 hours. Departure times vary, so check availability when booking.

Which places in Formentera does the boat visit?

The route includes S’Espalmador, Ses Illetes, and a five-hour stop in Formentera for independent time.

Is food included?

Yes. The package includes a light breakfast with tropical fruit, pastries, juices, hot drinks, and lunch with seafood, vegetarian, or mixed paella and aioli bread.

What does the open bar include?

The open bar includes beer, sangria, soft drinks, juices, and water while you are on the boat. Wine and cocktails are not included.

What does the Gold ticket add?

The Gold ticket adds a barbecue with hamburgers, loin, chicken breast, German sausages, and vegetables.

Are water sports included?

Paddleboards and snorkeling masks are included, with equipment provided at the staff’s discretion. A kayak is limited to families with children and people with reduced mobility. Seabobs are available from the end of May and during the stated seasonal period.

What should I bring?

Bring sunglasses, a sun hat, sunscreen, a towel, and beachwear. A warm layer is also useful because the crossing can be windy.