Ibiza: Catamaran Cruise to Formentera with Meal and Drinks

The best part of this cruise is the setting: you spend five hours on a 22-meter catamaran, sailing from Ibiza toward Formentera, with time to swim in clear water near Playa de Ses Illetes. The wide deck, sun chairs, and front net give you several ways to enjoy the ride.

I like the fresh meal and open bar, which make this feel more like a relaxed day at sea than a simple boat transfer. I also like the crew service, especially guide Tina, who explains the coast in several languages and adds useful context as you sail.

The main drawback is simple but important: this is not a shore excursion. You will not get off at Formentera or any beach, and the boat can be busy during the high season. If you want beach time on land, book a ferry or island tour instead.

Key points to know before booking

• A five-hour cruise from Ibiza: You get a half-day on the water, not a quick sightseeing trip.
• Anchorage near Playa de Ses Illetes: The main stop gives you about two hours for swimming, snorkeling, food, and relaxing.
• The Sun Cat has a front net: You can stretch out above the water, while deck chairs offer a more stable place to sit.
• Food is included: Expect salad, finger food, roast meat, Spanish sausages, and fresh fruit prepared for the boat.
• The open bar covers basics: Soft drinks, beer, water, and sangria are included.
• No children under five or wheelchair users: Bring swimwear, a towel, and strong sunscreen.

Setting sail from Botafoch on the Sun Cat

Your day begins at the Botafoch Ferry Terminal area in Ibiza. Look for the Sun Cat floating in the dock just before you reach the terminal. If you take a taxi, tell the driver Botafoch Ferry Terminal rather than relying only on the street address, Carrer de la Mola 31.

That small meeting-point detail matters. Ferry terminals can be confusing, and the boat is at the dock rather than inside a ticket office. Give yourself enough time to find the vessel without rushing, especially if you are carrying towels, sunscreen, and swimming gear.

The Sun Cat is a 22-meter catamaran, large enough to offer several places to settle in. You can sit on deck chairs, find shade if available, or stretch out on the large forward net with the sea moving below you. The net is the most unusual seating area and gives you a close view of the water, though it is not the best choice if you want a dry spot or feel unsteady on a moving boat.

The cruise is guided in Spanish and English. Guide Tina has been singled out for explaining the coastal sights in several languages with clear, useful commentary. That makes the ride more than background scenery, especially if you like knowing what you are passing rather than simply taking pictures.

Ibiza’s southeastern coast from the water

Once the catamaran leaves Ibiza, the route follows the southeastern coast toward Formentera. You pass the Las Salinas area and Las Salinas beach, with open views back toward Ibiza and ahead toward the smaller island.

From a boat, the coast takes on a different shape. Beaches, coves, and rocky edges form a long view that is easy to miss when you are moving along a road. The cruise gives you time to watch the shoreline rather than squeeze it between other stops.

The boat is also the destination for much of this trip. You are not using the catamaran simply to reach Formentera. You are paying for time on deck, a meal, drinks, swimming, and the feeling of being offshore. That distinction helps you decide if the price is right for you.

At $108 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see Formentera. It can still be fair value if you want food, drinks, equipment, and a five-hour boat outing bundled together. You would pay separately for a meal, beverages, and a boat-based swimming experience on many day trips.

The value is weaker if your main goal is to walk around Formentera, visit several beaches, or spend the day independently. Since there are no disembarking stops, you should think of this as a sailing and swimming experience, not transportation to the island.

The first swim and welcome refreshments

The itinerary includes a 20-minute swimming and welcome-refreshment period before the longer stop near Illetas. This gives you an early chance to cool off, get comfortable in the water, and settle into the rhythm of the day.

Swimming from a catamaran is different from walking into a beach. You enter directly from the boat, so a towel, secure swimwear, and easy-to-remove footwear are useful. The crew provides swimming noodles, which can help you float without having to work hard in the water.

Snorkel equipment is also included. You can use the goggles to look for marine life below the surface, though the tour information does not promise a particular species or a guided snorkel session. Think of it as a simple chance to explore the water around the anchored boat.

This portion may feel brief if you are eager to swim. The good news is that the main stop near Ses Illetes gives you much more time. The early swim works best as an introduction rather than the central event.

Two hours near Playa de Ses Illetes

The main stop is near Playa de Ses Illetes, one of Formentera’s best-known coastal areas. The catamaran anchors in clear water, and you remain onboard while enjoying the view, swimming, snorkeling, and food.

You will not disembark onto the beach. That is the key limitation, and it should be clear before you book. You can look toward Illetas, swim from the catamaran, and watch other boats pass, but you will not stroll along the sand or explore the shore.

The two-hour stop gives the day a useful pause. Instead of spending all five hours moving, you have a long stretch with fewer interruptions. You can swim first, eat when you are ready, and return to the deck for a drink or a quiet break.

This is also the part of the trip most likely to appeal to couples and friends who want a social day on the water. The setting is relaxed, and the open bar makes it easy to keep a drink nearby. Still, anyone seeking silence should know that a shared catamaran is a social setting, not a private charter.

What you will eat and drink onboard

Food is included in the $108 price. The menu includes a salad buffet, finger food, roast meat, Spanish sausages, and fresh fruit. Depending on the service, the meal is described as brunch or a barbecue lunch, so do not expect a formal restaurant-style meal with several courses.

I like this kind of boat meal because it fits the day. You can take food when it suits you, then return to swimming or sitting in the sun. Fresh fruit and salad also give you lighter choices alongside the meat and hot food.

The meal is substantial enough to reduce the need to buy lunch elsewhere, which adds real value to the package. If you have strict dietary needs, the available information does not promise special menus, so ask before booking rather than assuming the buffet will meet them.

The open bar includes soft drinks, beer, water, and sangria. That covers the basic drinks you are likely to want on a warm afternoon. It does not mean every cocktail or premium drink is included, so keep your expectations to the listed options.

Remember that alcohol and strong sun can catch up with you quickly. Water, sunscreen, and a sensible pace will make the swimming and return journey more comfortable.

The return ride to Ibiza

After the stop near Illetas, the catamaran begins the return journey to the Botafoch dock. The ride back gives you another chance to watch the coast and enjoy the final sea views without needing to change boats or organize your own transport.

A five-hour cruise is long enough to feel like a full activity but short enough to fit into a wider Ibiza plan. You can build the rest of your day around it, though you should allow a little flexibility around the end time if conditions or the docking process take longer than expected.

The return leg can be a good time to move away from the busiest part of the deck, take photographs, or simply sit with a drink. If you spent the earlier hours in full sun, use this time to cool down and reapply sunscreen.

You finish back at the same general Botafoch departure area. There is no separate transfer included, so you arrange your own taxi or other transport to and from the dock.

How the cruise compares with a ferry to Formentera

A ferry is the better choice if you want to reach Formentera and spend time ashore. You can plan your own beach visit, meal, and sightseeing rather than follow a set boat schedule.

This catamaran trip is better if the boat itself is the attraction. You receive a meal, drinks, swimming equipment, guided coastal views, and a long period at anchor without having to arrange each part separately.

The lack of a landing stop is not a minor detail. Some people book a Formentera cruise expecting an island visit, then feel disappointed when they learn that the boat only anchors offshore. I would choose this trip only if you are happy to spend the day on the catamaran.

The experience also suits people who enjoy an easy social outing. Couples, friends, and families with older children can all fit the format, as long as everyone is comfortable swimming from a boat and spending several hours in the sun. It is not suitable for children under five, babies, or wheelchair users.

Practical advice for a more comfortable day

Bring swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen. Those are not optional extras here, since swimming and sunbathing are central parts of the schedule.

Wear something comfortable for sitting and moving around the deck. The forward net is fun, but it may not be the best place to keep personal items, so secure anything you bring and avoid carrying valuables you do not need.

Use the included snorkel goggles and swimming noodles if you want to spend time in the water without bringing your own equipment. The tour does not list fins, so do not assume they will be supplied.

Find the boat before the departure time rather than arriving at the terminal and hoping someone points you in the right direction. The Sun Cat should be in the dock just before the Botafoch Terminal.

The tour allows free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Starting times vary, so check the available departure when choosing your date.

The strongest reasons to choose this cruise

The highly praised parts of this experience are easy to understand. The crew creates a friendly atmosphere, the meal is more generous than a token snack, and the combination of food and drinks removes much of the usual hassle from a day on the water.

Guide Tina is a particular plus if she is leading your departure. Her coastal explanations in multiple languages add something useful to the cruise, rather than leaving you with scenery and a recorded announcement.

The catamaran itself also matters. A 22-meter boat gives you room to choose between deck chairs and the front net, so you are not confined to one narrow seat for the entire trip.

The best feature, though, is the balance between movement and downtime. You cruise along Ibiza’s coast, stop to swim, spend about two hours near Illetas, eat, drink, and then return without changing plans. It is simple, but that simplicity is exactly why the trip works.

Should you book the Ibiza to Formentera catamaran cruise?

Book it if you want a five-hour day at sea with swimming, snorkeling, a prepared meal, an open bar, and coastal views. The $108 price makes reasonable sense when you value having those parts arranged together.

Skip it if you want to walk on Formentera, visit several beaches, or avoid a shared boat atmosphere. A ferry or land-based island tour will suit that plan better.

For most couples and groups of friends, this is a pleasant all-in-one boat day. Just remember the central rule: you see Formentera from the water, not from the shore. If that sounds like the experience you want, the Sun Cat offers a comfortable way to enjoy Ibiza’s coast without organizing lunch, drinks, or snorkel gear separately.

FAQ

Where does the catamaran cruise depart from?

The meeting point is at the Botafoch Ferry Terminal area in Ibiza. Look for the Sun Cat floating in the dock just before you reach the terminal. Taxi drivers should be told to go to Botafoch Ferry Terminal.

How long does the cruise last?

The cruise lasts five hours, including the sailing time, swimming, refreshments, meal, snorkeling, and return journey.

Can I get off the boat at Formentera or Ses Illetes?

No. The tour does not include disembarking stops. The catamaran anchors near Playa de Ses Illetes, where you can swim and snorkel from the boat.

Is food included?

Yes. Included food consists of salad buffet items, finger food, roast meat, Spanish sausages, and fresh fruit. The meal may be served as brunch or a barbecue lunch.

What drinks are included?

The open bar includes soft drinks, beer, water, and sangria.

Is the cruise suitable for young children or wheelchair users?

The activity is not suitable for children under five or wheelchair users. Families with older children and couples are welcome.