Formentera, served from a floating beach club. I love that this cruise caps the group at 80 people, even though the boat could hold 300, so it stays comfortable on sun beds and in common areas. I also like that dinner is not some sad buffet, it’s a live paella show cooking moment paired with an all-inclusive drinks setup.

The main thing to watch is timing and package choice, because not every option includes the same perks. If you book the half-day morning, you will miss the VIP sun beds and the paella dinner that full-day and sunset clients get.

Key points before you go

• 80-person comfort on a big boat keeps the vibe relaxed instead of chaotic
• Live paella show cooking with seafood plus vegan options, and gluten-free availability
• All-inclusive drinks include Aperol Spritz and multiple sangrias, plus beer and soft drinks
• Formentera free time gives you real island time, not just photos from the dock
• Big water fun includes SUP boards and a giant inflatable water slide at the evening swim stop

Entering The Ibiza Boat Club vibe, Playa d’en Bossa to Formentera

This cruise is built for people who want Formentera to feel easy and special from the moment you step on board. The starting point is Playa d’en Bossa in Ibiza, at the pier next to Bar Happiness. Check-in and boarding start around 10:15 am, with the cruise rolling out around 10:30 am (full day and half-day morning options).

What you’re really buying here is a switch in gears. Instead of doing the usual ferry, packing lunch, and trying to time bus connections, you get a floating beach club feel with food, drinks, and planned swim moments. The group size matters. With only 80 people onboard, it’s much easier to grab a sun bed, find shade, and keep moving through the day without feeling herded.

Also, this is an adults-only experience. If you’re traveling with kids, look for something else. If you want a grown-up day of sun, music, and swimming, this fits the bill.

Choosing Full Day vs Half-Day Morning vs Sunset (what you gain or lose)

Before you book, treat this like choosing between three different tours. The schedule looks similar, but the included perks are not.

Full-day option

• You sail over, get breakfast onboard, spend five hours in Formentera, and return by evening.
• You should expect the most included moments: VIP sun bed access, swim stops, and the full dinner with the paella show cooking.

Half-day morning option

• You still sail from Ibiza to Formentera and get the morning experience.
• But you do not get VIP sun beds, and the package does not include the paella dinner. You get ferry return instead.

Sunset option

• This one is more about the late-day swim, sailing back with the sunset vibe, and dinner onboard.
• It does not include breakfast, but it does include the evening programming, including the paella show cooking.

My practical advice: if Formentera is your main goal, full day is the smoothest choice because it stacks island time with the onboard perks. If you only want the evening party and ocean time, sunset makes sense. If you’re trying to keep costs down, half-day morning can work, just know you’re giving up the larger food and sun bed bundle.

Getting there at Playa d’en Bossa: the easy meeting point and what to bring

You meet at the pier in Playa d’en Bossa, right by Bar Happiness. The meeting address used for navigation is Carrer de la Punta 7, 07800 Ibiza. If you’re arriving by bus, you can use the L14 line and get off near Hotel Marenostrum or Hotel Goleta, since the pier sits between those stops.

Plan your packing around one rule: bring beach gear, not luggage. Large bags are not allowed, and drones are not allowed. For comfort, wear shoes you don’t mind on a pier. You’ll want:

• swimwear and a towel
• sunglasses and sunscreen
• beachwear you can get a little salty
• clothes that can get dirty

Dress code trends toward boho chic and smart casual. That’s useful to know because it affects how people style themselves onboard. You don’t need a costume, but showing up in breathable layers makes the whole day better.

Ses Illetes morning anchoring: coffee, breakfast, and first swims

After boarding, the cruise heads toward Formentera with views of the Las Salinas nature reserve. During the sail, you get freshly brewed coffee. Then comes the first anchored moment at Ses Illetes, one of the places that makes people understand why Formentera gets the hype.

While anchored, breakfast is served. This isn’t just pastries placed on a table. The breakfast setup includes things like:

• sweet pastries such as ensaimadas
• juicy fresh fruit
• artisanal bread with guacamole and organic olive oil

There’s also time to dip. The morning swim is usually calmer and less crowded feeling than the later swim stop, especially if you’re the type who likes to start your day early. If the water feels chilly, that’s normal for the season and also why you’ll want a towel ready and keep a cover-up handy after you get out.

Your five hours in Formentera: what to do with real island time

Around 12:15 pm, you’re dropped at the port in Formentera, La Savina, and then you’re on your own for about five hours. This is a big deal. You’re not being shuttled straight back to the next stop. You get enough time to see a beach, grab a meal or snack on your own (not included), and move at your own pace.

There is no guide in Formentera, so plan simple. If you want flexibility, you might rent a scooter or bike there, but that rental is not included in your ticket. You can also keep it low effort and just follow the shoreline vibe.

Here are solid ways to use your time:

• head to Es Palmador for classic beach lounging
• check out Far de la Mola if you like viewpoints and lighthouses
• browse the hippie market for small finds
• use local buses if you’d rather not drive

The biggest benefit of this setup is control. If you want to swim and do nothing, you can. If you want to explore, you can. If you come prepared to get around without a guide, it’s a very fair trade for losing a structured guided walk.

The one drawback I’d flag: since there’s no guide, you’ll want to have at least a basic plan for how you’ll get from La Savina to where you want to be. Otherwise you spend your island time figuring out logistics instead of enjoying it.

The evening swim stop at Formentera: SUP, giant slide, and real playtime

After the Formentera free-time window, the cruise continues at 17:30 for full day and sunset clients. This is when you get the more party-style ocean fun.

You’ll stop at a famous Formentera beach for swimming, and this is where the water-activity highlights come in:

• stand-up paddle boards (SUP)
• a giant inflatable water slide (this is tied to the evening swim stop)

There’s usually enough time to do more than one thing, like jump in for a swim, hop on a board, and then slide when the timing and crowds feel right. I also like the fact that the day doesn’t force you into one long swim session. You can dip in and out.

Onboard, while you sail and relax on sun beds and sofa lounges, you’ll get ongoing drinks. The list is the good kind of all-inclusive:

• water and soft drinks
• beer
• Aperol Spritz
• sangria roja
• sangria de cava
• cava and Spanish and Balearic wines during the tasting

Music is part of the experience, but there’s a nature-reserve respect rule. There is no loud DJ music in Formentera itself. So you get fun without turning the island into a nightclub.

Paella show cooking and the Café Caleta moment with sax

When dinner time hits, the cruise leans into showmanship in a way that still feels anchored in food. During the evening program, dinner is served and prepared as a live cooking show.

The highlight is homemade Paella Ibicenca with options:

• seafood paella
• vegan paella
• gluten-free availability

You also get bread with aioli and a fresh garden salad made with local veggies from the market. If you’re picky about meals while on a boat, this kind of plated, planned setup usually makes the difference.

Then there’s the Café Caleta Show Cooking segment paired with a sax player. The timing is designed around sunset, so you’re eating and watching the sky shift. In practice, it’s one of those moments where you don’t need to do anything except look up, listen, and let the day slow down.

Back toward Ibiza: sailing at golden hour and possible dolphin watching

As you sail back, the mood turns more “sit back and enjoy” than “run around and do stuff.” The route includes a sunset sailing stretch along Ibiza and Formentera coastlines, plus the chance of dolphin watching during the return segment.

This is also when people take more photos, because the lighting changes and you’re moving through open views rather than dockside angles. If you like having a predictable rhythm to your day, this return portion is it.

The cruise ends back at the start meeting area on Carrer de la Punta, with the finish time listed around 20:45 for the evening return.

Price and value: why $102 can feel fair for this kind of day

At about $102 per person, the question is not just price, it’s what you’re not paying for.

You’re bundling:

• boat transport between Ibiza and Formentera
• breakfast onboard (for morning and full-day options)
• five hours on Formentera in the full-day flow
• swim stops plus SUP boards
• the evening water slide
• dinner with the live paella show, plus salad and bread
• ongoing open bar including Aperol Spritz and sangrias
• wine tasting during the sailing portion

If you had to piece it together yourself, even loosely, the cost usually climbs fast once you add drinks, a meal, and the extra effort of coordinating ferry times. Here, you’re paying for convenience and for the fact that the food and drinks are part of the ride.

Is it expensive compared to a simple ferry? Yes. But it’s cheaper than a private boat, and it avoids the stress of DIY planning. For most people, that trade feels worth it.

Who this cruise is best for (and who should skip)

This tour is a great match if you want:

• Formentera time without a rental-car stress spiral
• adult-only vibes with room to relax
• onboard comfort with food and drinks included
• swim stops with actual activities like SUP and a water slide

It may not fit you if:

• you’re traveling with kids
• you only want pure Formentera beach time and dislike structured boat schedules
• you prefer a guided, historical, or language-led tour on the island, because there is no guide in Formentera

Also, pay attention to what you booked. The half-day morning option trims out key pieces like the paella dinner and sun bed access.

Should you book Ibiza Boat Club’s Formentera with Benefits?

I’d book it if your idea of the perfect day is a mix of ocean time, a real meal, and enough island hours to feel like you actually got to Formentera. The biggest reasons are the small group size (80) for a big-boat experience, the live cooking dinner energy, and the all-inclusive drinks that keep the day moving without constant spending.

Skip or reconsider if you’re unsure which option you want. Choose the wrong time slot and you can end up paying for a partial experience, especially if you’re dreaming of VIP sun beds and the paella dinner.

If you want a simple rule:

• choose full-day for the best balance
• choose sunset for dinner plus water fun and the return party mood
• choose half-day morning only if you’re happy trading away the paella dinner and VIP sun beds

FAQ

How long is the cruise from Ibiza to Formentera?

The duration depends on which option you choose. The activity is listed as 1.5 to 10 hours, and you should check available starting times. For timing you can plan around, the full-day flow starts around 10:30, drops you in Formentera at about 12:15, and returns around 20:45.

Where do I meet for the Ibiza Boat Club cruise?

You meet at the boat pier in Playa d’en Bossa next to Bar Happiness, by the pier near Hotel The Ibiza Twiins and Bar Albatros. The tour ends back at the same meeting point on Carrer de la Punta.

What is included in the drinks on board?

The open bar includes water and soft drinks, beer, Aperol Spritz, sangria roja, sangria de cava, and sangria de vino tinto (plus cava is listed as part of the drinks setup). There is also wine tasting during the sailing portion.

Is paella included?

Paella is included for full-day and sunset clients. The morning half-day option does not include paella.

Do I get VIP sun beds?

VIP sun beds are reserved for full-day and sunset clients. If you book the half-day morning option, you do not get access to the VIP sun beds.

How much free time do I get on Formentera?

You get about five hours of free time on Formentera when you book the full-day flow. Half-day morning clients return by ferry earlier, and sunset clients continue on the boat after Formentera drop-off time.

Are there swim stops, and is there a water slide?

Yes. There are 1 or 2 swim stops in Formentera depending on your option. You also get SUP boards, and a giant inflatable water slide at the evening swim stop.

Do I have a guide while I’m in Formentera?

No. The plan includes no guide in Formentera, so you’ll explore on your own during the free time.

What should I bring?

Bring comfortable shoes, sunglasses, swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and beachwear. Also consider clothes that can get dirty. Luggage or large bags are not allowed.