Ibiza: Formentera Cruise w/Breakfast, Paella, and Open Bar

The best part of this 13-hour catamaran cruise is the mix of boat time and island time. You move from Ibiza to Ses Illetes, s’Espalmador, and Formentera, with meals, drinks, swimming, and water sports built into the day. It feels like a full Mediterranean outing rather than simple transport.

I like the generous food plan, which runs from breakfast and coffee to paella, grilled meats, and an evening barbecue. I also like the range of included water equipment, especially the paddleboards, snorkeling gear, and seabobs. The main drawback is the long day and loose structure: you may spend much of your eight-hour Formentera stop arranging your own transport and paying separately for anything on shore.

Key things to know before booking

• Three Formentera-area stops: Visit Ses Illetes, s’Espalmador, and Formentera in one long day.
• Meals from morning to evening: Breakfast, paella, barbecue, drinks, and cocktails are included aboard.
• Water equipment included: Use snorkeling gear, paddleboards, and seabobs at the crew’s discretion.
• Eight hours on Formentera: You have plenty of time ashore, but island activities and transport cost extra.
• Sunset entertainment: The return trip may include a saxophonist or electronic violinist.
• Weather can change the plan: The captain can alter anchorages or suspend water sports for safety.

A full day at sea, with Formentera in the middle

This outing works best if you want your Ibiza day to feel social, active, and easy. The 25-meter catamaran has broad common areas, a shaded lower-deck room, a slide, a bar, and room to stretch out. You are not simply sitting in a narrow ferry seat for the crossing.

The boat is designed around a relaxed party-cruise rhythm. You eat, swim, listen to music, order another drink, and move between the deck and water. I like that the day includes real time on Formentera instead of keeping you aboard from morning until night.

Still, this is a long 13-hour commitment. If you prefer a quiet beach visit or a short, tightly organized excursion, the music, drinks, and open-ended schedule may feel like too much. The cruise suits people who enjoy a full day with plenty happening around them.

The meeting point is Happiness Beach Ibiza, where a hostess checks you in and gives you a wristband showing your access and inclusions. Arrive at least 30 minutes early with your digital or printed ticket and identification. Without the ticket, you cannot board.

Breakfast begins the day on board

After boarding, the catamaran gets moving through the Balearic waters. The morning meal includes tropical fruit, pastries, coffee, tea, juices, toast, croissants, scrambled eggs, turkey, vegetables, cheese, and pancakes with different toppings. Pancakes made on board add a pleasant touch, especially if you want something more substantial before swimming.

A welcome cocktail is also part of the start. The open bar includes water, soft drinks, juices, beer, cava, sangria, red and white wine, and selected cocktails. The choices include mojitos, caipiroskas, Aperol spritzes, bellinis, daiquiris, tequila sunrise drinks, and mimosas.

That selection matters because drinks can quickly add to the cost of a boat day. Here, you can order throughout the cruise rather than budgeting for each beer or glass of sangria. Pace yourself, though. With a full day in the sun and several swim stops ahead, water and sunscreen are just as important as cocktails.

The first sailing stretch is short, about 20 minutes to the catamaran, followed by time cruising among the Balearic Islands. The exact departure time depends on availability, so check the schedule carefully before planning anything else that evening.

Ses Illetes brings the first swim stop

Ses Illetes is the first major water stop, and it is the kind of place that makes this trip worthwhile. The sea is clear, the setting is photogenic, and the boat gives you a chance to get straight into the water rather than merely look at it from shore.

You can use the snorkeling equipment, paddleboards, and seabobs, subject to the crew’s direction. The boat also has a slide, which adds a playful option for children and adults who would rather make a splash than swim quietly from the stern.

Water sports are available for all clients at the staff’s discretion. Kayaks are reserved for families with children, older people, and people with reduced mobility. That rule may disappoint some adults hoping to kayak, but it helps the crew manage the equipment and direct it to people for whom it is most useful.

The stop is listed at roughly one hour, so do not expect a long independent beach afternoon here. You will have time to swim, snorkel, paddle, and take photos, but you should listen for instructions and return promptly when asked.

S’Espalmador adds another short sea stop

The next stop is s’Espalmador, where the focus remains on water, photos, and a short break. You can swim, snorkel, paddleboard, and enjoy another drink from the bar. An aperitif is also part of the stop.

Having two separate sea stops is useful. If the first swim is crowded or you spend too much time trying the equipment, you get another chance to get in the water. It also breaks up the sailing day so you are not confined to the deck for hours at a time.

The tradeoff is timing. Like Ses Illetes, this stop is around an hour, so the program favors variety over an unhurried visit. The captain can change anchoring points for safety or weather reasons, and water activities may be suspended without compensation if conditions are poor.

That flexibility is normal for a sea excursion. Bring a forgiving attitude. The promised destinations are the plan, not an absolute guarantee.

Eight hours to make your own Formentera plan

The longest part of the day is the stop in Formentera, with about eight hours to explore at your own pace. This is the excursion’s biggest advantage for independent visitors, but also the part that requires the most planning.

Your cruise ticket does not cover bike or scooter rental, food, or drinks while you are ashore. You should decide in advance how you want to use the time. The most practical options are arranging a bike or scooter, finding a beach or village to visit, or simply treating the stop as a long break before returning to the boat.

The drop-off point can feel remote if you have no transport arranged. A bike or car hire may be available nearby, but relying on the boat to organize your whole island visit could leave you with limited choices. If you want to see more than the immediate area, research rental options and bring the required identification and payment method.

I like the freedom here, since eight hours gives you room to create your own Formentera day rather than follow a guide with a flag. But it is not a guided island tour. The host gets you onto the boat and helps with the cruise, while your Formentera time is largely yours to manage.

You also need to keep track of the return time. The catamaran cannot wait for late arrivals. Confirm the meeting instructions before leaving the vessel, especially if the boat uses a different boarding point for the return.

Paella, barbecue, and a surprisingly full food schedule

Lunch centers on an Ibicencan paella prepared as a show cooking experience. You can choose mixed, vegetarian, or seafood paella, served with bread and alioli. For a boat excursion, that is a more satisfying meal than a basic sandwich or boxed lunch.

Later, the barbecue includes hamburgers, chicken breast, sausages, loin, and vegetables. The food plan is one of the strongest reasons the price can make sense. You are not paying $160 only for a seat and a short cruise. You are also covering breakfast, lunch, dinner, drinks, and several activities.

The food is served on a shared cruise schedule, so you should not expect restaurant-style flexibility. If you have strict dietary needs, confirm what can be prepared before booking. Vegetarian paella is specifically available, but no broader allergy or special-diet details are provided.

The tour information has one inconsistency worth noting: towels are listed among the included items in one place, but also listed as not included elsewhere. I would bring your own towel or confirm directly with Formentera Wonders before departure. It is a small detail, but a wet swimsuit and no towel can make the ride home less comfortable.

The catamaran has space, shade, and optional upgrades

The vessel measures about 25 meters long and 9 meters wide. That gives you several ways to spend the day. You can sit in the common areas, find shade on the lower deck, eat in the main room, or stay outside in the sun and sea air.

The lower deck is especially useful when the sun becomes tiring. It offers a cooler, shaded place to rest and share a meal. I would treat it as a practical escape from the heat, not assume every part of the boat will be quiet.

Fourteen Balinese beds are available upstairs for an additional fee starting at €60, including a bottle of cava. They are sold only on board and are not part of the standard ticket. You do not need one to enjoy the catamaran, since common areas are available without extra charge, but the beds may appeal to couples or small groups wanting a more private place to relax.

This optional cost is important when judging the value. At $160 per person, the standard package is already substantial. Adding a bed makes sense only if you care strongly about reserved comfort and are happy to pay more once aboard.

Sunset and live music close the day

The return trip is designed as the evening finale. During the ride, you may see a sunset from the boat, with live music from a saxophonist or electronic violinist. In June, the return can offer views of the sun setting behind Es Vedrà, a striking rock formation off Ibiza.

In other months, the sunset arrangement can differ. You may watch from a cove or beach bar of your choice while still in Formentera, depending on the timing and route. That makes the season matter. Do not book solely for an Es Vedrà sunset unless your date and route confirm it.

The evening includes more drinks, dessert, wine, and barbecue food. The atmosphere will likely be more lively than during the morning crossing, particularly after a day of swimming and time ashore. If you want photos, keep your phone protected from spray and store it securely when using the water equipment.

The catamaran returns to Happiness Beach Ibiza, but the exact arrival time can shift with sea and weather conditions. Avoid scheduling a nonrefundable dinner, flight, or club entry immediately afterward.

Who will get the best value from $160?

I think the price is fair for the right kind of day. Breakfast alone would cost money in Ibiza, and the package also includes paella, barbecue, an open bar, equipment, a long catamaran cruise, and access to three Formentera-area stops. You would spend heavily trying to recreate that combination independently.

The value is strongest for you if you plan to use the water equipment and drink package. It is weaker if you do not drink, dislike group activities, or intend to spend nearly the whole day ashore. In that case, a standard ferry and separately planned Formentera visit may give you more control.

The cruise is well suited to:

• Couples wanting a full day with food, swimming, and sunset views
• Friends looking for music, drinks, and water activities
• Families who appreciate the slide and flexible island time
• Visitors who want Formentera included without planning a separate boat transfer

It may not suit you if you need a quiet boat, a tightly guided island tour, or guaranteed access to every water activity. The crew controls equipment use, weather can change the route, and the day has a strong social-cruise feel.

Practical details that can make the day easier

Wear comfortable shoes for boarding and Formentera, plus sunglasses, a sun hat, and plenty of sunscreen. Keep your ticket available in digital or printed form, and bring identification.

The activity is wheelchair accessible, and hosts speak Spanish, English, and Italian. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve while paying later, which helps if your Ibiza schedule is still moving.

The captain may change anchoring points, suspend water sports, or alter departure and return times because of sea conditions. These changes do not qualify for a refund or other compensation. That policy is worth accepting before you book, since the boat’s safety decisions take priority over the advertised sequence.

Should you book this Formentera cruise?

Book it if you want a food-and-drinks catamaran day with plenty of water time and a long, flexible stop in Formentera. The included meals, open bar, seabobs, paddleboards, snorkeling gear, and evening music give the $160 price real weight.

Think twice if your main goal is a carefully guided tour of Formentera’s beaches. You will need to arrange your own island transport and pay separately for rentals, food, and drinks ashore. For the best experience, arrive early, bring a towel despite the conflicting information, plan your Formentera transport before boarding, and leave your evening schedule open.

FAQ

How long does the cruise last?

The experience lasts about 13 hours, with the exact starting time depending on availability.

Where does the activity begin and end?

It begins and ends at Happiness Beach Ibiza. A hostess meets you by the sea for check-in and provides a wristband identifying your entry and inclusions.

What food is included?

You receive a full breakfast, paella for lunch, and a barbecue later in the day. Breakfast includes fruit, pastries, eggs, toast, pancakes, coffee, tea, and juices. Paella is available in mixed, vegetarian, or seafood versions.

What drinks are included?

The open bar includes beer, soft drinks, juices, water, cava, sangria, red and white wine, hierbas ibicencas, and selected cocktails.

Which water activities are available?

Snorkeling equipment, paddleboards, seabobs, and a slide are available. Kayaks are reserved for families with children, seniors, and people with reduced mobility. The crew decides when equipment can be used.

Is time in Formentera included?

Yes. The schedule provides about eight hours in Formentera. Bike or scooter rental, food, and drinks while ashore are not included.

Are towels included?

The information is inconsistent. Towels are listed as included in one section and not included in another. Bring your own or confirm directly with the provider before departure.

Can the route or water activities change?

Yes. The captain can change anchoring points, suspend water sports, or adjust departure and return times because of weather or sea conditions.

What languages are spoken, and is the boat wheelchair accessible?

Hosts speak Spanish, English, and Italian. The activity is described as wheelchair accessible.