Formentera is the secret destination for connoisseurs. The smallest inhabited island in the Balearics — only 83 km² with 12,000 permanent residents — has deliberately rejected mass tourism to preserve what makes it unique: waters with 25-meter visibility, pristine white sand beaches accessible only by sea, a total absence of industrial tourism infrastructure, and an end-of-the-world atmosphere that has attracted some of the Mediterranean’s most discerning clientele for decades.
Formentera cannot be reached by plane — there is no airport. It is accessed only from Ibiza by a 45-minute ferry or, by far the best option, from a superyacht anchored directly in the island’s turquoise waters. This lack of direct access from major European cities is precisely what has protected Formentera from over-tourism — and what makes it so precious for those who discover it from the sea.
International Yachts Charter and Brokerage XXIII offers charters in Formentera with our Mediterranean fleet. Our particular expertise in these waters — notably with RILASSATA and her 2.25-meter draft which allows access to the shallowest anchorages of Ses Illetes — enables us to offer experiences that are impossible with deeper vessels.
The fact that Formentera has no airport is often presented as a constraint. In reality, it is its greatest asset. This relative inaccessibility naturally filters visitors — only those who make the effort to take the ferry from Ibiza, or better yet, those who arrive by sea on their own vessel, have access to the island. The result is an atmosphere of a quality rare in the Balearics — no cruise ships, no mass tourism, no 500-room hotels.
From a superyacht, this inaccessibility completely disappears. You anchor directly in the turquoise waters of Ses Illetes, access coves unreachable by land via tender, and spend the night at anchor in absolute silence. The island belongs to you in a way that land-based tourists will never experience.
The waters of Formentera owe their exceptional transparency to one of the largest meadows of Posidonia oceanica in the entire Mediterranean — an endemic marine plant classified as a UNESCO World Heritage site whose seagrass beds filter the water and give it this incomparable clarity. The Posidonia shelters exceptional marine biodiversity — common dolphins, loggerhead sea turtles, dusky groupers, cuttlefish, and stingrays are regularly encountered during snorkeling sessions from our tender.
This Posidonia is also the reason why Formentera is strictly protected. Anchoring rules are precise and our captain respects them scrupulously to preserve this unique ecosystem — a non-negotiable environmental commitment at International Yachts Charter and Brokerage XXIII.
Formentera has managed to preserve a bohemian and relaxed atmosphere that recalls what Ibiza was in the 1970s before its transformation into an international party destination. Traditional white houses with thick walls, roads lined with fig trees and rosemary, local taverns serving fish caught that very morning, sunsets at La Mola without crowds or noise — a quality of life and authenticity rare in the Balearic archipelago.
Ses Illetes is the most celebrated beach in Formentera — and one of the most extraordinary in the entire Mediterranean. A stretch of white sand set against translucent turquoise water, with underwater visibility regularly exceeding 20 meters over Posidonia beds — an image that photographers from around the world have sought to capture for decades.
What distinguishes Ses Illetes from all other beaches in the Balearics is its accessibility primarily from the sea. It is accessible from land via an unpaved track on the island’s northern isthmus, but parking is limited and the road is impassable in high season. From the sea, access is perfect — our tender drops you directly onto the white sand in a few minutes.
The Ses Illetes anchorage is one of the most sought-after and frequented in the Balearics during July and August. Anchoring rules in the protected Posidonia zone are strict — our captain arrives before 9:00 AM to secure a position in the authorized zone, before the ferries and rental boats arrive en masse from Ibiza.
The key to success at Ses Illetes is simple: arrive early. In high season, the best anchoring positions are occupied by 10:00 AM. Our captain plans the arrival the previous night from Ibiza to be in position at sunrise — an organization that makes all the difference in the quality of the experience.
RILASSATA with her 2.25-meter draft is our preferred recommendation for Formentera. She is the only 49.8-meter vessel in our fleet capable of accessing the shallow areas of Ses Illetes — superyachts with a draft of 3 meters or more must anchor further offshore and lose the extraordinary proximity to the sandbar.
Juan y Andrea is one of the best-known and most requested tables in all the Balearics — a beach restaurant set directly on the sand of Ses Illetes that has acquired an international reputation thanks to the excellence of its products and the radical simplicity of its cuisine.
The concept is of a disarming purity — seafood and fish from the local catch of absolute freshness, simply grilled with local olive oil and lemon, served directly on the sand in an incomparable natural setting. The grilled lobster at Juan y Andrea is considered by many to be the best in all the Balearics — a reputation built on decades of consistent and irreproachable quality.
Our chief steward handles reservations as soon as the charter is confirmed — Juan y Andrea is fully booked several weeks in advance in July and August. With our network of established relationships in Formentera, we secure the best tables with a direct view of the sea.
Ses Salines is the main beach on the southern coast of Formentera — a long crescent of white sand bordered by a lagoon and the ancient salt flats that gave the island its name. The water at Ses Salines is of a transparency comparable to Ses Illetes, the atmosphere is slightly more lively, and several restaurants and beach bars are accessible by tender from our anchorage.
Cala Saona is the most spectacular cove on the west coast of Formentera — an inlet framed by red and orange limestone cliffs that drop into deep blue water. The land route leading there is narrow and congested in high season — from the sea, access is perfect and arriving by tender from our anchorage offers a striking image that land visitors cannot experience.
Es Pujols is the only village in Formentera that resembles a seaside resort — a concentration of restaurants, bars, boutiques, and beach clubs along a sandy bay. It is the ideal stopover to explore local life, discover artisanal shops, and dine in the island’s authentic restaurants.
The promontory of La Mola, at the eastern tip of Formentera, is the island’s highest point at 192 meters. Its steep cliffs drop directly into the sea — a wild landscape from our superyacht, with a lighthouse built in 1861 that inspired Jules Verne for “Hector Servadac”. Cruising along these cliffs at sunset offers an incomparable end-of-the-world image.
Espalmador is an uninhabited islet of about 3 km², located in the strait separating Ibiza and Formentera. Its main beach — a stretch of white sand on shallow turquoise water — is one of the most confidential anchorages in the Balearics, just 20 minutes of navigation from Ses Illetes. Our captain reserves it for transition days between Ibiza and Formentera — a well-kept secret that our clients jealously guard for themselves.
Formentera and Ibiza are the quintessential complementary destinations of the Balearics — the tranquility and nature of Formentera, the social life and beach clubs of Ibiza. At 20 minutes of navigation from each other, they constitute the perfect Balearic itinerary for a week’s charter.
Formentera is a protected area — anchoring rules in Posidonia zones are strictly enforced and fines for violations can be very high. Our captain knows precisely the authorized anchoring zones and protected areas — and scrupulously respects these rules to preserve the island’s unique ecosystem. This is a fundamental environmental commitment that is an integral part of our approach to chartering in this destination.
Our tender drops you directly onto the sand of Ses Illetes from our anchorage in the authorized zone. This is the simplest and most pleasant way to access this beach — no roads, no parking, no crowds.
Yes — fines for anchoring in protected Posidonia zones are high. Our captain knows the authorized zones precisely and respects them without exception. This is a non-negotiable priority.
Yes — several overnight anchorages are authorized around the island depending on weather conditions. Our captain selects the best position each evening.
It is one of the best seafood tables in the Mediterranean. Our clients who lunch there consistently cite it as one of the best meals of their charter. Reservation is essential — our chief steward handles this well before departure.
Perfectly — the shallow waters of Ses Illetes are ideal for children, the beaches are safe and calm, and the entire island is relaxed and secure.
June and September are the ideal months — the waters are warm, the beaches are beautiful but not saturated. July-August: high season with more people, booking 3 months in advance is mandatory.
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