Spain yacht charter
For a yacht, mostly the Balearics
For a yacht, Spain mostly means the Balearics: family coves on Mallorca and Menorca, beach clubs and late nights on Ibiza and Formentera. The season runs June to September, quieter at either end. It suits families and friends most.
For a yacht charter, Spain mostly means the Balearic Islands: four islands, each with its own feel, set an easy flight from most of Europe. You can pick a calm family week on Mallorca's south coast, or a week of beach clubs and late dinners off Ibiza. A third option is to sail between the two.
Why go, and whom it suits
Families
Mallorca and Menorca have short hops between sandy coves and sheltered bays. Their harbour towns are easy to walk with children. Palma's airport handled almost 34 million passengers in 2025, most of them on international flights, which matters when grandparents are flying in from different cities. Ibiza in high summer is less of a family place after dark. Its daytime coves and Formentera's shallow beaches work well for children.
Couples and honeymoons
Pick Menorca's quiet south-coast coves, Mallorca's north-west coast under the Tramuntana mountains, or Formentera in June or September. These are the right choice when you want calm water and long lunches rather than a scene.
Friends and celebrations
Ibiza and Formentera are the obvious choice: the beach clubs, the restaurants, the music and the late nights. A yacht lets the group do all of that and still wake up somewhere quiet. Palma also suits a birthday weekend before or after a week at sea.
The areas
Mallorca. The largest island, and the easiest to fly to. The south and east coasts have coves and sandy bays, and the Cabrera archipelago lies offshore. The north-west coast is steep and dramatic, with the Tramuntana mountains dropping into the sea at Sóller and Sa Calobra.
Ibiza and Formentera. Two islands a short crossing apart. Ibiza has its old walled town and its west-coast sunsets. Formentera has long, pale beaches and shallow water.
Menorca (page to follow). The quietest of the main islands. It has the deep natural harbour at Mahón, Ciutadella's old port, and small south-coast coves reached through pine woods. The north coast is wilder and catches the northerly wind.
Barcelona and the Costa Brava (page to follow). A mainland option: a city start, then the rocky coves north towards the French border.
Two areas have their own pages so far. The Mediterranean by yacht sets Spain beside its neighbours.
When to go
The season runs from June to September. July and August are the busiest and the most expensive, both on the water and ashore. May and October are quieter and cooler, and the sea is still pleasant for swimming late in the season.
Summer winds are usually light. When the northerly Tramontana blows, the north coasts of Menorca and Mallorca face it, and the captain moves the yacht to the sheltered side.
The seasonThe busiestCalmer
What a week costs here
The charter fee is each yacht's own weekly rate. Her page shows it "from", which is her lowest season; July and August cost more.
- VAT is added to the fee. Spain's general rate is 21%, and the charter contract states the VAT charged. Spain also has a registration tax (the special tax on certain means of transport) that a yacht chartering commercially in Spanish waters can owe; a yacht used exclusively for charter can be exempt, but only once the tax authority has recognised it. Whether it touches a given charter depends on the yacht and her papers. We confirm this for each yacht before anything is signed.
- APA (the Advance Provisioning Allowance) is paid with the balance. The captain holds it for fuel, food, drinks, berths and similar costs, spends it on your instructions and accounts for it at the end; anything unspent is returned. Budget up to 40% of the charter fee for it.
- Berths cost more in August. Marina berths in Palma and Ibiza are expensive in high summer, and come out of the APA. Nights at anchor cost nothing.
For the whole picture, see what a crewed charter costs, line by line.
The weekly rate on each yacht’s page. "From" is her lowest season.
An advance for fuel, food, drinks and berths, spent on your instructions and settled at the end.
Set by the country the charter starts in, added to the fee.
A sample week
Ibiza to Mallorca, by way of Formentera. This is a one-way week for a group that wants both sides of the Balearics. It starts with the beaches and the nights, and ends in quieter coves.
- Day 1: Ibiza town. Board in the afternoon, then walk up into Dalt Vila, the old walled town, before dinner.
- Day 2: Formentera. A short crossing to anchor off Ses Illetes. Swim off the yacht, then have lunch ashore.
- Day 3: Formentera's south. Cala Saona in the morning. In the evening, back towards Ibiza's west coast to see the sunset by Es Vedrà.
- Day 4: Ibiza's north. Small coves on the north-east coast, and Tagomago island.
- Day 5: The crossing to Mallorca. The longest leg of the week. Anchor off Sant Elm and the island of Dragonera.
- Day 6: Puerto de Andratx and the south-west coves. Lunch in the port, an afternoon swim, and dinner on board.
- Day 7: Palma. The cathedral and the old town in the morning, then disembark.
A one-way week can carry a delivery fee (fuel, crew, berths), stated before you sign. The yacht, the weather and how you like to spend your days decide the real route; this is one way it can go.
The yachts that cruise here
The yachts we show in Spain are mostly larger motor yachts, many of them over 40 metres.
Many of them also cruise the French Riviera, Italy and the rest of the western Mediterranean. If you want a smaller yacht or a catamaran in the Balearics, say so, and we look further. The yachts on this site are a selection, not the limit of what we arrange: ask about any yacht, of any size.
Chartering in Spain
Rene GaspersicYour broker
Where do Balearic charters usually start?
Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza town are the usual ports. Some yachts start in Menorca or on the mainland, in Barcelona. The yacht and the route decide.
Can we see more than one island in a week?
Yes. Ibiza and Formentera fit easily together. Mallorca and Menorca are a few hours apart. Ibiza to Mallorca is a longer crossing, so a week covering both usually runs one way.
Is anchoring restricted?
Yes, in places. The Balearics protect the Posidonia seagrass meadows on the seabed, and anchoring on them is forbidden. In some bays, such as s'Espalmador and Caló de s'Oli off Formentera, the yacht must tie up to the official mooring buoys, which are booked; elsewhere she anchors on sand away from the meadows. The captain handles this. It can occasionally mean a different bay from the one you had in mind.
Do we need a permit for Cabrera?
Cabrera is a national park. Sailing and mooring there need an authorisation, applied for online, and at most 50 boats a day may moor. The park's buoys are for yachts up to 35 m; a larger yacht needs a special authorisation, granted only exceptionally. Ask early if you want it in the plan.
Is Ibiza right for a family?
By day, yes: the coves and Formentera's shallow beaches suit children. At night, in July and August, the island is built around the clubs. Families often prefer Mallorca or Menorca, with a day or two at Formentera.
What about the wind?
Usually light in summer. When a northerly blows, the captain uses the sheltered south coasts.
How far ahead should we start planning July or August?
For high summer, start early: the autumn or winter before is common. Shoulder months leave more room.
Can we start in Spain and end in France or Italy?
It is possible on many of the yachts that cruise the western Mediterranean. It needs more than a week, or a delivery fee. Ask us about the particular yacht.
Do we pay for berths in marinas?
Yes. Berths are paid from the APA. In Palma and Ibiza in August they can be a noticeable part of it. Nights at anchor cost nothing.
Is VAT included in the price shown?
No. The "from" price is the fee alone. VAT and the APA are added, and each yacht's quote shows both.
The Balearics | The French Riviera | |
|---|---|---|
Distances | Short hops on each island; longer between islands | Short hops along one coast |
Ashore | Coves, beach clubs, Palma and Ibiza's old towns | Riviera towns, Monaco, Saint-Tropez |
Season | June to September | May to September |
Choice of yachts | Mostly larger motor yachts | Wide, mostly larger motor yachts |
Talk to a broker
Tell us roughly when, how many of you there are, and what the week is for: a family summer, a honeymoon, a birthday with friends. Dates and budget can stay loose. We come back with a short list of yachts that fit, say plainly what each one is like, and stay your contact from the first email to the last day on board.
Rene Gaspersic
charter broker
Email info@soretoyachting.com · Phone +44 7342 933198 · WhatsApp +44 7342 933198
Plan
Balearic Islands.
Two short steps. Dates and budget can stay loose. We reply personally, by email, phone or WhatsApp.