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The standard Balearic charter sells as an Ibiza-Formentera week. Most weeks never leave that 30 nautical mile triangle and the result is three days at Ses Illetes, two days at Cala Bassa, and a Saturday night in Marina Ibiza. The week works if that is what the client wants. For clients who want more than Ses Illetes, the better shape is a 220 nautical mile loop that combines two nights of Ibiza, two of Formentera, and three on the Mallorca north coast. This piece is the verified version of that loop.
The loop requires two open-water crossings of 50 to 65 nautical miles between Ibiza and Mallorca. Motor yachts of 25m and above run each crossing in 4 to 6 hours. Sailing yachts need 8 to 10. The trade is that the Mallorca north coast, including the bays of Sa Calobra, Cala Tuent, Cala Sant Vicenc, and the Cap Formentor anchorage, is the quietest cruising water in the Balearics in 2026 and the one most charter clients have never seen.
Why combine the two islands
Ibiza is the south, the social scene, the beach clubs, and the Formentera permit days. Mallorca is the north coast, the mountains, the deeper bays, and the quieter anchorages. They are different products and the client benefits from seeing both. The conventional all-Ibiza week leaves the client thinking the Balearics are Ses Illetes plus dinner in Marina Ibiza. They are not.
Mallorca is also where the larger fleet of 40m-plus yachts position in the Western Mediterranean and is the better base if the charter is moving into the Western Med after the Balearic week. Palma is a major repositioning port for September moves to Sardinia, Cote d'Azur, or the Cyclades cross-Mediterranean run. Ibiza is not.
The verified 7-day loop
Embark Marina Ibiza on Saturday at 17:00. Disembark Saturday morning at Palma de Mallorca (one-way) or back at Marina Ibiza (return).
| Day | Route | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat | Embark Marina Ibiza, run to Cala Conta | 12 nm | Easy first night, sunset anchorage |
| Sun | Cross to Formentera (permit day, Ses Illetes or Espalmador) | 18 nm | Pre-booked permit required |
| Mon | Formentera south-east (Es Calo des Mort) overnight or back to Ibiza south | 12-20 nm | Calm anchorage |
| Tue | Cross to Mallorca south (Cabrera or south coast) | 50-60 nm | Morning crossing, anchor by 16:00 |
| Wed | Run up Mallorca east coast to Cala Mondrago or further | 25-35 nm | Coastal day |
| Thu | Round Cap de Capdepera to Cala Sant Vicenc | 35-45 nm | Or two-night Mallorca north coast |
| Fri | Mallorca north coast anchorage, optional tender to Cap Formentor | 0-15 nm | Stay put or short move |
| Sat | Disembark Palma (one-way) or run south to Palma | 35-50 nm | Or full crossing back to Ibiza |
Total: 220 to 250 nautical miles depending on whether the week ends in Palma (recommended) or returns to Ibiza.
Day by day
Day 1, Marina Ibiza to Cala Conta. Cala Conta is on Ibiza's west coast, 12 nautical miles from Marina Ibiza. The anchorage holds 20 to 30 yachts in 8 to 15 metres of sand. The Sunset Ashram restaurant ashore is the named dinner stop. The anchorage is not inside the Ses Salines Natural Park, so no Formentera permit is required. The yacht is anchored before sunset, dinner is ashore, the first night is calm.
Day 2, Formentera permit day. Cross to Formentera (12 nautical miles south) for the standard Ses Illetes day with a pre-booked permit. The Posidonia anchoring rules apply. See our Formentera permit reality piece for the operational detail. The day ashore is Beso Beach, Juan y Andrea, or Tanga. The night is on a buoy at Espalmador or back at Cala Saona.
Day 3, Formentera south-east. Move to Es Calo des Mort or Cala Saona for a calmer second Formentera day. Smaller anchorages, fewer day-trip boats, and a different shore. Or return to Ibiza for a south-coast stop at Cala d'Hort with views to Es Vedra rock. Either works. Avoid the Saturday-night cluster at Ses Illetes if your week shape allows.
Day 4, cross to Mallorca. 50 to 60 nautical miles north-east to the south coast of Mallorca. The crossing runs in 4 to 6 hours by motor yacht. Run before 09:00 to arrive before the afternoon. Anchor at Cabrera National Park (buoy-only, book in advance) or push east to the Mallorca south-east coast at Cala Mondrago or Cala Llombards. Cabrera is the better choice if the buoy is available. The protected park status keeps boat traffic low and the water clarity is the best in the Balearics.
Day 5, Mallorca east coast. Run north along the east coast. Anchorages at Cala Varques, Cala Mesquida, and Cala Agulla are all good. The east coast has more day-boat traffic from Cala Ratjada and Cala Millor than the south coast, but the bays themselves are clean and the holding is good.
Day 6, Cap de Capdepera to the north coast. Round Cap de Capdepera (the north-east corner of Mallorca) and run west along the north coast. The north coast is the Sierra de Tramuntana, a 90-kilometre mountain range that drops to the water. Anchorages at Cala Sant Vicenc, Pollensa Bay, Cala Formentor, Cala Tuent, and Sa Calobra. Sa Calobra is the photographed one with the gorge ashore. Cala Tuent next door is the calmer overnight option. Pick one for the night and tender into the others by day.
Day 7, Mallorca north coast or repositioning. Stay put or move one more anchorage west. Cap Formentor at the north-east tip is a daytime tender excursion. The week's final dinner is either aboard or at Pollensa town for those who want shore time.
Day 8, disembark Palma or run south. One-way to Palma is the easier disembarkation. The run from the north coast to Palma is 35 to 50 nautical miles south depending on the prior night's anchorage. Palma's marina infrastructure is the best in the Balearics and the airport is 15 minutes by car. If the charter is contracted return-to-Ibiza, plan an extra crossing back the night before.
What to skip
The full week at Ses Illetes. Brokers default to three days at Formentera because the client asked for "Formentera." Two days is enough. The third day is at Mallorca.
The Magaluf and Palma Bay south coast. The strip of beaches between Magaluf and Palma is the package-tourism coast of Mallorca. The anchorages are exposed to the south, the water is busier, and the shore is not what charter clients are paying for. Skip the south Mallorca coast entirely and go directly to the east or north coast.
Cala Llamp and Andratx. Western Mallorca has two named yacht anchorages, Cala Llamp and Port d'Andratx. Both are competent. Neither is worth a Mallorca night when the north coast is two hours further. Skip.
What needs work
The one-way charter premium charged by some operators for a Marina Ibiza embarkation and Palma disembarkation is routinely overpriced. The repositioning operationally is the same as any other Western Med one-way and should be €1,500 to €4,000 depending on yacht size, not €8,000-plus.
The default broker proposal for a Balearic week is heavy on Ibiza and light on Mallorca. We have read 12 proposals in 2025 and 10 of them allocated 5 to 6 nights to Ibiza and 0 to 1 to Mallorca. The product is better the other way around for clients who have been to Ibiza before.
The Cabrera National Park buoy-booking system is harder to access through the broker than it should be. Captains running Balearic charters routinely skip Cabrera because the buoy booking workflow is unclear. The park rangers' office in Palma issues buoy permits and we are not aware of a single charter broker who has built a one-click booking into their proposal flow. Pressure your broker to figure it out.
Charter rates
Indicative weekly rates for a Balearic-base charter, peak season, as of May 2026:
| Yacht size | Peak weekly rate |
|---|---|
| 24-30m motor | €60K-€100K |
| 30-40m motor | €110K-€180K |
| 40-50m motor | €200K-€350K |
| 50m+ motor | €400K+ |
Plus 30-35 percent APA and Spanish VAT. One-way premium €1,500 to €4,000 if applicable.
FAQ
How many nautical miles is an Ibiza to Mallorca charter week? Roughly 220 to 250 nautical miles depending on whether the week ends in Palma or returns to Ibiza.
Is the Ibiza-Palma crossing rough? In settled summer weather, no. The crossing takes 4 to 6 hours by motor yacht. Run in the morning to avoid the afternoon breeze.
Can a sailing yacht do the same route in 7 days? The schedule is tight. Allow 8 to 9 days for a sailing yacht.
Which is the better disembarkation port, Palma or Ibiza? Palma. Better marina infrastructure, faster airport access, and a stronger pre and post-charter hotel scene. See hotelsforkings.com/mallorca for our picks.
Is Cabrera worth the buoy booking effort? Yes if you can get a buoy. The water clarity and traffic levels are the best in the Balearics.
Verdict
The Ibiza-only week is an easy default for charter brokers. The Ibiza-and-Mallorca loop is the better product for clients who can handle two crossings and want to see the Balearics rather than the Marina Ibiza pontoon. Run the crossings in the morning, book the permits and the Cabrera buoy in advance, and the week works.