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Mallorca is the largest commercial day-charter market in the Balearics, with over 280 licensed yachts above 14m operating out of Palma, Port Andratx, Portals Nous, and Alcúdia in 2026. Peak July and August day rates run from €2,200 for a 14m motor cruiser to €18,000 for a 30m chef-equipped motor yacht. The fleet is older on average than the Ibiza fleet (median build year around 2014 versus 2017 in Ibiza), the chef quality is better, the marina exit logistics are easier, and the day rate per meter is 8 to 12% lower for equivalent boat. This piece covers the operators we book from each base, the southwest versus Bay of Palma split, the Cabrera permit reality, and the operators we pass on.
The companion pieces are the Ibiza day-charter operator ranking, the Menorca operators, and the Mallorca northwest-coast anchorages for weekly charter routing.
The two bases that matter
Palma. Bay of Palma marinas (Marina Port de Mallorca, STP Palma, Club de Mar, Marina Real Mallorca) hold roughly 70% of the licensed commercial day-charter fleet. The fleet skews larger (24m to 36m is well-represented), more chef-equipped, more professional crew. Day-charter routes from Palma run southeast to Es Trenc, southwest to Illetes and El Toro, or northwest around Cap de Cala Figuera to Camp de Mar. The Mallorca-to-Cabrera day is feasible only from Palma or Colonia de Sant Jordi.
Port Andratx. Smaller fleet (40 to 55 licensed yachts in the 14-28m band), more privately-owned-with-professional-captain models, lower headline price for equivalent LOA. Day-charter routes go directly to Sa Dragonera, north to Sant Elm and Cap de Cala Figuera, and on calm days up the northwest coast as far as Banyalbufar. The transit time advantage over Palma for any anchorage west of Cap de Cala Figuera is 60 to 90 minutes round-trip, which compounds into one or two more swims per day.
Portals Nous (Puerto Portals) sits between the two. Smaller fleet again, premium positioning, and a marina you have to book a chartered yacht into rather than out of for most operators. We do not list it as a separate base.
Alcúdia on the northeast is the fourth licensed base. The fleet there is smaller still, runs Cap de Formentor and Formentor Bay routes, and is a sensible call only if your hotel is in the northeast of the island. Outside July and August, the Alcúdia fleet is half-dormant. We mention it for completeness.
Rate bands for 2026
All rates below are peak-season per-day, in euros, for a private day charter with captain, crew, fuel at standard cruising, and basic provisions. Chef is +€350 to +€700 depending on yacht. Shoulder months are 20-30% lower. Low season (May, October) is 35-45% lower.
- 14m to 16m motor cruiser. Palma €2,400 to €3,400. Andratx €2,200 to €3,000.
- 16m to 18m motor yacht or sailing yacht. Palma €3,200 to €4,600. Andratx €2,900 to €4,200.
- 18m to 22m motor yacht. Palma €4,400 to €6,800. Andratx €4,000 to €6,000.
- 22m to 24m motor yacht. Palma €6,500 to €9,500. Andratx €6,000 to €8,800.
- 24m to 28m motor yacht. Palma €9,500 to €13,500. Andratx limited inventory, €9,000 to €12,500.
- 28m to 32m motor yacht. Palma €13,500 to €18,000. Andratx fleet thin above 28m.
Sailing yachts of equivalent LOA run 10-20% under motor yacht rates. Catamarans run on the high end of the motor-yacht band because the catamaran day-charter market in Mallorca runs hot.
Palma operators worth booking
We have run quotes, vetted licenses, checked marina records, and where possible visited yachts at five operators currently out of Palma. The shortlist:
The Boats Mallorca. Mixed fleet of 18m to 32m motor yachts. The booking team responds in under four hours, the contracts are MYBA-aligned even for day work, and the captain-allocation process is transparent (you can request a captain by name if you have used them before). Rates land mid-band. Chef quality on the 24m+ yachts is consistently strong. Day-trip planning for Cabrera, Es Trenc, and Cala Varques is competent.
Mas Charter Mallorca. Owner-operator fleet, mostly Princess and Ferretti in the 19m to 24m range, plus a 28m Sanlorenzo. Smaller catalogue, better personal attention, and the captains have multi-year tenure on individual yachts. Rates 5-10% under the larger operators. The booking flow is email-and-phone, not a slick online system, which is a feature rather than a bug.
Yatchic. The newer Mallorca brand on the Bay of Palma side. Modern fleet (median build year 2020), strong chef program, well-coordinated tender ops for shore lunches at Es Trenc and Cala Varques. Rates 5-8% above the market. Worth it for clients who want a recent-build yacht specifically.
We would book through any of the three for the right inventory match.
Andratx operators worth booking
Mallorca Yacht. The Andratx specialist. Fleet of 16m to 24m motor and sailing yachts, multi-decade captains, and a deep knowledge of the Sa Dragonera and northwest-coast anchorages. The 22m sailing yacht in their fleet (Hanse 575 generation, captain since 2019) is the call for a Cap de Cala Figuera and Sant Elm day if you want sail rather than motor. Rates are the lowest of the Andratx operators we shortlist.
Andratx Charter. Smaller fleet, mostly Princess and Sunseeker, professional captains, and a clear written quote structure. The 24m Princess in their fleet is the right Andratx-side call for clients who want a flybridge yacht with chef for a Cala Deia or Banyalbufar northwest day in calm weather.
Pure Salt Charter. Tied to the Pure Salt hotel group in Mallorca. Smaller day-charter inventory (mostly 18m to 22m), good service standards, and a useful tie-in if you are staying at one of the Pure Salt properties. Rates land mid-band.
What we have passed on
We have passed on three Palma operators currently advertising widely.
- One operator in the Bay of Palma marina cluster lists yachts they do not have central agency on, then re-broker the booking to the actual operator at a 20-25% markup. We checked. The price you pay is materially above market for the same yacht booked direct. We are not naming them publicly but their licenses are checkable through the Govern Balear marine register.
- One Sa Llonja operator runs an aggressive Instagram presence and has been the subject of two written complaints to the Capitania Maritima in the past 18 months regarding overloaded day-charter passenger counts. We will not list them.
- One Magaluf-based commercial operator runs day boats at a price point well below the market. The boats are older, the safety equipment service intervals are visibly past due, and the crew rotation is high. We do not list them either.
We have also passed on Portals Nous as a primary base recommendation. The operators in Portals are competent but the marina is positioned as a luxury-brand showcase and the day rates reflect a 10-15% premium over Palma for the same yacht. If you are staying at one of the Portals hotels, fine. If you are not, save the 10%.
The Cabrera question
Cabrera is the small island national park 12 nautical miles south of Mallorca. It is the only Mediterranean Spanish national park with marine zones. Day-charter access is possible but tightly limited:
- Cabrera anchorage requires an advance permit from the park authority. Permits are capped per day.
- Most Palma and Colonia de Sant Jordi operators apply for a quota of permits at the start of each season; the quota is distributed to chartered yachts on a first-confirmed basis.
- The transit from Palma is 90 minutes each way. From Colonia de Sant Jordi, 35 minutes each way. A Cabrera day from Palma is a long day. From Colonia de Sant Jordi it is a sensible day.
- Permits do not extend to anchoring; designated mooring buoys only.
We would book a Cabrera day from Colonia de Sant Jordi rather than Palma. The Colonia fleet is small (under 20 commercial yachts in the day-charter band), but the day works. If you want Cabrera from Palma, expect a 10-hour day with 4 hours at the anchorage and 3 hours of transit, and ask the operator to confirm the park permit in writing before paying the deposit.
Routes worth running by base
From Palma:
- Southeast: Cap Blanc, Cala Pi, Es Trenc beach lunch, return via El Toro. 6-8 hour day.
- Southwest: Illetes, El Toro, Cala Vinyes, lunch at the Cala Vinyes club. 5-7 hour day.
- North of Cap de Cala Figuera (calm weather only): Sant Elm, Sa Dragonera, Camp de Mar. 8-9 hour day. The transit eats two hours and most clients should book this out of Andratx.
From Andratx:
- Sa Dragonera circuit: anchor on the east side of Dragonera, lunch ashore at Sant Elm, second swim at Cala Egos. 5-6 hour day.
- Northwest coast: Sant Elm, Cala Egos, Cala Banyalbufar weather permitting. 7-8 hour day.
- Across to Eivissa (Ibiza): only sensible as a one-way transfer, not a day return.
The honest yacht-size recommendation
For most Mallorca day-charter parties of six to eight people, the right call is a 20m to 22m motor yacht from either base. Big enough for a chef, two deckhands, and a hostess; small enough to anchor in Cala Banyalbufar or Cala Egos without compromise; cheap enough at €4,400 to €6,800 peak to be a sensible day rather than an event. A 24m to 26m for the same group is a comfort upgrade you will use, but the day rate jumps to €9,500 to €13,500 for a marginal-experience gain.
A 28m+ Mallorca day only makes sense for parties of 10 to 12, or for clients who specifically want the flybridge dining setup at anchor in Es Trenc with the chef at full output. At that yacht size, you are essentially booking a tiny weekly charter for a single day, with the corresponding price tag.
Where to stay
The Mallorca hotel-to-marina geometry matters more than people think. For Palma-based days, the easiest hotels are Cap Rocat, Cort, Sant Francesc, Calatrava, the Glòria de Sant Jaume, or any of the Palma old-town addresses where the transfer to Marina Port de Mallorca is under 15 minutes. For Andratx-based days, Belmond La Residencia in Deia (45-minute transfer), Castell Son Claret in Es Capdellà (20-minute transfer), or the southwest coastal hotels in Camp de Mar work. See hotelsforkings.com/mallorca for the full picks.
How to book
For a Mallorca day charter from either base in 2026, book 30 to 60 days out in shoulder months and 60 to 90 days out in July and August. Get the quote in writing with: rate, included crew positions, fuel inclusion (most Mallorca operators include fuel at standard cruising, then meter excess), chef inclusion if requested, park or anchorage fees, and the marina/embarkation point. Ask for the captain's name. Ask for the yacht's hull number or registration to verify it against the Govern Balear charter license register. If any of those items come back vague, choose a different operator.
For the wider Balearic week, the Ibiza-Mallorca-Menorca weekly route and the Mallorca northwest-coast anchorages cover the multi-day options. For comparison with the Ibiza market, see the Ibiza day rate by yacht size.