Playa de Ses Illetes Full Day Catamaran Trip

The best Formentera views come from offshore. This private catamaran trip takes your group toward Playa de Ses Illetes, one of the island’s most famous beaches, with a skipper handling the sailing and navigation. I like the private setting, which lets your group set the mood, and the free snorkel gear, paddleboards, dinghy, and large cool box make the day feel properly equipped. The main drawback is the price: at $3,372.33 for up to 11 people, it makes sense for a full group, but it is a serious splurge for a smaller party.

You meet at Camino de Ses Illetes at 10:00 am and return to the same point after roughly seven hours. I also like that you can choose between going ashore for lunch, swimming from the boat, playing music through the Megaboom speaker, or simply stretching out on deck. The itinerary centers on Ses Illetes, so you should book this for a private day on the water rather than a tightly scheduled island sightseeing tour.

Key points to know before booking

• A private catamaran for up to 11 people: You get the boat and skipper for your own group, which works well for families, birthdays, and friends traveling together.
• Playa de Ses Illetes by dinghy: You can ride the auxiliary boat from the catamaran to the beach and disembark near one of the beach restaurants.
• Snorkeling and paddleboarding included: Equipment is supplied, so you do not need to arrange these extras separately.
• A full seven-hour outing: The 10:00 am start gives you a long day on the water, with time for swimming, sailing, lunch, and rest.
• Bring your own food and drinks: A large cool box is provided, but meals and beverages are not included.
• Highly rated skipper service: The experience has a 4.9 rating from 58 reviews, with 98 percent recommending it.

Setting out from Formentera at 10:00 am

The day begins at Camino de Ses Illetes, 126, in the Illes Balears. You should plan to arrive ready for a boat day, since the activity starts at 10:00 am and finishes back at the same meeting point.

Your skipper takes care of sailing and navigation. That matters here. You can focus on your group, the sea, and the next swim instead of watching charts or wondering where to anchor. The skipper may also help shape the day around conditions and your interests, though the main destination is Playa de Ses Illetes.

This is a private activity, not a shared cruise with strangers. Up to 11 people can join your booking. That maximum makes the trip especially appealing for a large family group, a birthday party, or a group of friends celebrating together. A full boat also improves the price per person. Split among 11 people, the cost works out to about $306.58 each, before your food and drinks. For four people, the same boat costs about $843.08 per person, so group size matters a great deal.

The catamaran format gives you more room than a small sailing boat. Several descriptions of the outing praise the space onboard, even with groups of 10 people, and the Lagoon 380 is described as comfortable and well equipped. The exact boat can vary, so you should not assume a particular model unless confirmed when booking.

Sailing toward Playa de Ses Illetes

The appeal of this outing is not just reaching the beach. It is the chance to enjoy the route from the water, with the catamaran acting as your base for the entire day.

You can listen to your own music through the Megaboom Bluetooth speaker. That is a useful touch for a birthday or relaxed group day, though you will want to agree on the playlist before the first person claims DJ duties. The large cool box gives you a practical place to store picnic supplies and drinks, but you must bring those supplies yourself.

The trip can include time under sail, motoring, swimming, snorkeling, and paddleboarding. The exact mix depends on the skipper and conditions. Some previous outings included stops in attractive coves, rocky caves, and places reachable only from the sea. Those details appear in accounts connected with the same boat-hire operation, but they should be treated as possibilities rather than guaranteed stops on this specific booking.

That distinction is important. The advertised route focuses on Ses Illetes, and the formal itinerary gives the beach two hours. If you expect a carefully planned tour of several Formentera coves, ask about the route before paying. If you want a relaxed private boat day with some freedom built in, the format is a better match.

Two hours at the famous beach

Playa de Ses Illetes is the star of the day. The beach is known for pale sand and clear water, and the descriptions of the area compare its appearance to the Caribbean. From the boat, you get a different arrival than someone coming by road. You can approach by water, anchor offshore, and use the auxiliary dinghy to reach the sand.

The dinghy is included for getting on and off the catamaran. This is more than a small convenience. It means you do not need to swim ashore carrying a bag, and it gives less confident swimmers a practical way to reach the beach.

The listed beach stop lasts two hours. You can disembark near any of the restaurants on the beach and buy lunch there. Food and drink are not part of the tour price, so you need to budget for a restaurant meal or bring your own supplies from the start.

Ses Illetes is beautiful, but it is not a secret spot. One account points out that the beach can be crowded, especially later in the day, and that the fame does not mean it is the only attractive place on Formentera. From a practical point of view, the catamaran helps you avoid the land-based hassle of parking and walking to the beach, but it cannot remove the people already enjoying the area.

If you prefer calm water and fewer people, ask your skipper about spending more time anchored away from the main beach. The crew connected with these trips has taken groups to quieter coves and spots that are difficult to reach by land. Still, do not assume a secluded anchorage is guaranteed. Wind, sea conditions, and local restrictions can affect the plan.

Snorkeling, paddleboards, and time at anchor

The boat comes with snorkeling equipment and stand-up paddleboards. This is one of the strongest practical features because you do not need to rent water gear once you are onboard.

You can snorkel directly from the catamaran after the skipper anchors. The experience is likely best for confident swimmers, since the activity involves getting into the sea from the boat rather than using a supervised pool or a shallow beach. The supplied details do not specify wetsuits, flotation equipment, or the exact size range of the gear, so ask ahead if anyone in your group needs special equipment.

The paddleboards give you another way to enjoy a calm anchorage. One previous skipper, Rolan, even gave a quick paddleboard lesson. That suggests some captains are happy to offer basic help, but a formal lesson is not listed as part of the package.

You can also do very little. That is not a failure of planning. A catamaran day works best when you leave room for long pauses: shade, music, a cool drink, and a view of the water. The boat becomes your floating base, so you do not have to pack and unpack every time you want to change activities.

The captain names praised in past trips include Nacho, Martin, Rolan, Roland, Rolando, Tincho, and Philip. The repeated praise centers on friendly service, flexibility, safe handling, and making the group feel looked after. You cannot request a particular captain from the information provided, but it may be worth asking when you book if a preferred skipper is available.

Lunch on shore or a picnic from the cool box

You have two sensible lunch choices. The first is to take the dinghy to the beach and eat at one of the restaurants. This gives your day a proper island stop and lets you walk on the sand instead of spending every minute afloat.

The second is to bring food and drinks onboard. The large cool box is included, which makes a self-catered lunch easy to manage. This may be the better choice if you want to keep swimming, avoid a restaurant bill, or maintain control over your timing.

Neither option is included in the $3,372.33 price. That cost covers the boat-related services, fuel surcharge, required insurance, taxes, skipper, dinghy, equipment, speaker, cool box, and final cleaning. You still need to pay for lunch and beverages.

I would decide before departure. If you wait until the beach stop to make up your mind, the two-hour window can feel short once you add the dinghy ride, restaurant seating, ordering, and walking. If you bring supplies, pack food that is easy to serve on a moving boat and use containers that will not cause trouble on deck.

What the price means for your group

The price is fixed per group, up to 11 people. That makes this a poor deal for a couple or a small family, but a more reasonable option for a large group that wants a private boat.

For 11 people, the cost is about $306.58 per person. For 10, it is about $337.23 each. For eight, it is about $421.54 each. Those figures do not include lunch or drinks, but they do include fuel, insurance, taxes, cleaning, the skipper, and the main water equipment.

You are paying for privacy and control as much as for transport. A shared excursion might cost less, but you would not have the same freedom to choose your music, bring your own supplies, or spend the day with only your own group.

The value is strongest for a celebration. Several groups used this type of outing for birthdays and a bachelorette day, and the spacious catamaran suited groups of 10. Families also found the boat appealing, including one outing with children and another with a teenager.

The price is less convincing if your only goal is to spend two hours on the beach. You could be paying for a full boat day while using only the shore stop. Book it when you want the sailing, swimming, equipment, and private atmosphere too.

Who will enjoy this day most

I would recommend this experience for:

• Groups of friends sharing the fixed cost
• Families who want a flexible day with a skipper
• Birthday and bachelorette celebrations
• People who want snorkeling and paddleboarding without arranging rentals
• Anyone who prefers a private boat to a crowded shared cruise

It may not suit you if you want a detailed guided tour of Formentera’s villages, a guaranteed route around the entire island, or a low-cost beach transfer. It is also not ideal if your group dislikes being on the water for several hours.

Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The supplied information does not give detailed mobility guidance, so ask the operator about boarding and dinghy access if anyone in your party has limited mobility.

Weather, cancellation, and small practical details

The experience depends on good weather. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Your own cancellation terms are strict. The booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason if you cancel or request an amendment. That makes travel insurance or careful date planning worth considering, especially given the high total price.

Bring sun protection, swimwear, towels, and any food or drinks you want. The provided details confirm the cool box, snorkel equipment, paddleboards, speaker, and final cleaning, but they do not list towels, meals, or beverages as included.

The boat returns to the original meeting point after about seven hours. Since the day begins at 10:00 am, expect to finish in the late afternoon, though the precise return time can vary.

My verdict on the Ses Illetes catamaran day

This is a strong choice when you can fill the boat. The skipper, private setting, dinghy, snorkel gear, paddleboards, speaker, and cool box create a complete day on the water rather than a simple ride to the beach.

I especially like the flexibility. You can eat at Ses Illetes, bring a picnic, swim from the boat, paddleboard, or stretch out with music. The main caution is that the price only feels sensible when divided among a large group, and the famous beach may be crowded.

Book it if you want a private celebration or a relaxed family day with plenty of time at sea. Skip it if you are mainly looking for the cheapest way to visit Formentera or if you need a guaranteed tour of multiple coves. Before confirming, ask which boat and skipper you will have, how much time can be spent at anchor, and whether the captain expects the group to eat ashore or onboard.

FAQ

How long is the catamaran trip?

The activity lasts approximately seven hours.

What time does the trip start?

The scheduled start time is 10:00 am.

Where does the catamaran trip begin?

It begins at Camino de Ses Illetes, 126, 07871, Illes Balears, Spain.

Where does the activity finish?

The trip ends back at the original meeting point.

How many people can join?

The private catamaran can accommodate a group of up to 11 people.

Is the skipper included?

Yes. An enthusiastic skipper is included and takes care of sailing and navigation.

Is lunch included?

No. Food and drinks are not included. You can eat at a restaurant on Playa de Ses Illetes or bring your own supplies.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and stand-up paddleboards are included.

Can I reach the beach from the catamaran?

Yes. An auxiliary dinghy is provided for embarking and disembarking, including trips to the beach.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

You will be offered a different date or a full refund if the operator cancels because of poor weather.