Ibiza: Formentera Sunset Boat Part with Drinks and Food

Sunset, sea, and a plate of paella. This 10-hour cruise pairs six hours of free time in Formentera with an all-inclusive boat party, so you get both island time and a lively return sail. I especially like the generous food and drinks package, plus the rare chance to use a sun bed without paying for a separate premium area.

The main consideration is pace. You spend much of the day moving between beaches, the port, and the boat, and the return sailing can feel crowded to some people. This is also an adults-only experience with music, alcohol, and a social party mood, not a quiet sightseeing cruise.

Key points before you book

• Only 100 people join the full-day cruise, although the catamaran can hold 300, giving you more room than a standard boat party.
• Formentera time is genuinely useful: you have about six hours to rent a bike or scooter, visit the market, or find a beach.
• Food is a major part of the day, with a morning brunch, fruit, bread, guacamole, a Protein and Matcha Bar, and paella prepared onboard.
• The open bar includes more than beer and soft drinks, with sangria, cava, Aperol Spritz, mimosas, wine, and Cold Brew Martinis.
• VIP sun beds are first come, first served, and a bed may need to be shared by a group of at least four.
• The best atmosphere comes on the return trip, when the DJ, sunset, swimming stop, and paella turn the catamaran into a floating beach club.

What the $153 price really covers

At $153 per person, this is not the cheapest way to reach Formentera. A basic ferry will cost less, and it gives you a straightforward ride between Ibiza and the island. This cruise charges more because it folds a full day of food, drinks, entertainment, swimming, and boat time into one ticket.

I think the price works best for people who would otherwise spend money on breakfast, drinks, a beach club, and a sunset boat party. You receive brunch shortly after departure, a broad open bar, a cooked dinner, wine tasting, fruit, water, soft drinks, and access to water toys. That can add up quickly on Ibiza.

The value is less convincing if your main goal is simply to explore Formentera. The six hours on the island are unguided, and lunch is not included while you are ashore. You also pay separately for a scooter, car, or bicycle if you want to see more than La Savina and its nearby area.

The most important booking detail is to select the full-day option. There are several ticket types, and the sunset-only trip does not include breakfast. The morning option does not include the paella dinner, and it does not provide access to the VIP sun beds. The standard ferry option includes even less, with no food, drinks, DJ, or sun beds.

Boarding at Playa d’en Bossa

Meet the Ibiza Boat Club team at the boat pier at the end of Playa d’en Bossa. Look for the black beach flags in front of Pier 69, near Hotel The Ibiza Twiins and Bar Happiness. Boarding begins at 10:15 in the morning, with the tour scheduled to leave at 10:30.

The meeting point is easy to reach if you are already staying in Playa d’en Bossa. By bus, use route L14 and get off near Hotel Marenostrum or Hotel Goleta. By car, parking is about 10 meters from the pier, at the junction of Carrer de la Punta and Pere Matutes Noguera. Carrer de la Punta 7 is the suggested navigation address.

Bring a swimsuit, towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, comfortable shoes, and beachwear. Add clothes that can get dirty, since you will be eating near a live cooking station. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, and drones are prohibited.

The recommended style is boho chic or smart casual. That sounds playful, but practical clothing matters more. You will be on deck, near water, and in the sun for hours.

A relaxed 45-minute sail to breakfast

Once aboard, the first 45 minutes are an easy introduction to the day. You can take coffee or tea while the catamaran heads toward Formentera, with views across the water and plenty of time to settle into the boat.

Breakfast is served after the first stretch of sailing, while the boat is anchored near one of the area’s scenic beaches in Formentera or Ibiza. The spread includes fresh fruit, pastries such as ensaimadas, artisanal bread, guacamole, and organic olive oil.

I like that the morning food is not limited to sweet pastries. The Protein and Matcha Bar gives you another option if you want something more filling or less sugary. There is also a morning swim stop, with SUP boards and other water toys available.

The swim stop is one of the more useful features for anyone who wants to get into the water without giving up the rest of the day. Still, you should keep your expectations practical. It is one scheduled stop, not a full day of beach time, and sea conditions can shape how long you actually want to swim.

A sound bath with crystal bowls is also included. It adds a quieter note to a day that later becomes much louder and more social. If you prefer to start slowly, this is a good moment to sit back before the party mood gathers speed.

Six hours to explore Formentera independently

The boat reaches La Savina, Formentera’s port, around 12:15. You then have roughly six hours to make your own plans, with the boat continuing later in the afternoon.

This is the part of the experience that gives you real independence. There is no guide and no fixed group walk, so you can rent a scooter or bicycle, browse the hippie market, look for a beach, or simply enjoy the port area. You are responsible for arranging and paying for your own transport and lunch.

Six hours is enough time to do more than take a quick photograph and return to the boat. It is also long enough that you should decide your plan before you arrive. If you rent a scooter, car, or bike, allow time to return it and get back to La Savina. The boat will not wait for a late return.

The tradeoff is that the cruise does not provide local orientation. If you want a history lesson, a guided visit, or a carefully planned route around the island, this is not that kind of excursion. I see the free time as best for confident, independent visitors who enjoy making their own decisions.

Formentera is the visual star of the day. The white beaches and clear water make the island worth the crossing, and the boat gives you a fine approach by sea. Just remember that the cruise is not a substitute for a dedicated Formentera tour with a guide and organized island transport.

The afternoon return becomes the main event

After the island visit, you return to the catamaran and begin the longer sailing portion back toward Ibiza. This is when the inclusive drinks service becomes especially useful.

The bar includes beer, water, soft drinks, Aperol Spritz, sangria de cava, red wine sangria, cava, mimosas, and Cold Brew Martinis. You can also sample Spanish and Balearic wines at a self-service tasting station.

The crew receives unusually strong praise for keeping drinks topped up and clearing plates promptly. Specific staff members named in the feedback include Helena, Lucila, Anna, Lu, Raddi, and Bo. The repeated pattern is clear: service is one of the cruise’s strongest points, with staff staying friendly and attentive even during the busier parts of the day.

There is a sensible warning here. Unlimited alcohol in the sun can turn a pleasant boat day into a rough evening. Eat regularly, use the water station, and pace yourself. You will still have a swim stop, a sunset, and several hours of sailing ahead.

Paella, swimming, and sunset at Sol d’en Sera

The dinner stop takes place near Formentera, with the boat anchoring for swimming and photos before the meal. Depending on conditions and your comfort in the water, you can swim or snorkel and use the surrounding views as your backdrop.

The paella is prepared in a live cooking presentation, which gives dinner more character than a tray of pre-plated food. The main version is Paella Ibicenca with seafood. Vegan and gluten-free choices are available, along with bread, aioli, and a fresh salad made with local market vegetables.

Food quality is one of the most praised parts of the experience. The breakfast receives plenty of approval, but the paella gets particular attention, with some diners calling it the best part of the return trip. The food is not simply a filler between drinks. It is a substantial reason to consider this cruise over a basic ferry.

As the day moves toward sunset, the boat heads toward Sol d’en Sera. A DJ plays melodic music, and some departures include a saxophonist playing with the DJ. You can dance, talk with people from different countries, or claim a quieter spot on the sun beds and sofa lounges.

There is no loud DJ music while the boat is in the Formentera nature reserve. That is a good rule, even if you are hoping for nonstop party music. The quieter section protects the setting, and the livelier music comes later when the boat is sailing away.

Sun beds and the reality of the VIP setup

The full-day cruise includes access to VIP sun beds, but the phrase needs a little explanation. Beds are first come, first served, and a bed may need to be shared with another group. The minimum shared group is four people per bed.

That arrangement can work well if you board early and are happy to share. It is not a private reserved lounger for each person. If you care most about having your own fixed space, arrive ready at boarding time and treat the bed as a bonus rather than a guarantee.

The boat itself has capacity for 300 people, but this particular full-day cruise limits attendance to 100. That reduced number is important. It helps explain why the boat can offer more personal service and open deck space than a standard party departure.

Even so, the return portion can feel crowded, especially when people gather for dinner, music, and sunset. One practical tip is to move around the boat during the day instead of staying in one favorite spot. You will see more, and you will have an easier time finding room when the music begins.

Who will enjoy this cruise most

I would choose this experience if I wanted one big Ibiza day that covered several bases: island scenery, open-bar drinks, swimming, a social crowd, and a sunset party. Couples celebrating a birthday, groups of friends, and solo adults who enjoy meeting people are likely to get the most from it.

It also suits anyone who likes a polished party setting rather than an all-out nightclub atmosphere. The mood can move from quiet coffee and a sound bath to swimming, wine tasting, paella, dancing, and sunset music.

I would not choose it for children, since the cruise is adults only. It is also a poor match if you want silence, a private yacht feel, a guided Formentera tour, or guaranteed personal sun-bed space.

The experience has a clear social side. You are encouraged to talk, dance, and share the day with other people. That friendliness is part of the appeal, but it means you should not expect a secluded sailing trip.

Practical booking advice for a smooth day

Use the full-day ticket if brunch and paella are both important to you. Check the selected option carefully because the morning, sunset, and standard ferry packages have different inclusions.

Arrive before the 10:15 boarding time if you want the best chance at a sun bed. Wear swimwear under your clothes, pack sunscreen and a towel, and keep your personal items small.

The tour lasts about 10 hours, so plan your evening with some flexibility. The sunset portion, sailing time, and return to Playa d’en Bossa take up the final part of the day. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and reserve-now, pay-later booking is available.

The cruise is offered with host support in English, French, German, Italian, Polish, and Spanish. There is no hotel pickup or drop-off, so you must reach Playa d’en Bossa yourself.

Should you book the Formentera sunset boat party?

Book it if you want a full-service day on the water, not merely transport to Formentera. The combination of six hours ashore, brunch, paella, swimming, open-bar drinks, attentive staff, and sunset music gives the $153 price a fair chance of working in your favor.

Skip it if your priority is a quiet island day or the lowest-cost ferry crossing. You will need to organize your own Formentera transport and lunch, and the later boat ride may feel busy.

For the right crowd, this is a strong Ibiza splurge. Arrive early, pace your drinks, plan your island time, and treat the sun bed as shared space rather than a guaranteed private seat. Do that, and the cruise gives you a memorable mix of Formentera’s beauty and Ibiza’s party spirit.

FAQ

Where does the Formentera cruise leave from?

It leaves from the Ibiza Boat Club counter at the boat pier in Playa d’en Bossa, near Pier 69, Hotel The Ibiza Twiins, and Bar Happiness.

What time should I arrive?

Boarding starts at 10:15 in the morning, and the tour begins at 10:30.

How long do I have in Formentera?

You have about six hours of independent time in Formentera. The boat drops you at La Savina around 12:15, with departure later in the afternoon.

Is lunch included in Formentera?

No. Lunch on the island is not included. You must arrange and pay for it yourself.

Are drinks included?

Yes. The full-day cruise includes water, soft drinks, beer, sangria, cava, Aperol Spritz, mimosas, wine tasting, and Cold Brew Martinis.

Is food included?

Yes. The full-day experience includes a morning brunch, local fruit, and a paella dinner with salad, bread, and aioli. Vegan and gluten-free paella options are available.

Are the VIP sun beds guaranteed?

No. They are first come, first served, and beds may need to be shared with another group. The beds are reserved for full-day and sunset clients, not the morning-only option.