Yachting in the Balearics

Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza are the three main Balearic Islands. Each has something different to offer when enjoying a luxury yacht charter vacation. It’s the perfect opportunity to see these islands in a different light, away from mass tourism and British-themed tourist hot spots.

Mallorca is the largest of the Balearic Islands and lies approximately around 140 miles east of Valencia on the Spanish mainland. The capital, Palma, has plenty of art, luxury boutiques and history to make a meandering and fulfilling time on dry land.

Only 30 miles northeast of Mallorca is the stunning island of Menorca. Menorca has virtually no mass tourism and boasts some of the most idyllic beaches in the Balearics. In complete contrast, 50 miles south-west of Mallorca lies Ibiza. It’s a great party destination in the Western Mediterranean and a firm favourite on many yacht charter itineraries.

The Balearics as well as the smaller islands in the archipelago are wonderful places to explore on board a superyacht. With such a variety between the islands you could easily spend nine days or more sailing here. Palma is a good starting point for luxury yacht charter in the Balearics while to soak up the Spanish culture on the mainland, Barcelona is a popular choice.

Sail to pretty bays, secluded inlets and quaint harbours at leisure on you Balearic Islands luxury yacht charter. As an advantage, you will be able to visit multiple islands within a single visit and see the best of each. Take it easy and meander from bay to bay, anchor off one of the many golden beaches by day or night, then moor near a quiet village and watch the lights sparkle in the windows of houses as you dine alfresco among the stars.

The Balearics are very popular during the peak summer months of July and August, while September and October see fewer crowds while still delighting in the last of the summer warmth. If you would like to visit in June or August make sure to plan ahead for your superyacht charter voyage, as this will ensure that you enjoy the best berths and idyllic ports throughout your trip.

Whether discovering the Balearic Islands for the first time or returning as a yearly rite, the incredible contradiction between the booming modern partying lifestyle and the serene cultured settlements works wonderfully to form an exciting and diverse charter ground with something to appeal to all guests.

The type of activities you want to experience in the Balearics should help to influence the charter yacht you choose, and when it comes to the best superyachts in the West Mediterranean, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

If you’re looking to make the most out of the archipelago’s famous nightlife then why not opt for a party yacht or a superyacht with a spa and Jacuzzi to help you recover? If it’s something a little quieter in the Balearics that appeals, then pick a family-friendly luxury catamaran so you enjoy these beautiful islands with your children.

No matter which yacht you decide suits your group best, the Balearics are a great option for an action-packed, fun-filled and diverse superyacht charter.

From golden beaches, bays, rocky peaks and lively harbors, Mallorca, Ibiza and the Balearic Islands have everything on offer for the perfect yacht charter holiday. The landscapes of the islands are extreme, and unmistakably Spanish. Along the towering coastlines, you’ll find endless coves and beaches, perfect for anchoring your yacht. Stop at the picturesque port of Ciutadella and the magnificent port of Mahon . Come ashore to meander your way through the narrow cobbled streets. Take a leisurely stroll on the secluded beaches of Formentera and Cabrera.

Like most of the Mediterranean, the Spanish Balearic Islands yacht chartering season generally runs from April to the end of October. The summer season in July and August is the hottest and tends to have lighter winds. This is also the high season as far as yacht charter goes. Other good times to charter your yacht is generally on either of the shoulder seasons (April-May and September-October), each side of the main summer season, as the temperatures are still comfortable, and the onshore tourists have yet to arrive in their largest numbers.

A feast for the eyes with its dazzling displays of flowers, fruit and vegetables straight from the land and a mouth-watering array of seafood, the Olivar Market is an authentic local experience where you will mingle with locals.

Although some parts of the island are densely populated with hotels and package-holiday tourists on land, if you want to anchor and explore ashore, there’s a lot more than beaches and nightlife, with scope for plenty of hiking, golf, culture and festivals, water sports, entertainment and more.

In fact, much of Mallorca retains its original, unspoiled charm. Almost 40 percent of the island is protected. There are beautiful areas such as the Sierra de Tramuntana Mountains, in the north, with peaks reaching 1400 m above sea level.

The south-east coast of Mallorca is generally considered the most scenic part for its sculptured rock formations and beautiful secluded bays, every few hundred meters along the coast between Pollensa and Colonia St Jordi. There are many marine and nature conservation areas to explore along this coast including Cala Mondrago, Ses Salines, Cala Figuera, Cuevas de Drach, Cala Santanyi, Porto Colom, Porto Cristo, Cala Ratjada, Cala Gran, Portopetro, and the island of La Dragonera. A visit to the nature reserve Island of Cabrera, just off the coast of Mallorca is a must. A permit is issued that allows you to moor for 24 hours, ample time to walk up to the lookout for breathtaking views.

 

On the North coast is Puerto Pollensa, a typical Mallorcan town, with its maze of narrow streets and home to one of the most beautiful harbours on the island and also one of the deepest and most protected. The sheltered horseshoe shaped bay is set against the stunning backdrop of the Tramuntana mountain range, and it is blessed with calm, shallow waters which makes it popular with families.

One of the most beautiful parts of Mallorca, this was the preferred destination for painters and artists at the beginning of the century. The landscape here is so diverse; steep mountains meet picturesque shores, the green of the pine trees contrasting with grey limestone rocks.
Around Mallorca, travel by yacht is the perfect way to get to places otherwise inaccessible and to discover an island of pine forests, mountains, rustic towns and idyllic coves.

The island measures almost 80 kilometres from one end to the other and boasts incredible diversity. It is 187 nautical miles to circumnavigate, but it has almost 300 nm of coastline counting all the inlets and bays you can explore on your yacht charter. Here you will find some of the Mediterranean’s most beautiful coves and beaches, including Es Trenc and Cala Mesquida, some of them with sophisticated restaurants, bars and boutiques and others to the north of the island, small coves set between cliffs and pine groves.

Mallorca’s clean, clear waters are ideal for swimming and water sports such as scuba diving, windsurfing, fishing, sailing, and even surfing. For the sports enthusiast, there are 24 golf courses on Mallorca and many are recognised as world-class to suit all levels of competence.
Ashore there are myriad of hiking trails, both along the coast and inland, all fully signposted, with information panels for visitors on foot or by bike.
Towns such as Deià, Pollença and Valldemossa have captivated artists for centuries. Culture is a vital part of the life of the island. Throughout the year there are festivals, concerts, literary events and exhibitions.

For the gourmand, even though you have your own chef aboard your charter yacht, we appreciate that you most likely want to explore the cuisine ashore. Palma will have you in epicurean rapture! Gastronomic experiences range from an authentic paella on the beach and rustic roasts in farmhouse restaurants to Michelin-starred cuisine that appear in the “Guide Rouge” each year.

The elegant Puerto Portals, a short cruise along the coast from Palma, has a hub for restaurants, bars and fine dining establishments. Along with its marina of luxury yachts, there are boutiques and some of the best restaurants on Mallorca.

The sea bed is rocky and perfect for snorkelling with a brilliant variety of fish and cormorants. Northern beaches include Cala Morell and Arenal den Castell and for somewhere truly remote, ask your captain to take you to Cala Tortuga, Cala Pilar, Cavalleria or Pregonda.

The coastline of Menorca abounds with pretty coves with turquoise water and white sandy beaches. The landscape consists of low hills and woods and aromatic herbs and shrubs. Local villages dotted around the coastline provide restaurants with a warm and welcome Menorcan atmosphere, along with some of the finest local cuisine.

Whether it’s windsurfing, diving, jet skiing, horse riding, cycling, golf, gastronomy or bird watching that excites you, Menorca delivers.

Menorca has been, from prehistory to very recent times, a crossroad point for many different cultures because of its strategic situation in the centre of the western Mediterranean. It has been considered both a port of call and a place of refuge by these different races, all of whom left the island a rich historical legacy.

The evidence lies in the military network of forts and watchtowers: the Castle of San Antonio in Fornells, the Fortress of la Mola in Mahón, 14 watchtowers linking the coastline, 11 built by the English and three by the Spanish, Fort Marlborough or the San Felipe castle in Es Castell.

Ashore, there are various cultural trails, charting the island’s illustrious past: its forts, churches, anthropological ruins, museums and galleries. The period of British rule can be traced through monuments to Lord Nelson, the estate known as San Antoni/Golden Farm, vestiges of English architecture and the Menorca Military Museum.

The Gastronomy Product Club of Menorca exists to offer visitors authentic experiences. Member establishments along the four Routes (Cheese, Wine, Traditional Recipes and Seafaring Gastronomy) offer top quality local products prepared with patriotic care. You can find out more at www.menorca.es

For history buffs, Ibiza boasts some of the most well-preserved Renaissance ramparts in the Mediterranean, hence a poetic reference to the city as “the ship of stone”. The Dalt Vila, a walled city, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1999. You can walk the entire perimeter of these impressive Renaissance-era walls, designed to withstand heavy artillery, and enjoy some of the best views of Ibiza from the top. The old quarter is also part of the UNESCO World Heritage site. Nestled inside the ramparts, small palaces, art galleries, museums, restaurants with creative and traditional cuisine, little bars, and trendy shops line the route leading to the cathedral and the castle. Cultural sites include the Puig des Molins necropolis and the Phoenician settlement of Sa Caleta.

 

At the close of the 7th century BC, the Phoenicians established themselves at Puig de Vila and founded a settlement on the bay of Ibiza which constituted the original core of the city. It was in this period that the Puig des Molins was used as a necropolis. At the Monographic Puig des Molins Museum the history of the area is explained in great detail.

At the southern end of Ibiza, Ses Salines Nature Reserve is blessed with healthy fields of seagrass. Here, the sea is so pristine, it’s a natural habitat for endangered species such as the Mediterranean monk seal and there are flocks of diverse species of birds. Las Salinas Nature Park offers incredible walking trails through the dunes and pine woods, and past the salt flats to end in the beaches of Es Cavallet, Ses Salines, d’en Bossa and Es Codolar you will find beach bars. Another option is to go to Ses Portes, where soldiers defended the island from pirate attack. Es Cavallet beach is known as the island’s “gay coast”, with an array of beach restaurant-bars and clubs.

In addition to some tranquil anchorages away from the crowds, there are several marinas on Ibiza that offer 5-star service and a pleasant base from which to explore: Marina Botafoch, Puerto Ibiza la Nueva, Puerto San Antonio-Abad, Puerto Santa Eulalia.

Beyond Ses Salines, there are hidden beaches and historic monuments many accessible only by boat on your yacht charter.

Formentera is 10 miles long and 8 miles wide and considered the last wilderness in the Mediterranean. By charter yacht guests can just relax and savour the scenery, or take on the myriad of options for active tourism. Formentera provides awesome conditions for water sports, especially diving, thanks to the clean, crystal clear waters and warm temperatures. The unusual shape of the island is ideal for windsurfing all year round. If you’re in to walking and cycling, the island has properly signed green circuits.

Illetes Beach is the best, but the anchorage is most crowded during the summer. The advantages of a yacht charter are that you can escape the crowds and cruise further along the coastline to find perfect lagoons for snorkelling away from the crowds.

Heading south, you will come to Ca Na Costa where archaeological ruins have been identified as a tomb dating from 2,000 BC.

If you hire a car or a scooter, along the main road towards La Mola is the longest stretch of beach known as Platja Migjorn. Es Calo boasts a picturesque cluster of restaurants, cafes and water of the most incredible turquoise. La Mola is atop a steep hill, with its lighthouse known as Faro de la Mola built in 1861. There is a Jules Verne monument here, a tribute to the author who made his base here while he penned his 1877 novel ‘Journey Round the Solar System’. Near here is the cave known as Cova des Fum where it is said that in 1108 Norman invaders tortured and burned to death Arab inhabitants.

Playa Migjorn is a short jaunt from there, popular with those who prefer to sunbake and bathe nude! The most important port is Sa Savina, 3kms from the capital, Sant Francesc, surrounded by the sea on one side and two large lakes on the other, which makes it quite spectacular.
Of interest in the city is the fortified church: built in 1729. And located in the ‘plaza principal’. Then there’s the Ethnological Museum which offers a glimpse into the history of the island and its people.

The upgraded Marina de Formentera is a well-equipped marina accustomed to giving yachts impeccable service with modern technology and environmental considerations.

Cala Illetes is a great choice for fine dining, Head to Cabo Barberia, near the lighthouse for beautiful views and for moorings, Cala Saona is a popular, yet serene harbour for marvelling at the sunset and crystalline waters.