Some people come to Ibiza for the nights. But ask anyone who actually lives here where the island shows its best face, and they will point at the sea. From the first week of July, the water is warm, the light is long, and the fleet that leaves Ibiza Town, San Antonio and Santa Eulària every morning is the real headline act. This is the week to swap the sun lounger for a deck.
Here is my local's guide to the best Ibiza boat trips, sunset cruises and Formentera crossings running between July 3 and 9, 2026 — what they cost, who they suit, and how to actually get on board.
The classic: a day trip to Formentera
If you do one thing on the water this week, make it Formentera. The little island 30 minutes south of Ibiza has the whitest sand and the clearest water in the Mediterranean, and there is a crossing to suit every budget and starting point. The fast Balearia ferry from Ibiza Town port runs from around 7:00 and costs roughly €25–50 return. Prefer something more scenic? The Formentera Cruise (from €34.50) turns the journey itself into the outing, while the Santa Eulalia–Formentera ferry (from €24) and the San Antonio–Formentera boat (from €22) mean you don't have to trek across the island to reach the port.
For a slower, more indulgent day, the Es Vedrà + Formentera Excursion (from €69.50) loops past Ibiza's most famous rock before dropping you into Formentera's turquoise shallows. Go early: the sandbanks at Ses Illetes are heaven at 10am and heaving by lunch.
Es Vedrà and the wild west coast
You cannot photograph Es Vedrà properly from land — the 400-metre limestone monolith off the southwest coast only reveals its full drama from the water. The gentle way to see it is the San Antonio to Es Vedrà daytime boat trip (from €23), a relaxed half-day that hugs the cliffs of the Natural Reserve. Those chasing the postcard shot should hold out for golden hour, when the rock turns from grey to bronze.
Want the coastline most tourists never see? Ibiza's Northface boat trip (from €40) runs along the rugged, pine-cloaked cliffs of the north — a completely different island from the resort south, all hidden coves and sea caves. It is one of the most underrated tickets on the water this week.
Sunset cruises: the island's signature ritual
Watching the sun drop into the Mediterranean from a boat is the most Ibiza thing you can do, and there is no shortage of options between now and July 9. Float Your Boat's Beach Cruise Sunset (from €25) is the crowd-pleaser — a proper party boat with a DJ, a swim stop and that golden-hour glow. For something a touch more polished, the Sunset boat excursion with DJ aboard the Ulises Cat catamaran (around €89) trades chaos for a smoother, glass-of-cava kind of evening.
The Cruise Crush VIP catamaran (from €69) leans into the celebration, while Pukka Up's "A Day in Paradise" (from €75) has been an island institution for two decades. Whichever you pick, the formula is the same: warm sea, a soundtrack, and a sky that does the rest.
Caves, coves and the beach-hopping fleet
If you would rather explore than party, this is your section. The Cave and Beach Hopping Boat Tour with Take Off (from €70) threads the speedboat into sea caves and secluded calas you simply cannot reach on foot. The Crystal Waters boat trip (from €30) is the affordable, family-friendly version — pure snorkelling-clear water and swim stops. And for a quick, cheap escape, the little Cala Salada ferry from San Antonio costs as little as €7 and drops you at one of the island's prettiest cove beaches.
Feeling ambitious? The full-day Calas de Formentera boat trip (from €180) is a splurge, but it delivers a private-charter feel around Formentera's most secret inlets.
For the active: paddle, snorkel and jet ski
Ibiza's sea is not just for lounging. The 3-hour Boat Trip with Paddle Surf Lesson and Snorkelling run by SUP Paradise (from €75) is my pick for anyone who likes to earn their swim — you paddle into a quiet cove, snorkel the seagrass meadows, and boat back. Prefer speed? Jet ski tours launch all week from both San Antonio and Playa d'en Bossa, with short taster rides from around €65 and longer Es Vedrà charters climbing toward €300.
A quick word on those seagrass meadows: the Posidonia you'll snorkel over is exactly why Ibiza's water is so absurdly clear. Look, don't anchor on it, and don't stand on it — it is a protected, living part of what makes these trips worth taking.
Practical tips before you cast off
A few things I tell every friend who visits. Book ahead — July sailings, especially sunset cruises and Formentera crossings, sell out days in advance, and it is far cheaper to reserve online than to gamble at the harbour. Go morning for calm water; the afternoon breeze (the embat) picks up chop from around 2pm, so nervous sailors and families should sail early. Bring more than you think: reef-safe sun cream, a hat, a light layer for the ride home, and cash for beach bars on Formentera. And check what's included — some tickets add drinks, paella or snorkel gear, others keep it bare-bones.
You can browse every sailing on this list, compare prices and grab tickets through the event pages on ibiza-calendar.com. The fleet is out there every single day this week — all you have to do is show up at the dock.
See you on the water.