Seeing Formentera from the sea is one of the best things you can do on the island, and there are three ways to do it: join an organised boat trip, hire a boat with a skipper, or rent a small boat that needs no licence and take it out yourselves. Almost everything leaves from the port of La Savina. Before you go, two things are worth knowing: what you can drive without a licence (small boats, by day and close to the coast), and that in Formentera you can't drop anchor on the posidonia seagrass, which is what keeps the water so clear.
Here's how we'd organise it from our house in La Mola.
Three ways to go out by boat
Organised boat trips
The easiest option if you don't want to worry about anything: half-day or full-day trips, shared or private, which usually go past Ses Illetes and s'Espalmador with stops for a swim. There are several companies in La Savina, and you can also book online.
Boat hire with a skipper
A boat just for your group, with someone who knows the area, knows where you're allowed to anchor and picks the coves depending on the wind. It's the most relaxed option if there are six of you or nobody has experience, and the one we recommend if you want to go to s'Espalmador.
Licence-free boat rental
In Spain you can drive small motorboats without a licence: up to 5 metres long and with a maximum power of 11.26 kW (15 hp), as long as you stay within 2 nautical miles of the coast and only in daylight. You must be over 18, and the rental company first gives you a practical briefing on the boat, the engine, safety and how to anchor. These are boats for pottering along the coast on calm days, not for crossing to Ibiza.
If you hold a boat licence from another country, the rental company usually handles the Harbour Master's authorisation that validates it in Spain.
Where to rent a boat
Most rental and boat trip companies are in the port of La Savina, and the simplest thing is to walk by and ask. The best known are Náutica Pins and Sa Barca de Formentera, although we haven't tried them ourselves. In July and August it's worth booking ahead.
Where to go
S'Espalmador
The islet just north of Ses Illetes, separated from Formentera by a narrow channel. It belongs to the Ses Salines Natural Park and the Es Freus Marine Reserve, so it's strictly protected: in its bay, s'Alga, there's a regulated mooring buoy field and boats must tie up to the buoys rather than anchor. In 2025 the Balearic government fined several companies a total of more than 70,000 euros for landing passengers on s'Espalmador, the Pas des Trucadors and Ses Illetes without authorisation. If you go on a boat trip, check that it has the permits.
Ses Illetes
The island's most famous beach, with white sand and turquoise water, looks quite different from the sea. It's also the busiest in summer. We talk about it in our post on quiet beaches near El Pilar de la Mola and in upcoming posts on each beach.
The La Mola coastline
From the sea you see the cliffs of La Mola with the lighthouse on top, a view you simply can't get from land. It's more exposed to wind and swell, so it's best with a skipper and on calm days.
Our favourite spots from the sea
We've spent our holidays in Formentera all our lives, and we've been out on the water every way possible: in small boats, on jet skis, in the island's traditional llaüts and sailing right round Formentera. We often go fishing with our childhood friends, and these are the places we always come back to:
- El Racó de sa Pujada and the coast between Es Caló and the Sa Cala cliffs. Our spot for as long as we can remember. Sometimes, depending on the currents, a little sandy beach forms there, and it's a sight to see.
- Below La Mola lighthouse. Fishing at the foot of the cliffs with the lighthouse above is one of the things we love most about the island.
- The Cala Saona coastline. The rocks are beautiful and it makes a lovely boat trip.
- The far end of s'Espalmador. If you carry on to the northern tip of the islet, almost facing Ibiza, there are stunning, almost untouched beaches.
Anchoring and posidonia: the rule you need to know
In the Balearic Islands it is generally forbidden to anchor on posidonia seagrass. You may only anchor on sand or tie up to authorised buoys. Around Formentera there are two regulated buoy fields: the bay of s'Alga, in s'Espalmador, and the southern part of Caló de s'Oli. In summer there are patrols and the fines are high.
If you rent without a skipper, the easiest thing is to ask the company where you can anchor and always drop the anchor on clear, sandy seabed.
Tips before you set off
- Check the wind before booking. Formentera is narrow, and there's almost always a sheltered side. One of our tricks: on the way down from La Mola, stop at El Mirador restaurant, halfway down, and look from there to see which coast has the smallest waves.
- Go early. The prettiest coves fill up with boats by midday in July and August.
- Bring water, a hat and sunscreen. At sea the sun is much stronger than it feels.
- Leave nothing in the water. No rubbish, no food scraps.
From our house
The port of La Savina is about 25 minutes by car from our house in El Pilar de la Mola, so you can head out on a boat in the morning and be back at the pool in the afternoon. Can Javi de Palma is our family home in La Mola, with three double bedrooms, a private pool and a garden, for up to six adults (tourist licence ET6047). If you're thinking of coming, you can check availability here, and you'll find more ideas for planning your trip on our Formentera island page.
FAQ
Can you rent a boat without a licence in Formentera?
Yes: motorboats up to 5 metres and 15 hp, in daylight and within 2 nautical miles of the coast. You must be over 18, and the company shows you how to handle it first.
Can you anchor at s'Espalmador?
In the bay of s'Alga there's a regulated buoy field and you have to tie up to the buoys. Anchoring on posidonia is forbidden throughout the area.
Where do boat trips in Formentera leave from?
Most leave from the port of La Savina, which is also where the rental companies are.
Is it better to rent with or without a skipper?
For s'Espalmador, the La Mola coast or if nobody has experience, go with a skipper: they know where you can anchor and choose the route according to the wind. Without a skipper, only small boats, close to the coast and on calm days.
