Ibiza & Formentera: Small Group Boat Trip with Snorkeling

4.74

(166 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

“You see that line where the water turns almost white? That’s where you’ll want to jump in,” our captain said, grinning like he’d been doing this forever. I was still holding my sandals, not sure if I should just toss them or keep pretending I was graceful. The sun was already warming up the deck and someone had started laughing about how salty the air tasted — it really does get everywhere. There were only nine of us, so it felt more like a group of friends than a tour. I kept watching Espalmador get closer, the sand looking almost unreal from a distance.

We stopped first at what they called “the most famous beach in the Balearics” (I think it’s Ses Illetes?), and honestly, I didn’t expect to care much — but the water was so clear you could see every ripple on the sand below. Our guide handed me a snorkel mask and gave a quick nod; no long explanations, just “go on, try it.” I’m not great at snorkeling but floating there with tiny silver fish darting around was strangely peaceful. Someone tried stand-up paddleboarding and fell off right away — we all cheered anyway. The snacks were simple but perfect: salty crackers and cold soda that tasted better than it should have after swimming.

Later we drifted over to Espalmador. The fruit platter came out (mangoes and watermelon mostly), sticky sweet in the afternoon heat. A couple from Madrid shared stories about their last visit here before kids — their laughter kind of echoing across the quiet water. The sand was powdery soft underfoot; I found myself just sitting there for a while, letting my hands sift through it. It’s hard to explain how blue everything looks until you’re actually there.

I still think about that view back toward Ibiza as we sailed home — sunburned shoulders, hair full of salt, everyone quieter than before. Maybe it was just tiredness or maybe nobody wanted to break whatever spell that day had cast over us.