Palma: Private Sailing Tour with Paella & Tapas Onboard

4.95

(147 reviews)

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t think the water would be that clear — you know how photos always exaggerate? But as soon as we left the marina in Palma, I could see straight down to the rocks. Our skipper, Toni, greeted us with this easy grin and handed over a cold drink before we even sat down. There was this faint smell of sunscreen and sea salt everywhere. We’d picked the half-day private sailing tour because I thought eight hours might be too much sun for my skin (spoiler: four wasn’t enough).

Toni steered us past these little coves I’d never have found on my own — some only big enough for two boats at a time. He pointed out one spot where locals swim after work; apparently, it’s their version of happy hour. The wind kept shifting so sometimes we just drifted quietly, listening to the rigging creak and seagulls bicker overhead. My friend tried paddle surfing for about five minutes before giving up and flopping back onto the deck laughing. Snacks kept appearing from somewhere below deck — olives, cheese, things I couldn’t pronounce (Li laughed when I tried to say “sobrasada” in Spanish — definitely butchered it).

The best bit was when Toni started cooking paella right there on board. The smell of saffron mixed with the sea air is something I still think about. It took longer than I expected (I guess good things do), but by then we were hungry from swimming and sun. There was no rush at all — just eating together while the boat rocked gently and the sky turned that washed-out blue you only get in Mallorca.