Boat rental in Ibiza and Formentera: licence, skipper, prices

From 1 October 2026, you can no longer rent a motorboat without a licence in Spain, not even a small 5-metre, 15 hp boat. To get out on the water in Ibiza and Formentera, there are three options left: rent with a skipper (no licence needed), rent on your own with a boating qualification or the new licencia de navegación, or join a boat trip. Here is what each option costs, where to go and the rules to know at sea.

What changes on 1 October 2026: the end of licence-free boat rental

Until now, a tourist could rent a motorboat under 5 metres and 15 hp with no qualification at all, by day and within 2 miles of a port. This was the “no licence needed” boat offered in every port in Ibiza and Formentera.

Real Decreto 1188/2025, published in the BOE on 30 December 2025, removes this exemption for motorboats rented from 1 October 2026. The government cites the high number of incidents and accidents linked to these rentals. The exemption only remains for a privately used motorboat (your own) and for small sailing boats under 6 metres (details of the decree, Forbes España).

What you now need to skipper a rented boat yourself:

• A recognised boating qualification: for UK visitors, the RYA International Certificate of Competence (ICC) is the document Spanish rental companies generally accept. You remain limited to its own scope (vessel size, distance from shore), so check it covers the boat you want.
• Or the Spanish licencia de navegación: an in-person theory and practical course, with no exam, for around €110-120. It lets you skipper a boat up to 6 metres, by day.
• Or a skipper: they hold the qualification, you need nothing.

In practice, the “no licence” boat deals still visible online will disappear or change their conditions. Check what the rental company asks for before you pay.

Skipper, licence or boat trip: 3 ways to get on the water

How much does it cost to rent a boat in Ibiza?

The price depends first on the skipper: a boat with a captain costs more, but is shared by the whole group. A few benchmarks checked in September 2026:

Option	Price seen	Capacity	Example
Shared Es Vedrà trip	from €45 / person	Group	Es Vedrà with swim stop
Private boat with skipper (3h30)	from €700 / boat	up to 7 people	Classic boat trip
Private day sail to Formentera	from €623 / boat	up to 8 people	Ibiza – Formentera sailing boat
Boat without skipper (with licence)	depends on size and season	4 to 10 people	Compare boats

Before booking, check three lines: fuel (included or charged on return), the deposit (often a few hundred euros, sometimes in cash) and equipment (paddleboard, masks, cool box). In July and August, skippered boats are booked several weeks ahead.

Where to go by boat from Ibiza

Es Vedrà and Atlantis, by sea rather than on foot

This is the star trip on the west coast. The Cala d’Hort car park stayed closed for much of the 2026 season and the path to Atlantis is steep and unmarked: the sea has become the easiest way in. Boats leave from San Antonio, run along Cala d’Hort and stop facing Es Vedrà for a swim.

Cala Bassa, Cala Conta and the west coast

From San Antonio bay, Cala Bassa and Cala Conta are a short hop away. By boat, you avoid the packed car parks in August and can anchor on sand, away from the beach crowds. They are also the best spots for a sunset seen from the sea.

Crossing to Formentera and Espalmador

The crossing through the Freus strait leads to Espalmador and Ses Illetes. The passage can get choppy when the wind picks up: it is typically a trip to do with a skipper, or with a proper licence and a suitable boat. For a return trip without skippering yourself, the ferry is still the cheapest option.

Renting a boat in Formentera

Rental companies are grouped at La Savina port, where the ferry arrives. From La Savina, Espalmador and Ses Illetes are a few minutes’ sailing away, and Cala Saona can be reached along the west coast. The licence rules are the same as in Ibiza. If you would rather not skipper, a 3-hour small-group trip to Espalmador and Illetes starts at €95 per person (our page).

The rules to follow at sea

• No anchoring on posidonia, only on sand. The seagrass is protected in the Balearics and monitored: according to Greenpeace, more than one in five illegal anchorings in Ibiza in 2026 is on posidonia (elDiario.es). To understand what is at stake, read our article on posidonia.
• At Espalmador, anchor only in the designated areas and land via the access channels. Buoy fields exist at Ses Salines, Espalmador and Caló de s’Oli.
• Buoys are booked on balearslifeposidonia.eu, between 20 and 2 days before the date, with a maximum of two consecutive nights per week (official rules).
• Marked swimming areas are off-limits to boats: approach beaches through the signposted channels.

Who is it for, and who not?

A private boat with a skipper is worth the money from 4-5 people: split per person, it often costs less than you think, and it is the only way to see the west-coast coves without a licence or the stress of navigating. Renting without a skipper is only for licence holders who are comfortable at sea, as the wind can pick up quickly during the day. A shared trip suits solo travellers, couples and small budgets, as long as you accept a fixed programme. For activities without a boat (kayak, paddleboard, diving), see our guides to activities in Ibiza and water sports in Formentera.

FAQ: boat rental in Ibiza and Formentera