Balearic Islands

Ibiza

Dalt Vila's ramparts by day, a beach-club table by dusk, Es Vedrà on the horizon throughout — the Balearics' loudest name and its most private anchorages, both at once.

April–OctoberIBZ · private jet FBOs on-fieldThe vibe: after dark

Ibiza runs two clocks at once: the fortress town of Dalt Vila, floodlit above the marina, and the sand-and-rock coves of the west coast where the island still looks empty. The fleet gathers at Marina Ibiza and Botafoch, a tender ride from Pacha and a helicopter hop from the villas of the northeast. By evening the anchorages empty toward Cala Jondal and Cala Comte, where the beach clubs have drawn the same crowd for decades and Es Vedrà turns black against the last light.

"You anchor off Es Vedrà once — after that you understand why nobody photographs it the same way twice."

The gallery

Signature anchorages

Six named coves that between them cover every point of the compass and every mood — sheltered lunch stop, sunset theatre, quiet snorkel morning.

  • Cala BassaWest coast, sand 4–7m, sheltered from all but NW wind — good to 30m LOA. Beach club ashore runs late; anchor further north for a quiet night.
  • Cala d'HortSW coast, sand/rock 6–10m, open to S–SW–W swell. The Es Vedrà anchorage — the photograph every owner wants, weather permitting.
  • Cala SaladaWest coast, sand 4–7m, pine cliffs block the tramontana. Narrow inlet — tenders in from an outer anchor for larger yachts.
  • Cala ComteWest coast, rocky sand 5–8m, moderate holding. The reference sunset anchorage — sun into the sea over a scatter of islets, Sunset Ashram ashore.
  • TalamancaEast coast, sand 3–6m, shallow and calm. The practical overnight for provisioning and crew changes, walking distance to town.
  • Cala XarracaNorth coast, small and isolated, clear water prized for snorkelling — a quieter counterpoint to the west-coast scene.

2026 ecological anchoring zones (buoy fields protecting Posidonia, the protected seagrass meadow) now cover Benirràs, Cala Bassa, Cala Salada, Cala Vedella, Es Xarco, Portinatx and Talamanca — confirm buoy availability before anchoring.

The scene

Beach clubs, sunset bars and a club calendar that built the island's global reputation — glamour and name-drops, forty years running.

Beach club

Blue Marlin

Cala Jondal's private jetty puts tenders at the table. Wagyu and Veuve Clicquot by day; a celebrity roll-call reported to include Beyoncé. 2026 opening weekend 25–26 April with Pete Tong and Saraga.

Beach club

Nikki Beach

Near Santa Eulalia — panoramic sea-view cabanas, a curated Spanish-international menu, Afro House nights, and a dedicated yacht-tender service.

Sunset

Sunset Ashram

Cala Comte's reference sundown bar, the sun dropping directly into the sea over the islets — the position every itinerary is built around for one evening.

The calendar

Opening to closing

IMS Ibiza 22–24 April; Opening Weekend 24–26 April at Pacha and Ushuaïa; Amnesia's main opening 9 May. Closing season runs mid-September to mid-October — Circoloco at DC10, Solomun+1 at Pacha.

Table & stay ashore

Three Michelin tables, one theatrical spectacle, and the three addresses that hold the island's charter guests when they come ashore.

Restaurants

Michelin star

La Gaia

Ibiza Gran Hotel, Ibiza Town. Chef Óscar Molina, Japanese precision meeting Balearic flavours — tasting menus Illa and Horitzó.

Michelin star

Omakase by Walt

Ibiza Town. One of three Michelin stars retained on the island for the 2026 guide.

Michelin star

Unic

Sant Josep. The third of Ibiza's Michelin-starred addresses in the 2026 guide.

Spectacle

Sublimotion

Hard Rock Hotel, Playa d'en Bossa. Paco Roncero's three-hour theatrical tasting menu — one of the world's most talked-about tables.

Hotels

North coast

Six Senses Ibiza

Xarraca Bay — 134 rooms over 25 acres, the first BREEAM-certified resort in the Balearics, yacht access from a steep rocky seafront.

Talamanca Bay

Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay

Seafront pools and the Balearics' first Nobu restaurant, a short tender from Marina Ibiza and Botafoch.

Dalt Vila

La Torre del Canónigo

A boutique address inside the walled UNESCO old town, built into the Roman-acropolis fortifications.

The week, sketched

Day 1

Marina Ibiza, Dalt Vila

Arrive and clear in, then walk the bastions of Dalt Vila at golden hour with the fleet lit up in the marina below.

Day 2

Talamanca to Cala Xarraca

A short hop north for a quiet snorkelling morning away from the crowds, pine-backed cliffs and clear water.

Day 3

Cala Salada & Cala Bassa

West-coast coves, a beach-club lunch at Cala Bassa, sheltered swimming through the afternoon.

Day 4

Cala Comte for sunset

Anchor early for position at Cala Comte; Sunset Ashram ashore for the sundown crowd.

Day 5

Cala d'Hort & Es Vedrà

The photograph day — anchor off Es Vedrà weather permitting, with Cala Jondal and Blue Marlin for lunch.

Day 6

Formentera day-run

11–13 nautical miles south to Illetes for the clearest water in the Balearics; return by evening or overnight off Formentera.

Day 7

Return to Marina Ibiza

A last dinner at La Gaia or Omakase by Walt in Ibiza Town before disembarkation.

Ibiza Town and back

A short loop close to Ibiza Town, four or five nights rather than a full week.

Day 1

Marina Ibiza

Arrive and clear in; the old town's ramparts catch the last light as the fleet settles below, dinner at La Gaia or Omakase by Walt.

Day 2

Talamanca

A short hop across the bay to calm, shallow water and easy provisioning; lunch ashore at Nobu Hotel Ibiza Bay.

Day 3

Cala Bassa

West coast for a beach-club lunch and sheltered swimming through the afternoon; anchor further north for a quieter night.

Day 4

Cala Jondal

Blue Marlin's private jetty puts the tender straight at the table for lunch; an easy, unhurried afternoon.

Day 5

Return to Marina Ibiza

A last morning swim off the boat, back to berth for dinner in town before disembarkation.

The long way round

A fuller circuit north and south, with a night over the water in Formentera instead of a same-day return.

Day 1

Marina Botafoch

Berth at Botafoch instead, a tender ride from Pacha; look back at Dalt Vila floodlit above the water once the sun is down.

Day 2

Talamanca to Santa Eulalia

An easy first day up the east coast; Nikki Beach's cabanas and yacht-tender service for lunch.

Day 3

Cala Xarraca & Portinatx

North coast, inside the island's ecological anchoring zones, for the clearest water on Ibiza; a quiet night off Six Senses Ibiza's stretch of Xarraca Bay.

Day 4

Benirràs

A further protected buoy field around the north coast; an isolated, unhurried day at anchor.

Day 5

Cala Salada & Cala Bassa

Back to the west coast; pine-cliff shelter at Salada in the morning, a beach-club lunch at Bassa.

Day 6

Cala Comte & Cala Jondal

Sunset at Sunset Ashram one evening; Blue Marlin's jetty and the Cala Jondal scene the next day.

Day 7

Cala d'Hort & Sant Josep

The Es Vedrà anchorage, weather permitting; ashore at Sant Josep for dinner at Unic.

Day 8

Formentera, overnight

The crossing south to Illetes, staying the night this time rather than turning back by evening.

Season windowApril–October
Water temp range14–26°C
Prevailing windTramontana (N/NW)
Nearest marinaMarina Ibiza, to 110m
Sail distanceFormentera ~11–13nm

Pair with

The year, measured

Monthly means at the heart of this water — daily maxima averaged, wind as mean daily peak.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Air, day °C151617192327313128241917
Sea °C161515172024282827241918
Wind, peak kt121013121110101010101413

ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo · 2019–2023 means · sea temperature 2022–2023

The yachts that run these waters

Profiles from the record — introductions via the harbour desk.

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