Balearic Islands Yacht Charter
Crewed yachts from Palma to Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca, from €15,000 a week plus 21% VAT. Broker-led since 1992.
Reviewed by Adrian Sneed, Charter Broker at Sneed Charters — a family brokerage arranging crewed yacht charters in the Mediterranean since 1992.
A crewed week in the Balearics runs from about €15,000 for a catamaran to €500,000 and beyond for a superyacht, plus an APA of 25–35% and 21% Spanish VAT — and Spain gives no VAT relief for time spent outside its waters. The islands make two different weeks: Mallorca, with Palma and the Tramuntana coast, or Ibiza and Formentera, 12 nautical miles apart. Ibiza lies about 65–70 nautical miles from Palma, so linking the two takes a passage day. Since April 2026 anchoring over seagrass is banned across Spanish waters; your captain plans around it, and you will not notice.
Where to charter in the Balearics
Four grounds, and they make different weeks. Mallorca is the big island, with the most marinas and the most varied coast. Ibiza and Formentera are the beach-club pair. Menorca is the quiet one, a passage away. Cabrera is a national park you visit for a day or a night.
Four cruising grounds at a glance
Sa CalobraMallorca
Best monthsJun–Sep
The city, the Tramuntana cliffs and the coves of the south-west. The best shore programme in the islands and the deepest choice of yachts.
Cala d’HortIbiza & Formentera
Best monthsJun–Sep
Beach clubs and Formentera’s beaches, 12 nm apart. Short hops, lively nights, and regulated buoy fields at ses Salines.
Cala MacarellaMenorca
Best monthsJun–Sep
Quieter, and a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1993. About 42 nm from Alcúdia — a passage day from Mallorca.
CabreraCabrera National Park
Best monthsJun–Sep
A free navigation permit, buoys only, yachts up to 35 m, and two nights at most in July and August.
“Best months” is our own recommendation, not an industry standard.
The trade-off worth saying out loud: Mallorca is bigger than it looks from the air. Sailing all the way round it is only realistic with 10 to 14 days and a fast motor yacht, so a single week covers one coast properly rather than the whole island. Ibiza is about 65–70 nautical miles from Palma — roughly six hours on a 12-knot yacht — and a fast motor yacht turns that into a morning.
If the Balearics turn out not to be the right water, we broker the whole basin — see our Mediterranean yacht charter guide.
When is the best time to charter in the Balearics?
June to September. September is the one we recommend most often across the Mediterranean, and the Balearics are no exception: the sea is still about 25°C, Palma's average high has dropped to 28°C, and the August crowds have gone home. July and August are the hottest months — Palma averages 31°C — and the busiest in Ibiza.
| Month | Air, average high | Sea, about | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| June | 28.1°C | 22.5°C | Shoulder |
| July | 31.2°C | 24.8°C | Peak |
| August | 31.3°C | 26.0°C | Peak |
| September | 27.9°C | 25.1°C | Shoulder |
| October | 23.9°C | 22.7°C | Late |
The meltemi, the wind that decides a Greek week, does not reach the Balearics — see our guide to the meltemi.
A sample week from Palma
A week from Palma covers the south-west coast and the Tramuntana cliffs of the north-west — the most dramatic water in Mallorca, with short legs. The full circuit of the island is a different trip: it needs 10 to 14 days and a fast motor yacht. This is a starting point, not a fixed route; the captain sets the final plan around weather and buoy availability.
- Day 1
Palma to Portals Vells
Board in Palma in the afternoon and run west to Portals Vells, a pine-backed cove with a quiet beach, for the first swim and dinner aboard.
- Day 2
Portals Vells to Port d'Andratx
Along the south-west coast to Port d'Andratx, about 19 nm from Palma, with a lunch stop at anchor on the way. Dinner ashore in the port.
- Day 3
Port d'Andratx to Port de Sóller
Round Sa Dragonera, the natural-park island off Mallorca's western tip, then north up the Tramuntana coast to Port de Sóller.
- Day 4
Sa Calobra and the Torrent de Pareis
A morning run along the cliffs to Sa Calobra and the mouth of the Torrent de Pareis gorge. Back to Sóller, and the tram up to the town.
- Day 5
Sóller to Port d'Andratx via Deià
Swim off Deià's small cove, then the long leg back round the western tip to Port d'Andratx.
- Day 6
Port d'Andratx to Puerto Portals
An easy day east along the coast to Puerto Portals, the superyacht harbour west of Palma, for its restaurants.
- Day 7
Puerto Portals to Palma
A short run into Palma for a last morning in the old town and the Gothic cathedral before you step ashore.
Want this week planned around your dates and the yacht you have in mind?
Your broker builds the route around your party, the yacht and the buoy fields free that week.
Plan my weekWhat a Balearics charter costs, and what the tax adds
Weekly rates run from about €15,000 for a crewed catamaran to €500,000 and beyond for a large superyacht, quoted on MYBA terms — the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association contract that is the industry standard for crewed charter — plus an APA of 25–35%: an Advance Provisioning Allowance, a float the captain spends on your fuel, food and berthing and reconciles with receipts. Spain then adds 21% VAT on the fee.
| Yacht | Weekly rate | With 21% VAT | Where it suits the Balearics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Crewed catamaran 45–75 ft · 6–10 guests | €15,000–€60,000 | €18,150–€72,600 | Shallow draft for Formentera's beaches. The sensible first charter. |
| Sailing yacht 75–150 ft · 6–12 guests | €30,000–€250,000 | €36,300–€302,500 | Mallorca's coast under sail; Cabrera's buoys take yachts up to 35 m. |
| Motor yacht 75–130 ft · 8–12 guests | €60,000–€250,000 | €72,600–€302,500 | Turns the Palma–Ibiza crossing from a day into a morning. |
| Superyacht 130 ft and above · 10–12 guests | €250,000–€500,000+ | €302,500–€605,000+ | Club de Mar takes yachts to 170 m; Marina Ibiza to 110 m. |
Want to see real yachts in these bands? Browse our fleet, or ask for a shortlist of yachts free on your dates.
Charter VAT in Spain is 21%, charged on the fee, with no reduction for time spent outside EU waters. On a €60,000 week that is €12,600, against €7,800 for the same yacht boarding in Greece or Croatia. That gap — about €4,800 — is set by where the week starts, not by negotiation.
What a week actually costs, all in
A €60,000 charter fee is not what leaves your account. Add an APA of 25–35% and 21% VAT on the fee, and the realistic total is €87,600 to €93,600 — roughly 46 to 56% above the headline. A crew gratuity of 10–15% is customary and sits on top.
| Line | Low case | High case |
|---|---|---|
| Charter fee | €60,000 | €60,000 |
| APA at 25–35% | €15,000 | €21,000 |
| Spanish charter VAT at 21% | €12,600 | €12,600 |
| All in | €87,600 | €93,600 |
The APA is a float, not a fee: whatever is unspent comes back to you. See our full guide to yacht charter costs.
What is included, and what is not
The charter fee buys the yacht, her crew and her insurance. Everything you consume aboard runs through the APA, and Spanish VAT sits on the fee. On MYBA terms that split is standard.
In the charter fee
- The yacht herself, and her tenders
- The crew — wages, their food, uniforms
- Hull and third-party liability insurance
Billed through the APA, against receipts
- Fuel, for the yacht and the tenders
- Food and drink, provisioned to your preferences
- Marina berths and buoy-field fees
Extra, on top of both
- Spanish charter VAT at 21%, charged on the fee
- Crew gratuity, at your discretion — 10–15% is customary
- Your own trip-cancellation cover
Water toys are the one line that varies — in the fee on some yachts, an APA item on others. We confirm it on the specific yacht.
Want this worked out for a real yacht and your dates?
Your broker sends a shortlist of yachts that are free that week, each priced all in — APA and Spanish VAT included.
Get My ShortlistWhere your week starts
Most Balearics charters board in Palma or Ibiza. The starting port fixes 21% VAT for the whole week, and a yacht that has to reposition — Palma to Ibiza, say — usually carries a delivery fee. Fly into Palma (PMI), Ibiza (IBZ) or Menorca (MAH); Palma has a general-aviation terminal with private-jet handling.
| Marina | Largest yacht | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Club de Mar, Palma | 170 m | The largest superyachts, central Palma |
| Port Adriano, Mallorca | 80 m | South-west Mallorca, near Port d'Andratx |
| Marina Port de Mallorca, Palma | 50 m | Mid-size yachts on Palma's waterfront |
| Marina Ibiza | 110 m | Ibiza Town, and the base for Formentera |
Can you still anchor in the Balearics?
Yes — just not on seagrass. Since 2 April 2026, Royal Decree 191/2026 has banned anchoring over seagrass meadows across all Spanish Mediterranean waters, and the Balearics have had their own Posidonia decree since 2018.
In practice it changes nothing for you. Your captain anchors on sand or picks up an authorised buoy, and captains who work these islands know every field. You will notice it in two places: Cabrera, which is buoys only and needs a permit the crew arranges, and the regulated buoy fields at s'Espalmador and ses Salines in summer. The full picture, country by country, is in our Mediterranean anchoring rules guide.
Your brokers
You get a named broker, not a call centre. The same person takes your first message, negotiates the contract and is reachable while you are aboard.
Hansel Sneed
Founder & Charter Broker
Hansel founded Sneed Charters in 1992 and has been placing crewed charters for more than thirty years.
Adrian Sneed
Charter Broker
Adrian is the broker who reviewed the rates, taxes and anchoring rules published on this page, and the person who will answer when you send your dates.
Get a shortlist for your dates
Tell us the week, the island you are drawn to and how many are aboard. Your broker replies within one business day with yachts that are genuinely free for those dates, priced with APA and VAT included. No fee to you — the yacht's owner pays our commission.
Prefer to talk it through? Call 1-561-463-6840.
Balearics yacht charter FAQs
How much does it cost to charter a yacht in the Balearics for a week?
From about €15,000 for a crewed catamaran to €500,000 and beyond for a superyacht, before extras. Add an APA of 25–35% for fuel, food and berthing, 21% Spanish VAT on the fee and a discretionary crew gratuity of 10–15%. A €60,000 week lands at roughly €87,600–€93,600 before the tip.
How much VAT do I pay on a yacht charter in Mallorca or Ibiza?
21% on the charter fee — the standard Spanish rate, charged because the week starts in a Spanish port. Unlike France or Italy, Spain gives no reduction for time spent outside EU waters. On a €60,000 week that is €12,600, about €4,800 more than the same yacht boarding in Greece.
When is the best time to charter a yacht in the Balearics?
June to September. September is our usual recommendation: the sea is still about 25°C, Palma's average high has eased to 28°C and the August crowds have left. July and August are the hottest months, averaging 31°C in Palma, and the busiest in Ibiza, so berths need booking early.
Can we sail from Mallorca to Ibiza in a week?
Yes, but it costs you time. Ibiza is about 65–70 nautical miles from Palma — roughly six hours on a 12-knot yacht. A week that covers both spends a day in transit, and a one-way week usually carries a delivery fee. A fast motor yacht makes the crossing a morning.
Can we still anchor in the Balearics after the 2026 seagrass ban?
Yes, away from seagrass. Royal Decree 191/2026 has banned anchoring over seagrass across Spanish Mediterranean waters since 2 April 2026. In practice your captain anchors on sand or uses an authorised buoy field. Cabrera National Park is buoys only and needs a free permit, which the crew arranges.
Do I pay a fee to use a charter broker?
No. The yacht's owner pays our commission, and the charter rate is the same whether you book through us or direct. You get a named broker who sends a shortlist of yachts actually free for your dates, priced with APA and VAT, and who stays reachable while you are aboard.
Sources
Checked October 2026.
- AEMET — climate normals, Palma de Mallorca airport, 1981–2010
- Govern de les Illes Balears — Cabrera National Park, navigation permits and rules
- Parques Nacionales — Cabrera buoy sizes and maximum stays
- Govern de les Illes Balears — regulated Posidonia buoy fields
- Club de Mar Mallorca — berths; Port Adriano — moorings; Marina Port de Mallorca; Marina Ibiza
- Turespaña — sailing the Balearic Islands, route distances