Ibiza is famous for its beaches. But the ones that appear on postcards and travel magazines — the ones with the turquoise water, the white sand and the sense of complete escape — are not the ones you reach by road. They are the ones you can only reach by boat.
This guide covers the best beaches and coves in Ibiza that are either impossible or impractical to reach any other way. If you want to experience the real beauty of the island, away from the crowds and the sun lounger queues, read on.
Ses Illetes, Formentera
Ses Illetes is consistently ranked among the best beaches in Europe — and it is only truly accessible by boat. A long, narrow strip of white sand with turquoise water on both sides, it sits at the northern tip of Formentera, just a short sail south of Ibiza.
While ferries do run from Ibiza to Formentera, arriving by private yacht means you anchor directly offshore, swim to the beach at your own pace and leave whenever you choose. No queues, no bus transfers, no strangers. Just the sand, the water and your group.
The water here is exceptional — shallow, warm and so clear you can see the seabed from 10 metres above it.
Espalmador
Before reaching Formentera, most boats make a stop at Espalmador — a small, uninhabited island in the strait between Ibiza and Formentera. There are no roads, no facilities and no permanent residents. Just a pristine white sand beach, a natural lagoon with impossibly clear water and the kind of silence you rarely find anywhere in the Balearics in summer.
Espalmador is famous for its natural mud baths — a shallow lagoon where the dark volcanic mud is said to have healing properties. Whether or not you believe the claims, covering yourself in mud and washing it off in the turquoise sea is one of the more memorable experiences you can have on a boat day from Ibiza.
Atlantis (Sa Pedrera), Ibiza
Atlantis is perhaps the most mythical spot on this list. Officially known as Sa Pedrera, it is an ancient quarry on the southwest coast of Ibiza, carved into dramatic rocky cliffs that descend directly into the sea. The geometric shapes left by centuries of stone cutting give it a surreal, otherworldly appearance — hence the name.
Getting there by land involves a steep and difficult hike down an unmarked path. By boat, you simply anchor offshore and swim in. The water is deep, clear and strikingly blue, and the rocky landscape around you feels unlike anything else in the Mediterranean.
Atlantis lies close to Es Vedrà, so most boat trips combine both stops on the same day.
Es Vedrà
Es Vedrà is not a beach — it is a rock. But what a rock. Rising 413 metres straight out of the sea from the southwest coast of Ibiza, Es Vedrà is one of the most visually dramatic natural landmarks in the Mediterranean. It is said to be the third most magnetic point on Earth, and standing on a boat deck as you sail past it, you can understand why it has inspired myths and legends for centuries.
The water around Es Vedrà is deep, clear and full of marine life. Anchoring here for a swim, with the rock towering above you and the mainland invisible on the horizon, is one of the defining experiences of an Ibiza boat charter.
Cova Rosa, Formentera
Tucked inside a horseshoe-shaped bay backed by striking red cliffs, Cova Rosa is one of the most visually unique beaches accessible from Ibiza. The contrast between the rust-coloured rock and the turquoise water is extraordinary, and the enclosed bay creates calm, warm water that is perfect for swimming even earlier in the season.
There is no road to Cova Rosa. The only way in is by boat, which means the beach is almost always quiet even at the height of summer — a rare thing in the Balearics in July.
Sa Roqueta, Formentera
Sa Roqueta is described by those who know it as the smallest and quietest beach in Formentera. A tiny sandy cove surrounded by rocky outcrops, it sits close to the fishing village of Es Pujols and offers an intimate, sheltered swimming spot away from the main beaches.
The water is calm and crystal clear, making it a favourite for snorkelling. The seagrass meadows just offshore are home to an impressive variety of fish, sea urchins and the occasional octopus.
Cala En Baster, Formentera
Cala En Baster is a narrow, rocky inlet in the north of Formentera that most visitors to the island never find. Surrounded by pine-covered cliffs that drop steeply into the sea, it has a dramatic, enclosed feel that is completely different from the wide open beaches of Ses Illetes.
The water here is deep and exceptionally clear — ideal for snorkelling or simply floating in the shade of the cliffs. A small fishing harbour at the head of the inlet adds to the charm.
Ses Platjetes, Formentera
Close to the village of Es Caló, Ses Platjetes is a series of small rocky beaches rich in underwater life. The seagrass beds here are some of the healthiest in the Balearics, and the snorkelling is outstanding — schools of fish, starfish, sea cucumbers and, if you are lucky, a seahorse or two.
It is not the kind of beach you go to for sunbathing. It is the kind you go to for the water, and it does not disappoint.
How to reach these beaches
All of the beaches on this list are either impossible to reach by road or require a significant hike that most visitors are unwilling or unable to make. The practical way to visit them — and the most enjoyable by far — is by private yacht charter from Ibiza.
A full day charter from Marina Port Ibiza gives you enough time to visit two or three of these spots comfortably, with time to swim, snorkel, have lunch at anchor and enjoy the kind of day that simply is not possible any other way.
Your skipper will know the best anchorages, the calmest spots and the hidden corners that do not appear in any guidebook.
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