Sailing
When to sail in Ibiza and Formentera: season, wind and sea
The sailing season in Ibiza runs roughly from April to October, but within those seven months the differences are enormous. A day in May with flat water and empty coves is nothing like a Saturday in August with everything full. Here is what is worth knowing before choosing a date.
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Photo by Joselodos · CC0
Month by month
April opens the season with pleasant days but still-cold water and changeable weather. A good month for actual sailing, a poor one if the plan is a lot of swimming.
May and June are, in our view, the best of the year: comfortable temperatures, water you can already use, coves that are practically empty and more reasonable prices. By June any plan works without restrictions.
July and August have guaranteed weather and everything else too: more boats, more people in the coves, more difficulty booking a restaurant and higher prices. They are enjoyed just as much, but they need better planning.
September is the island’s worst-kept secret: the water is at its warmest of the year, the intensity drops and the coves breathe again. October is less certain, with spectacular days and stormy ones.
The winds that matter
The tramuntana is the northerly, dry and strong. When it sets in, the north of the island becomes uncomfortable and the south and south-west are the obvious choice. It is the wind that shapes the day’s plan more than any other.
The embat is the afternoon thermal breeze, typical of summer: it gets up mid-morning, blows from the south-west and builds until mid-afternoon. It rarely prevents anything, but it explains why the sea is flatter first thing and why west-facing coves get choppier after lunch.
There is also the south-westerly llebeig, which can raise a swell on the west coast, and occasionally the south-easterly xaloc, rarer in summer.
Time of day
Almost always, the best sailing of the day is the first. Before the thermal comes in, the sea is flat, the light is clean and the coves are empty. That is why we suggest leaving early when the plan includes several stops or a crossing to Formentera.
The second-best window is late afternoon, when the embat drops and the sun comes down. That is the moment for the sunset and the photographs, and also when the boat traffic has already headed back to port.
How we choose the day
The evening before, we read the forecast and plan two possible routes: one for northerly wind and one for southerly or calm. The final call is made in the morning, with the boat ready.
That is what avoids the uncomfortable day. It is not about cancelling because of wind, but about taking the boat where that wind does not bother you — something you can only do knowing all three islands well.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best time of year to sail in Ibiza?
May, June and September. Good weather, pleasant water, far quieter coves and much easier booking.
Can you sail in Ibiza in April or October?
Yes, and there are excellent days, but the weather is more changeable. It helps to have flexible dates in case the trip needs moving.
What happens if it is windy on the day of my charter?
Normally the route changes, not the plan. With tramuntana we sail the south, with southerly wind the north. It is only called off in genuinely adverse conditions.
