Things to do & NOT to do in Ibiza (Including Scam Warnings).
- Ibiza Boat Club
- Apr 27
- 8 min read
Updated: May 3
Yes, Ibiza has so much more to offer than just parties, glamour, and beautiful people. Hopefully, that’s something everyone’s realised by now.
But this article isn’t just another copy-paste version of the typical “Things to Do in Ibiza” list. Most of those articles give you the same (totally valid) advice:
Explore the island beyond your hotel, the shops, the clubs, and the beach in front of your resort.
Don’t just stick to the same fast-food chains you eat at back home—try the island’s incredible local cuisine.
Don’t get embarrassingly drunk or ride public transport half-naked.
Don’t lose yourself entirely in the glamor, the show-off culture, and spending money for the sake of it.
All that’s true. But our intention here is to go deeper. To help you connect with what truly makes Ibiza magical. To help you discover the real luxury, the real beauty: the soul of Ibiza.
The soul of the island.
Ibiza has always been a place of transformation.
First the Phoenicians, then the Carthaginians, later the hippies and free spirits — and now, Ibiza is shifting once again, this time from being a melting pot of the electronic music scene to a more exclusive destination.
Where for at least two decades electronic music was played almost everywhere, Ibiza is now musically just as open-minded and diverse as it is in every other sense.
And all of this at an impressively high level — whether we're talking about hotels, clubs, or restaurants.
Today, the island is more world-class than it has ever been before.
But one thing Ibiza has always held on to:
A very special and magical energy.
It has always been there - and it always will be.
And it has nothing to do with surface-level trends or cultural shifts.
It’s something much deeper. It’s the soul of Ibiza - and probably the very reason the island has always been a kind of mecca.
And always will be - no matter what form it takes.
You won't truly get a sense of this unique energy if you only stick to the well-trodden tourist paths.
To feel it, to connect with it, you need to get out into nature.
And out to sea.
Into the water.
Ibiza is also defined by its stunning beaches, picture-perfect coves, and crystal-clear waters.
The real connection.
One of the best ways to truly feel the spirit of Ibiza? A boat trip.
Out at sea, you leave behind the heat, the crowds, the dust, the traffic, the parking chaos...
It’s cooler, more peaceful, more sustainable — and you connect with the island on a different level.
Just as everything else, also the boat party and boat trip scene has evolved.
There are now many quality providers offering imaginative, high-end formats for discovering the best of Ibiza and Formentera by sea. Whether you want to party, relax, dine, or do all three in style—there’s something for everyone.
Experiences that matter.
This article isn’t about selling our boat trips.
What matters most to us is that you do take a boat trip. And love it.
Whether it’s with us or someone else, your memories are what matter.
So don’t expect this post to be self-promotion. It’s also a curated roundup of the crème de la crème of our industry.
That said, here’s a look at some top-notch experiences and honest providers (with helpful links), along with important scam warnings and helpful tips to help you make the most of your Ibiza experience.
Our boats, the IBIZA BOAT CLUB twins, are like floating beach clubs, complete with daybeds and all the comfort you’d expect.
On these catamarans, besides our iconic Aftersun Ibiza Sunset Boat Party, we also offer more innovative and grown-up formats like the Bottomless Brunch Party: Perfect for those who aren’t into wild boat parties but still want to enjoy relaxed, stylish, and exclusive daytime events.
And we’re not alone.
There are legendary options like these two vintage sailing boats, where rare and beautiful productions like this private boat party with Lilly Palmer and this pirate ship party with Hot Since 82 take place.
You’ll need a bit of luck (or connections) to just happen to be on board on one of these special days.
But if you want to create your own unforgettable moment, you can book one of these sailing boats for a private party - for example, through Saga.
Private sailing tours for small groups (up to 12 people) with providers like La Sirena Morena Ibiza and La Bella Verde Ibiza offer a more relaxed, eco-friendly experience.
An evening for the books: Dine & dance with nice people.
One of the true hidden gems among Ibiza experiences is the Sunset Dinner Show at Ibiza Boat Club — a highlight for many reasons.
Open air dining and interactive show cooking, surrounded by striking nature, perfectly paired with Ibiza's flavourful cuisine and chilled local wine, accompanied by live music, shared with nice people and new friends.
It’s not just a normal boat trip. It’s an evening of meaningful connection, authentic culture, and unforgettable moments.
You'll meet like-minded people from around the world and cook and dine together in a social, relaxed setting. You’ll experience local Ibizan cuisine up close, prepared with fresh ingredients and love —authentic, traditional, and at its finest.
One of the special highlights: you get to craft your very own bottle of Hierbas, the iconic Balearic herbal liqueur, during a hands-on workshop. And yes ... you get to take it home with you!
But this boat trip is much more than food and drinks. It's a cultural program — but cool, not staged, forced or boring. It's about real connection and community.
Cook, connect, dine & dance with nice people.
Set aboard a beautiful, stylish boat, the atmosphere is intimate and chic.
As the boat cruises past some of Ibiza’s most stunning beaches, like Cala Comte and Cala Salada, you’ll soak in breathtaking views. And then, as the sun begins to set, something magical happens…
A live violinist plays as the golden light reflects on the water. It’s one of those moments that gives you goosebumps. The kind of memory you’ll keep forever.
Ibiza to Formentera: The classic way.
Thousands of tourists take the ferry from Ibiza to Formentera every day in high season. Companies like Balearia and Trasmapi run the fastest, most modern ferries.
From Ibiza Town, round-trip tickets start at about €50 per person. To this, you'd have to add parking fees (around 20€ for the day) if you’re coming by car as there’s no free parking in the city.
The largest car park in town (which is also close to the ferry station) is called Es Paret, and it always has space. But calculate plenty of time... traffic in and around Ibiza Town is always heavy.
Summing up, taking the ferry from Ibiza Town can easily cost you €60 per person - without drinking or eating anything onboard.
This is the classic way of going from Ibiza to Formentera.
But there is a better way.
Formentera with Benefits: More than just a ferry ride.
For just a little more money, “Formentera with Benefits” by Ibiza Boat Club really does offer a lot more benefits compared to the regular ferry... and not just on the boat.
For one, this tour solves the parking issue and skips the traffic in Ibiza Town. Because the boat trip departs from Playa d’en Bossa, not Ibiza Town.
Formentera with Benefits offers three different options starting at just €79.
This menas only a little more than the no-frills ferry, but with infinitely more benefits (and memories).
Yes, this price includes food and drinks.
No, this is not a joke.
Scam warning.
Not all boat trip offers are legit. Some are outright scams.
Recently, shady vendors have been selling (or giving away) tickets for only €5 – €10. Sounds great... until you’re on board and being aggressively pressured to upgrade:
Pay extra to access the top deck (where the magic happens!)
Pay for a "VIP bed" (aka a place to sit!)
Pay for every single drink, even water
Often you’re stuck standing for hours on the lower deck near the kitchen or engine room, having to pay for your "way out".
Sometimes, the boat doesn’t even show up — or if it shows up it’s not the boat in the photos.
Refund? Good luck trying!
This is not what we want you to remember of our industry.
So no matter wether you book a ticket with us or a different provider: Just make sure you’re safe!
Real quality has a price.
Just like top clubs or concerts don’t give out guest list spots, great boat trips won’t be dirt cheap.
The golden rule can usually be: If the price is too good to be true ... it probably is not true.
How to spot a scam.
Before you book, ask yourself:
Do they post regular stories, live videos or raw unedited content on Instagram or TikTok?
When was their last post on social media? Was it months, or even years ago?
Are they showing the actual boat (also from the outside!), or just party pics from customers?
Is the boat on the photos always the same, or does it look like the photos have been taken on various boats?
Do the boat photos look authentic, or are they AI-generated or heavily edited?
Do they have a customer service hotline? Do they answer to emails?
Pro tip:
Make sure you get to see the actual boat (on photos, videos or in real life) you’re about to sail with before you buy a ticket.
In San Antonio, legit providers have ticket stands right in front of their actual boats — easy to check before you buy.
There, you can also spot all boats in the port in the morning or after sunset.
Unfortunately, it’s not that simple in Playa d’en Bossa, since all the providers have to share a single dock, which is basically just used as a quick stop to pick up or drop off guests.
Be careful with operators who don’t show any actual photos of their boat on their website or socials. Especially if there’s no exterior shot.
Also watch out for stock photos, overly edited or fake-looking pictures, or just a general lack of images and information.
Make sure to do a proper online check of the provider before you book any tickets.
How to book with us (safely).
Some scammers use our photos and content, and some even play with our brand name in order to trick you and sell you their dodgy knockoffs.
Scammers are everywhere, and Ibiza is no exception.
To make sure you're booking the real IBIZA BOAT CLUB:
Look for this exact name and order: IBIZA BOAT CLUB
The domain is one word (ibizaboatclub), no hyphens, ending in .com
We don’t sell tickets on the beach
Only book via our website: www.ibizaboatclub.com
We also offer free cancellation up to 12 hours before the event — but only via our own site.
And yes, everything is included on board — open bar, VIP beds, the lot.
The only way to spend extra? Moët bottles. And we keep it classy but humble at €80 per bottle.
Bonus Tips.
Weather & sea conditions.
Before heading out on your boat trip, it’s always smart to check the sea conditions. Apps and websites like Windfinder or Windguru can show you the expected wave height for the day.
Waves up to 1 meter are generally no problem for larger boats — especially wide catamarans like the ones we use at Ibiza Boat Club.
However, smaller boats with a single hull tend to be more sensitive to rough seas.
Responsible and reputable providers will cancel trips if waves are expected to exceed 1 meter.
Less trustworthy operators, unfortunately, may go out regardless of the conditions. So don’t just check the weather for sunshine... keep an eye on the wave forecast too.
Sun protection & what to wear.
Out on the open sea, you can get sunburned surprisingly fast. The breeze feels amazing, and it can make the temperatures feel cooler than they are — plus, the sun reflects off the water and amplifies UV exposure.
So for longer trips, make sure to bring sun protection: A hat, sunglasses, plenty of sunscreen.
Also, mornings and evenings can get chilly out at sea, even into June or starting as early as September. A light sweater or jacket is a good idea. Unless it’s the peak of summer (June through August), when you can safely leave those layers at home.
Final Words.
Thank you for reading. We truly appreciate your time and attention.
We wish you nothing but great vibes, unforgettable moments, and the best version of Ibiza possible.
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