If you are a regular visitor to Ibiza and have not ever seen Formentera, you are definitely missing out on a real jewel of a place. Fortunately, Emerge Ibiza has a solution for you with its classy catamaran, the Formentera Explorer.
Taking a trip where you won't have to worry about anything and all is done for you is what holidays are all about. You'll be whisked from Ibiza Town across crystal-clear waters to anchor just off the shores of this island idyll, where you can either laze in the lap of luxury on the catamaran or jump into the water and discover the marine life.
Whereas Ibiza is renowned for both its fast-pace and chilled vibe, Formentera is an altogether more tranquil location, where primarily people go for peace. Beautiful beaches stud its coastline and the colour of the water seems to lure you in to splash about.
Bucks fizz at the ready, when on board
The Formentera Explorer's deluxe on-board facilities and attentive crew, mean that you can sit back and relax to really take in this beautiful part of the Balearics. A basic package includes unlimited soft drinks in addition to a welcome cocktail; you can also upgrade to premium drinks or its VIP experience if you want to feel extra special.
Deciding we needed to experience this trip for ourselves, the entire Ibiza Spotlight writer team went to test out its sea legs. Greeted with a glass of bucks fizz on arrival, it didn't take long to slip into relaxation mode and embrace the carefree.
First we cruised along the coastline to the island of Espalmador. It's hard to believe that we are in Europe, if you didn't know any better, you might think you had landed in the Bahamas or Barbados.
Chillin' la vida loca with a selfie
Next, we made the short hop to drop anchor at Playa Illetes - regularly voted amongst the top ten beaches in the world. It isn't hard to understand why. “Stunning” just doesn't do it justice.
Once the boat was secured on the water, we were offered the chance to get our feet wet and enjoy the turquoise waters. Midday is time for a paella, made lovingly on board the boat in what is probably one of the coolest examples of showcooking.
Drinks flow as much as you want them to, though do be sure to save some energy to get into or onto the water with a snorkel or SUP paddle board.
The Formentera Explorer really is the ideal way to see this often overlooked gem. Check-out our photo gallery below to see for yourself.
The Ibiza Spotlight team enjoying the vista of Formentera on this luxury catamaran
Kick-back and get working on that tan. There's few better places for bronzing than on deck.
Stand-up paddle boarding is another activity that allows you to appreciate the big expanse of sea
Heavy work: our paella lunch comes to fill our expectant tummies
Here's to a marvellous day, well spent
At the end, seemingly in a flash, the day would pass and we'd soon be making our way back to Ibiza but not before getting some dedicated tanning time in. We had a great day to really disconnect and have some fun with friends.
The Formentera Explorer sets sails every day from the end of May until mid-October. If you have never been to Ibiza's hippy little sister island, now there really is no excuse not to go.
