Balearic Islands | View a sample itinerary for this location

Floating dreamily between Spain and the North African coast, lie the Balearic Islands. The four main islands – Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera maintain a character distinct from the rest of Spain and from each other. During the months of June, July, and August, there is a massive invasion of multinational sun-and-fun seekers. Hardly surprising considering what the Balearic Islands have to offer: fine beaches, relentless sunshine, good food, casinos and wild nightlife.

The best way to visit, obviously, is by yacht. That way you can enjoy the craziness, yet escape or avoid it completely if you wish to. Beyond the 24 hour parties are Gothic cathedrals, Stone Age ruins, secluded coves and towering mountains. Let’s start our discovery of the Islands with Formentera, the most southerly of the larger islands. The smallest of the four main Balearic Islands, Formentera is actually two small islets joined together by a narrow, sandy isthmus. Known as the “Forgotten Balearic”, Formentera is the getaway-from-the-getaway. Bikers and hikers will revel in the untouched landscapes and well-marked trails; swimmers will appreciate the sandy beaches and crystalline water.

The Romans grew wheat extensively on Formentera, hence its name, as forment means “cultivation of wheat” in the local dialect. The island was at various points, inhabited by Phoenicians, Greeks and Romans. In the Middle Ages constant pirate attacks made it uninhabitable and the island was abandoned for about 300 years until it was finally safe from pirate attacks. If you are looking for culture, this isn’t it. The capital, Sant Francesc de Formentera, is not much more than an 18th century fortified church, a small ethnological museum and a cluster of hippy-style craft shops. It lies on the shores of Estany Pudent, a large lagoon that attracts flocks of migrating birds. To the west is Estany de Peix, a smaller lagoon protected as a nature reserve. The island is very arid, covered in wild rosemary and home to thousands of brilliant green Ibiz wall lizards. On the northern bank stands the monument of Ca na Costa. The stone slabs are thought to be a pre-historic burial ground, dating from about 4,000 years ago. At the eastern point of Formentera is La Mola, there is a lookout point with a lighthouse and a monument to Jules Verne. The lack of water on Formentera keeps development within acceptable limits, which means the number of people you will be sharing the longest, whitest beaches in Spain with fewer people than anywhere else in the Balearics. And, when you are tired of the beach, you get to return to your yacht, not to a crowded hotel.

Eleven nautical miles away lies Ibiza – or Eivissa in Catalan – island of excess. This is where the party crowd from all over Europe and beyond comes to play and Ibiza City is the capital – of the island and of the fun. For this hedonistic crowd, daylight hours are usually spent on the beaches. Streets are packed with people exploring the whitewashed, warren – like port area, where many of the boutiques stay open until 2 am. Bars are open until 3:30m or later, and afterward the action moves to the clubs until daylight, and for the serious fun seeker, there are more after-hour clubs. Oh, there is also a casino there that will be happy to help part you with your money. If clubs and street fashion are not your cup of tea, avoid July and August. If you absolutely have to come during those months and yearn for a bit less conviviality, head away from Ibiza City!

Best enjoyed during the off season, Ibiza City itself is actually a very interesting town, complete with a charming old quarter. When you approach the town from the sea on your charter yacht you receive the full impact of the sight of old medieval wall rising like a natural extension of the rocky cliffs protecting the harbor. A large cathedral located within the walls and is topped by a massive clock. Illuminated at night, the brilliance of it shines across the harbor. The stone walls you see when you are coming into the port reach a dramatic climax at the imposing main entrance, the Portal de ses Taules, a triple gateway designed to withstand the heaviest artillery barrage. To get a glimpse of the island’s ancient past, spend some time in the Dalt Vila (old town). The site of the cathedral you glimpse upon entering the harbor has been a place of worship for over two thousand years, originally occupied by a Carthaginian temple.

The cathedral’s Diocesan museum exhibits medieval Catalan art and displays of ecclesiastical regalia. Across the square from the cathedral is the Museu Arqueologic d’Eivissa I Formentera, with its collection of local archeological finds. The majority of the objects on display are from Phoenician and Carthaginian sites, but there are also some bones from Formentera that date back to 1600 BC, plus various Arab and Roman curiosities.

Once away from the multitude of people in Ibiza City, the beaches and coves are less crowded, the water more pristine. Working our way around the island, the east coast has several fine anchorages, perfect for relaxing either on board or on the beach. Tiny Cala Mastella is a supremely peaceful spot, with a diminutive sandy beach, crystal –clear sheltered water and two simple fish restaurants, excellent places to sample the local food. A bit north is Cala Boix, another stunning beautiful sandy cove, but slightly larger and more exposed. Almost at the furthest northeast point is Cala D’en Serra, a tiny, exquisite sandy cove with turquoise waters that are perfect for snorkeling.

Heading west from the Cala D’en Serra, you arrive at Benirras, another beautiful cove, but this one is backed by high, wooded cliffs. Benirras is Ibiza’s premier hippie-centric beach where dozens of throw-backs from the 60’s gather to burn herbs and pound drums to the setting sun, especially on Sundays. The southwest side of the island is home to town of Sant Antoni de Portmany. Most of the people visiting there are on package tours, so this is a place that you might want to give a miss to. Cala Salada is just far enough from the village so that you can anchor and enjoy the fine sand beach and clear waters without being disturbed by hordes of tourists. At the extreme south end of Ibiza is Ses Salines. Beaches here are apt to be filled with party-goers overflowing from Ibiza City during season, but there is usually tranquility to be found in the area surrounding the extensive salt flats. Water sports abound around Ibiza, so you will have plenty of opportunity to try out all of the toys that are sure to be on your charter yacht. Scuba diving is excellent in this area, divers will want to confer with their captain to schedule dives with local dive shops, so as to maximize their enjoyment underwater.

Cabrera lies just to the south of Majorca and is the total antithesis of Ibiza. The entire island was declared a nature preserve in 1991, with access controlled by the Spanish National Institute for the Conservation of Nature. The island is a haven of isolation after the excesses of Ibiza, and indeed, much of the Mediterranean. Limited permits are available, but must be applied for in advance. Often the easiest and best way to visit the island itself is with a tour. Since the island has a strong military history, with certain parts of it off limits due to unexploded armaments, a tour might be the smartest way to visit this island of stunning wildlife and vegetation.

When visiting the Balearics, most people will fly into and out of, Palma de Majorca. Serving as the capital of the Balearics, this upbeat city of 350,000 has a lively cultural scene. Majorca defies expectations of visitors by presenting them with vistas of aristocratic mansions and a magnificent Gothic cathedral in Palma contrasted to the soaring, rugged peaks of the Serra de Tramuntana mountains along the northwest coast.

Palma was founded by the Romans in 123 B.C., captured by the Moors in A.D. 903, and entered the Catalan net in 1229. Approaching Palma on your charter yacht, the city is both beautiful and impressive, the wonderful Gothic edifice of the La Seu cathedral with its magnificent rose window welcoming you into the port. Five hundred years in the making, the original foundation came with the Christian Reconquest of the city with the site taken, in fulfillment of a vow by Jaume I, was that of the Moorish Great Mosque. Once you have found your way up the narrow streets and lanes to visit the cathedral, you might as well avail yourself of a couple of other interesting venues while you are there. Immediately to the east of the cathedral lies the Museo de Majorca, where archaeological exhibits and medieval artworks are displayed in a 17th century mansion. The Museu d’Art Espanyol Contemporani is home to works by such great Spanish artists as Picasson, Juan Gris and Dali. Also of interest is the Palau March Museu with its panoramic sculpture terrace featuring pieces by Rodin, Henry Moore, Barbara Hepworth and Eduardo Chillida.

The northwest side of Majorca is at is scenic best when viewing the gnarled ridge of the Serra de Tramuntana, the imposing mountain range that is topped by a tortuous cliff-top road. Music lovers might want to hire a car to make the journey to the Carthusain Monastery of Validemossa. Its claim to fame is the romance from the winter of 1838-39 when the French writer George Sands and her lover, Frederic Chopin, stayed here. Their time together is recalled by hourly piano concerts, enjoyed by all. The views from your yacht will be of plunging sea cliffs and rearing mountain peaks often wreathed in clouds. The few beaches that dot the shoreline are often small and shingly. On up the coast, your yacht will round Cap de Formentor with its lighthouse perched 650 feet above the waves below. Continuing on you will arrive at Port De Pollenca. With the mountains as a backdrop, the Badia de Pollenca is a deeply indented bay rimmed by a thin strip of pure white sand, its waters perfect for waterskiing and swimming. The next bay is Badia d’Alcudia, anchored Port d’Alcudia.

A busy resort town with interesting restaurants and shops, the main focus is the beach which stretches in an arc of pine-studded golden sand south of the marina. If you want to rent a bike and go for a ride, head for the Parc Natural de S’Albufera. A quick peddle away, it is accessible only by foot or bike. Stop at the reception center for a map of the footpaths that radiate out into the reedy, watery tract. There are 10 “hides” to allow for bird watching. Over two hundred species have been spotted.

We finish our circumnavigation of Majorca by following on down the southeast coast, which is dotted with narrow coves, the remnantsof prehistoric river valleys. In turn, the real drama of this coast lies in the island’s 800 or so limestone caves. Two of the most famous (and fabulous) are the Coves des Hams and the Coves del Drac. They can only be visited by guided tour, if you don’t want to experience both, opt for Drac. A tour of this awesome geological sight with its dripping stalactites, includes a boat ride across Lago Martel, the largest subterranean lake in the world. The icing on the cake of this experience is the boatloads of musicians playing classical music in this eerie natural amphitheater.

Next stop: the second largest of the Balearic Islands, boomerang-shaped Menorca.
The least developed of the Balearics, Menorca is essentially a rural island with rolling fields and wooded ravines. Declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1993, over forty percent of the island enjoys official protection. Mao, the capital, lies at the end of a three mile inlet and is one of the safest harbors in the Mediterranean. Mao has a place in culinary history as the eighteenth-century birthplace of mayonnaise. Various stories abound on its creation, all of them involving the French, some of them very inventive. Take you pick on enjoy! The town of Citutadella, on the opposite side of the island of Mao, had originally served as the capital city. The Romans chose it, the Moors adopted it, the Catlans flattened the place and began all over again. In 1558, the Catalan-built town was, in its turn, razed by Turkish corsairs. To the colonial powers of the eighteenth century, Ciutadella narrow port had no appeal compared to Mao’s magnificent three mile inlet. In 1722 the British moved the capital to Mao and constructed the main island road. More importantly, they introduced the art of distilling juniper berries. Menorcan gin is renowned and is certainly worth trying.

Before most of it was killed off by tourism, agriculture was important. A dry stone wall protected every field from the tramontana (the vicious north wind) which rips away the topsoil. Even olive trees had their roots individually protected in little stone wells. Now, apart from a few acres of grain, the fields lie barren with only the walls surviving. The walls are not the only notable creations made of stone. Menorca is home to over 500 megalithic monuments thought to be linked to those on Sardinia and classified as part of the second-millennium BC Talayot culture. Three main types of monument exist: one is the talayots, which are rock mounds popularly believed to have functioned as watchtowers. The problem with that theory is the lack of interior stairways and the fact that only a few are found on the coast. But no one has really come up with a better idea, so that theory persists. The second type is the megalithic taulas- huge stones topped with another to form a T, around twelve feet high, which are unique to Menorca. Finally, there are navetas, stone slab construction dating from 1400 to 800 BC, shaped like an inverted bread tin. Many have false ceilings, and though most are large enough for you to stand up in, they were clearly not living spaces. Theory is they might have been communal pantries or possibly tombs. Some of the best preserved talayot and taula remains are on the edge of Mao at the Trepuco site.

Fascinating as the historical sites are, the best part of Menorca are the large bays with their many, often-secluded anchorages and the miles of unspoiled beaches. Located on the northern coast, Fornells is a small, classically pretty fishing village at the mouth of a long bay. There are numerous anchorages here, waiting to be explored. Beaches in this area are apt to be pebbles and red-ocher sand backed by windy heath. While they are a bit uncomfortable of sunbathing, they are of such outstanding beauty to be notable. The wild and rocky coastline west of Fornells boasts several more of these isolated cove beaches, perfect for the charter guests looking for the unique. For those looking for white sand beaches, plenty are located on the southern end of Menorca, Cala en Turqueta, close to Ciutadella is one of the most notable.

Four islands, four distinctly different personalities. The Balearics are perfect for everyone. Whether you are interested in partying the night away, secluded anchorages, hiking in the mountains, snorkeling in clear blue waters or just basking in the relentless Mediterranean sunshine, the venue is just a short cruise away. Easy to get to, impossible to forget: Formentera, Ibiza, Majorca and Menorca are waiting for you.

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