Island hopping from Mallorca runs by yacht or helicopter: the hop to Cabrera costs from €4,800 return by helicopter (up to 4 guests) or from €6,000 by yacht plus the anchoring permit. Ibiza, Formentera and Menorca are combined with a full-day or multi-day charter.
01Yacht or helicopter: which one fits the hop
The helicopter wins on time. The hop to Cabrera takes about 12 minutes in the air against roughly 3 hours by yacht from southern Mallorca. It makes sense when the group has few hours to spare, or wants to land, do the visit and return the same day without losing the day to transit.
The yacht wins on experience. The crossing becomes part of the day itself: you anchor in a cove, eat on board, swim before reaching the destination. For linking several islands — or reaching Ibiza, Formentera or Menorca, where there is no published helicopter fare — the yacht is the default option, on a full-day or multi-day charter.
Many groups combine both on the same trip: helicopter out to gain hours at the destination, with a yacht waiting for the return leg or to round off the day on the water. The combination is quoted to your route and passenger count.
02Which islands combine, and the real distances
Cabrera is the shortest hop and the only one with a published permit: a Maritime-Terrestrial National Park south of Mallorca, requiring an anchoring permit from the Balearic government that the team arranges. You reach it in about 12 minutes by helicopter or roughly 3 hours by yacht, with the Cova Blava as the essential stop.
Ibiza and Formentera sit further out and combine better on a long full day or a multi-day yacht charter: the view of Es Vedrà from the water on the approach to Ibiza, then the crossing to Ses Illetes and Cala Saona on Formentera. There is no published helicopter fare for this route — it is quoted to your departure point and passenger count within 24-48 hours.
Menorca works as the quiet counterpoint, with smaller coves than Mallorca or Ibiza. As with Ibiza and Formentera, the hop runs by yacht as part of a long day or a multi-day charter, and a helicopter on this route is likewise quoted bespoke.
03The real cost of an island hop
Cabrera is the benchmark with a published price: from €4,800 return by helicopter, for up to 4 passengers, or from €6,000 by yacht plus the park's anchoring permit, billed separately according to the assigned mooring.
A crewed yacht runs from €1,936 a day (Fjord 44) to €17,150 a day (Azimut Grande 32), with fuel always billed separately at the day's actual consumption. A single private day experience starts at €550 and reaches €860 depending on the plan, and a full week across several islands runs €15,000 to €60,000.
Villa, helicopter on other routes and private chauffeur are quoted bespoke, with a proposal in 24-48 hours: there is no published helicopter fare beyond the Cabrera figure, so any other route is priced to the departure point, the date and the passenger count.
04Permits, departure ports and boat licences
The only mandatory permit is Cabrera's: as a Maritime-Terrestrial National Park, anchoring requires authorisation from the Balearic government, with moorings limited especially in July and August, the busiest months. Late May, June and September — within the May-to-October season — bring the same good weather with more mooring availability. The team arranges the permit ahead and confirms the mooring before you sail.
Departure can run from several Mallorca ports — Palma, Andratx, Sóller, Pollença or Alcúdia — depending on where you are staying, and also from Ibiza if that is the starting point for the hop. Choosing the right port saves sailing hours on any of the routes.
Crewed charters need no boat licence: the skipper is aboard and handles the navigation. Only a bareboat charter without crew would require an ICC or national equivalent plus a VHF radio certificate, which does not apply to the Balearic Experience model.
How much does a one-day hop to Cabrera from Mallorca cost?
From €4,800 return by helicopter, for up to 4 passengers, or from €6,000 by yacht plus the park's anchoring permit, billed separately. The helicopter takes about 12 minutes in the air; the yacht, roughly 3 hours from southern Mallorca.
Can Mallorca, Ibiza and Formentera be combined over a few days?
Yes, on a long full-day or multi-day yacht charter: there is no published helicopter fare for that route, so the team quotes it bespoke within 24-48 hours based on the departure port and passenger count.
Do I need a permit to enter Cabrera?
Yes. It is a Maritime-Terrestrial National Park, and anchoring requires a permit from the Balearic government, with moorings limited especially in July and August. The team arranges it ahead and confirms the mooring before you sail.
Do I need a boat licence for island hopping?
No, not on a crewed charter: the skipper is aboard and handles the navigation. Only a bareboat charter without crew would require an ICC or national equivalent plus a VHF radio certificate.
