The best thing you can do with a boat in Mallorca is anchor in a cala that no road reaches. Cala Mondragó, Cala Boquer, Cala de Deià: these are places where the water is a shade of blue that looks implausible until you’re actually floating in it. Boat hire Mallorca makes all of them accessible, even if you’ve never sailed a day in your life.
The short version: you can rent a small speedboat or RIB for a day without any license at all, so long as the engine is under 40hp. Prices start at around €150 for a half day. Larger motorboats, sailing yachts, and catamarans need a skipper or a recognized license. You can compare options for yacht charter Mallorca or book a skippered yacht charter directly. This guide covers every option, what things actually cost, where to pick up your boat, and which trips are worth your time.
Types of boats you can hire in Mallorca
Mallorca has one of the widest ranges of charter vessels in the Mediterranean, from a basic 5-meter RIB you can drive yourself to a 50-foot catamaran with a full crew. Which type suits you depends on group size, budget, and whether you want to sleep on board.
Small speedboats (self-drive, no license)
These are open 5-7 meter bowriders or small RIBs with outboard engines under 40hp. They take 4-8 people and are the most popular option for day trips. You don’t need a license in Spanish waters as long as the boat is under 8 meters and the engine stays under 40hp, though the operator will give you a safety briefing before you leave. Best for: poking around nearby calas, snorkeling stops, and exploring sea caves on a tight budget.
Larger motorboats and RIBs
Step up to a 7-9 meter RIB or a cabin motorboat with 100-300hp and you can cover serious ground. These take 6-10 people comfortably and are fast enough to reach the dramatic northwest coast from Palma in under an hour. You will need a titulación náutica (Spanish coastal license), an ICC, or an RYA equivalent for anything over 40hp. If you don’t have one, book with a skipper included. Best for: covering more of the island in a day, accessing the caves around Sa Foradada, or a group that wants comfort at speed.
Sailing yachts
Bareboat sailing yachts range from 30-50ft and sleep 4-8 people. They are the right choice for a week-long charter where you anchor in different bays each night. You need an ICC or equivalent. Add a professional skipper for €180-220 per day if you want to focus on the experience rather than the navigation. Best for: couples or groups of four to eight who want to explore the whole island over five to seven days.
Catamarans
Catamarans in the 38-50ft range sleep 8-12 people across wide, stable decks. They are significantly more expensive than monohulls but the space and stability make them worth it for larger groups or families with children. An ICC or equivalent is required for bareboat charter. Best for: groups of 8-12, families, or anyone who gets seasick on a monohull.
How much does boat hire cost in Mallorca?
Boat hire Mallorca costs anywhere from €150 for a half-day on a small self-drive speedboat to over €9,000 per week for a large catamaran. The main variables are boat size, season, and whether fuel and a skipper are included.
| Boat type | Duration | Price range |
|---|---|---|
| Small speedboat (self-drive) | Half day (3-4h) | €150-280 |
| Small speedboat (self-drive) | Full day (6-8h) | €280-500 |
| Larger RIB / motorboat | Half day | €350-600 |
| Larger RIB / motorboat | Full day | €600-1,100 |
| Sailing yacht (bareboat) | Per week | €1,500-5,000 |
| Sailing yacht (with skipper) | Per week | add €180-220/day |
| Catamaran (bareboat) | Per week | €3,500-9,000 |
What’s usually included
Most day hire boats include basic safety equipment (life jackets, fire extinguisher, flares) and sometimes snorkel gear. Some operators include a full fuel tank and ask you to return it full, which makes budgeting easier.
What’s usually extra
Fuel is the big one. Many charter boats, particularly sailing yachts and catamarans, price fuel separately. On a motorboat doing a full day of exploring, diesel can add €80-150 to the bill. Port fees apply if you stay overnight in a marina. There is also a damage deposit, typically €500-2,000, held on your card and returned after the boat is checked back in.
Best value option
For most families or groups of four to six, a self-drive speedboat on a full-day hire in June or early September is the best value. You get the freedom of a full day, pay in the €280-400 range, and avoid the July-August premium. July and August prices run 30-50% higher across all boat types.
Do you need a license to hire a boat in Mallorca?
You do not need a license to hire a boat in Mallorca if the vessel is under 8 meters with an engine under 40hp. Spanish law allows anyone to operate these smaller boats in coastal waters after a brief operator briefing. For anything larger or more powerful, a recognized license is required.
For larger boats
If you want to take out a motorboat over 40hp or a sailing yacht, you need one of the following: a PNB (Patrón de Navegación Básica), a titulación náutica, an International Certificate of Competence (ICC), or an RYA Coastal Skipper or Day Skipper certificate. The operator will ask to see it before you leave the dock.
No license? Book with a skipper
Every type of boat in Mallorca is available with a skipper included. Typical cost is €150-250 per day on top of the boat hire price. For a sailing yacht or catamaran week, a professional skipper who knows the local waters is worth every euro, particularly if you want to reach more remote anchorages safely.
What to bring
Bring your license (if you have one), passport or national ID, and a credit card for the deposit. If you are hiring a boat that requires a license, most operators will not let you leave without seeing the original document, not a photo on your phone.
A practical tip from the data: even on a no-license day hire, download the Navionics app before you go. It shows real-time charts, rocks, and anchorages. The Spanish Coast Guard monitors channel 16 on VHF.
Best boat trips from Mallorca
Mallorca’s coastline runs to roughly 550km, and most of the best spots are only accessible by sea. These four trips cover the island’s different personalities: the dramatic northwest cliffs, the quiet southern calas, the wild north, and the area immediately around Palma Bay.
1. Palma Bay loop (half day, from Palma)
Duration: 3-4 hours. This is the right choice if you only have a morning or afternoon. Leave Palma marina and head east along the bay, passing Palma Cathedral from the water (a view you cannot get from land), past Portixol and Es Molinar, and out to a swim stop at Cala Major. It is about 8-10nm total. Good for families and first-time boat hirers. The afternoon thermal wind, called the Embat, builds from around 1pm, so a morning start makes the water much calmer on the return.
2. Western caves and Sa Foradada (full day, from Port d’Andratx)
Duration: 6-8 hours. This is the most dramatic route on the island. Head north from Port d’Andratx along the northwest coast, where 400-meter cliffs drop straight into the sea. The arch rock at Sa Foradada is roughly 15nm from Andratx and is the visual centerpiece of the trip. Continue to Cala de Deià for a swim, then press on to Sóller for lunch at one of the restaurants along the dock. Return in the afternoon. You need a faster motorboat or RIB for this one; a small low-powered boat will struggle with the distance and any afternoon chop.
3. Southern calas circuit (full day, from Cala d’Or or Palma)
Duration: 6-7 hours. The southeast coast between Cala d’Or and Cala Figuera has some of the most sheltered and scenic swimming spots on the island. Cala Mondragó is inside a natural park and gets busy by midday; arrive before 10am for the best anchoring spot. Cala Llombards is quieter and has clear shallow water. Cala Figuera is a working fishing village built into a narrow inlet, worth motoring slowly through before heading back.
4. Cap Formentor day trip (full day, from Alcudia or Pollença)
Duration: 8 hours. Cape Formentor is the northernmost point of Mallorca, about 20nm round trip from Alcudia. The cliffs are sheer, the lighthouse dramatic, and the sea color changes from turquoise to deep blue within meters. Cala Figuera (north, a different cala from the southern one) is a sheltered stop on the way out. Cala Boquer, a wild bay with no road access, is worth the detour on the return leg.
Where to rent a boat in Mallorca
The four main departure points for boat hire Mallorca are Palma, Port d’Andratx, Alcudia, and Cala d’Or. Each gives you access to a different section of coast, so where you base yourself should depend on which area you want to explore.
Palma de Mallorca
The Real Club Náutico de Palma and Marina Port de Mallorca are the island’s main charter hubs. Palma is 15km from the Palma de Mallorca Airport (PMI), has the largest selection of boats at every price point, and is where most of the week-long bareboat and skippered charters originate. If you are flying in and want to keep logistics simple, start here.
Port d’Andratx
In the southwest corner of the island, Port d’Andratx is a quieter, more upscale base. It is the right place to pick up a boat if your priority is the northwest coast and Sa Foradada. The bay itself is worth a slow circuit before you head out.
Alcudia and Pollença
The north coast is best reached from Alcudiamar Marina in Alcudia, or from Pollença. The bay is sheltered and calm in the morning, making it ideal for families with children. Most day hire operators here focus on the Cap Formentor route and the northern calas. Marina Cala d’Or is also an option if you are based on the east coast and want the southern circuit.
Cala d’Or
For the southeast calas, Marina Cala d’Or is the most convenient base. It is quieter than Palma and the southern coves are on your doorstep.
Booking advice
For July and August, book 4-8 weeks in advance for the best selection. In June or September, one to two weeks is usually sufficient. Online booking gives you a paper trail and locks in the price; picking up a boat on the day can work in shoulder season but is risky in summer.
Before you sign anything, check: fuel policy (full-to-full is simplest), any scratches or damage already on the hull (photograph everything), and that life jackets for all passengers are on board.
Find boat hire in Mallorca
A charter search across the main platforms shows you real availability and current prices side by side, so you are not spending an afternoon filling in forms on six different websites. Use it to compare bareboat options and skippered options across Palma, Andratx, Alcudia, and the east coast in one place.
Find Your Perfect Charter
Compare yachts, catamarans and prices from top charter companies in one search.
Powered by Sailing Click · No booking fees
If you are travelling in July or August, do not leave this to the last minute. The best boats at the best prices go 4-8 weeks out. September is worth considering if your dates are flexible; the weather is still excellent, the sea is warmer than in June, and prices drop by up to a third.
Frequently asked questions
Can I hire a boat in Mallorca without a license?
Yes. In Spain, boats under 8 meters with engines up to 40hp can be operated without a license. The operator will run you through a safety briefing before you leave. These smaller self-drive boats typically take 4-8 people and cost €150-280 for a half day. For anything larger or more powerful, you need an ICC, PNB, or RYA qualification, or you can book a skippered charter instead.
When is the best time to rent a boat in Mallorca?
September is the best month for most people. The sea temperature peaks in late summer, the wind is more predictable than in July, crowds thin out from mid-month, and prices drop 20-35% compared to peak August rates. June is also good. July and August are the most popular months but the Embat afternoon thermal builds every day from around 1pm and can make the return trip choppy if you leave it too late.
Is boat hire in Mallorca suitable for families with young children?
Yes, particularly self-drive motorboats and skippered day charters from sheltered bases like Alcudia. The bay at Alcudia is calm in the morning, the water is shallow in most calas, and life jackets for children are standard equipment. Book a morning slot, leave by 9:30am, and aim to be at your swim stop before the afternoon wind picks up. A skipper takes the stress out of it if you have very young children on board.
Can I sleep on the boat overnight?
Yes, on a sailing yacht or catamaran hired for a week. Bareboat sailing yachts start at €1,500 per week and sleep 4-8 people; catamarans start at €3,500 per week and sleep up to 12. You will pay additional port fees if you stay in a marina overnight, typically €30-80 depending on boat size and marina. Many charterers anchor in a cala for free most nights and only use marinas for reprovisioning.
What is the cancellation policy for boat hire in Mallorca?
Policies vary by operator, but most follow a standard scale: full refund if cancelled more than 30 days before departure, 50% refund within 14-30 days, and no refund inside 14 days. Some operators offer cancellation insurance as an add-on, which is worth considering if you are booking months ahead. Always read the specific terms before paying a deposit, and book through a platform that clearly states its cancellation terms in writing.
