Boat charter in Mallorca

Mallorca yacht charter with captain

Trade the Spanish licence test for a week of the Balearics. Book a sailboat, a catamaran or a motor yacht in Mallorca and a professional captain comes with it. Palma, the Tramuntana coast, the calas of the southeast. You bring the crew, we bring the captain.

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Frequently asked questions about a Mallorca yacht charter with captain

Will I or anyone in my group need a sailing license for a Mallorca charter with a captain?
No. The captain holds the Spanish PER (Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo) or a recognized international equivalent validated for Spanish waters, and takes full nautical responsibility. American guests with no sailing background regularly book this way.
What does it cost to add a captain to a Mallorca yacht charter?
Around USD 220 to 310 per day, or USD 1,500 to 1,900 for a standard Saturday-to-Saturday week. A separate food kitty of about USD 40 to 55 per day is paid locally because the captain shares meals with the group.
When is the best time of year for a captained Mallorca yacht charter?
Late April through late October. May, June and September are the calendar sweet spots: the embat sea breeze is at its most reliable, the calas are emptier, and prices drop noticeably outside July and August. July and August are peak: hot, busy, the highest prices, and you do need to book popular ports ahead.
How big a group fits on a Mallorca charter with captain?
Two to twelve guests plus the captain, depending on the boat. Couples and small parties tend to pick monohull sailboats. Families and friend groups go catamaran for the cabin layout. Very large groups are uncommon in Mallorca; gulets are mostly a Croatian and Turkish thing.
What does the captain handle, and what can I do on the boat myself?
The captain is fully in charge of safety, navigation, weather briefings, every approach and departure, and the anchor. Guests who want to take the wheel, trim sails or stand bow watch are welcome to. Guests who want to read a book on the foredeck are equally welcome.
Can the captain teach me to sail during our week in Mallorca?
Yes. A captained week in Mallorca is a popular informal sailing school. Mallorca's reliable embat thermal cycle is a forgiving environment for new sailors. By the end of the week, motivated guests can typically dock under power, hold a course, set and trim sails. There is no exam, no syllabus unless you ask for one.
Where does the captain sleep on the boat during our Mallorca charter?
In the forward or aft cabin depending on the boat layout. On smaller monohulls, sometimes in the saloon. The arrangement is confirmed at the Saturday briefing so privacy expectations are clear from the start.
What route does the captain typically pick for a Mallorca week?
It is your call, made together at the briefing. The captain proposes a draft route based on the embat forecast, your preferences (towns vs anchorages, distances per day, swim time vs sail time) and any must-see stops. From Palma, that often combines the Bay with the southeast calas. From Andratx, the Tramuntana coast and Port de Sóller. From Pollensa, Cap de Formentor and Cala Sant Vicenç.

Mallorca yacht charter with captain: hand the helm to a pro, take the cockpit

American visitors to Mallorca run into the same wall every Mediterranean newcomer hits: bareboat charters in Spain require a Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo (PER) or a recognized international equivalent (ICC, RYA Day Skipper) validated for Spanish waters. The harbor authority does check. A Mallorca yacht charter with captain sidesteps the paperwork and the docking learning curve in one move. Pick any sailboat, catamaran or motor yacht in our Mallorca fleet, and a professional captain comes with it for the week. The captain holds the licenses, knows the embat sea breeze inside out, and reverses into a tight Real Club Náutico berth in 15 knots of crosswind without raising their voice. Your job: pick the boat, pack a swimsuit, decide whether tonight's anchorage is a quiet cala or a town quay with grilled fish on the wall.

Mallorca yacht charter with captain: the essentials

Detail What to expect
Captain fee About USD 220 to 310 per day, or USD 1,500 to 1,900 per week, plus food kitty (around USD 40 to 55 per day)
License required from guests? None. The captain holds the Spanish PER (or recognized equivalent)
Charter base ports Palma de Mallorca, Port d'Andratx, Port de Sóller, Port de Pollença, Cala d'Or
Standard charter week Saturday to Saturday
Boat types Sailing yachts, catamarans, motor yachts
Best time of year Late April through late October. May, June and September shine.
Group size 2 to 12 guests, plus the captain

What you actually get when you bring a captain along

  • Zero license stress: Spain checks paperwork. With a captain aboard, that paperwork is theirs, not yours.
  • Local intelligence you can't Google: a captain knows when the embat will fill on the south coast, which cala on the east stays calm in the afternoon swell, where the holding is genuinely good off Sa Dragonera. That is the part you cannot read off a chartplotter.
  • Med-mooring made invisible: Mallorca's marinas pack boats stern-to with millimeters between hulls. Watching a stranger do it well at the Real Club Náutico is one of the small pleasures of a captained week.
  • Insurance coverage shifts: handling errors are the captain's professional responsibility, not a hold on your security deposit.
  • Optional sailing school built in: hand on the helm whenever you want, learn how to read a chartplotter, or just lounge. The captain teaches at your pace.
Captain's Insider Tip: "Time the embat. Mallorca has its own thermal sea breeze, the embat: a NE wind that fills around midday, peaks at 12 to 18 knots in the afternoon, dies after sunset. We leave Palma early, around 8:30 in the morning, so we are at anchor in a quiet cala by lunch, before the embat builds chop on the open south coast. The afternoon is for swimming, not bashing into wind. If your itinerary includes the Cabrera national park, book the anchoring permit a week ahead in high season; the daily quota fills."

Where a captain is most likely to take you

  • Bay of Palma, sailing out of Palma: the easy first day. Short hop to Illetas or Es Caló d'es Moro for swimming, back to Palma for tapas at La Lonja in the evening.
  • Tramuntana coast, sailing out of Port d'Andratx: the dramatic week. Sa Dragonera, Sa Trapa cliffs, Port de Sóller. Cooler water, fewer crowds.
  • North Mallorca, sailing out of Port de Pollença: the wilder end. Cap de Formentor, Cala Sant Vicenç, Cala Murta. Longer day-hops, fewer charter boats.
  • Southeast calas, sailing out of Cala d'Or: the postcard week. Mondragó, Cala Figuera, Es Trenc, all anchor-and-swim country. Easy provisioning at any of the small marinas.
  • Cabrera national park, day or overnight from Palma: a permit-restricted national park about 25 nautical miles south. Dolphins and the occasional Mediterranean monk seal. The captain handles the permit.

The booking process, end to end

  1. Choose a base port, dates and group size at the top of this page.
  2. We confirm a boat and a professional captain.
  3. Send the deposit. The captain's contact details land in your inbox.
  4. Saturday afternoon: meet at the marina, do the boat briefing.
  5. Six days later, Friday evening: return, pack up, fly home tan.

What the price covers and what is paid locally

Included up front: the boat, the captain's professional fee, full third-party insurance. Paid locally during the week: the captain's food kitty (around USD 40 to 55 per day, the captain eats with the group), fuel, marina fees outside the home port, the Cabrera national park permit if your route enters it, optional end-of-charter cleaning. Want a different category of boat? Browse our full Mallorca fleet, sailboats in Mallorca and catamarans in Mallorca.