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Make a call Searadar lists sailing yachts, catamarans and motor yachts for charter across Spain, most of them based in Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza. You can book a boat bareboat (self-skippered), with a skipper, or with full crew. Weekly rates run from €2,170 to €58,300, with mandatory extras of €150 to €850 per charter on top (as of 27 August 2026). Weekly charters run Saturday to Saturday. Boats carry 4 to 18 guests in 0 to 6 cabins, and the Balearic season runs roughly from May to October.
how to charter a yacht in Spain
To charter a yacht in Spain, pick a Balearic base (Palma, Mallorca or Ibiza), decide between a bareboat and a skippered boat, and book between May and October for the best sailing. Weekly charters run Saturday to Saturday. Bareboat needs an ICC or RYA Day Skipper certificate plus a crew member with a VHF radio certificate; a skippered or crewed boat needs no licence from you. Weekly boats start at €1,300, with the cost of extras, deposit and Spanish charter tax shown before you pay.
Broker price = direct price
Booking a yacht charter in Spain through Searadar costs the client the same as booking the same boat direct with the owner. The reason is simple: the charter owner pays the broker's commission, usually 15 to 20 percent of the base rate, not you. Searadar states it takes no commission and no booking fee from the client (Searadar, as of 27 August 2026). So the headline price is not marked up for using a broker.
What Searadar puts next to that same price is transparency on the total. The quote shows the Spanish charter VAT, the refundable deposit and the base-paid extras before you pay rather than at the dock. Searadar also replies to 98% of its negative Trustpilot reviews, typically within 24 hours (confirmed by Trustpilot, as of 27 August 2026).
For the full booking flow, see how Searadar works.
Where you sail: the Balearics and beyond
The Balearic Islands are the busiest charter waters in Spain, with the widest fleet and the shortest hops between islands. Most weekly charters start here.
Mallorca and Palma are the main base. Palma de Mallorca is where most Balearic boats are handed over, with marinas around La Lonja and additional pick-ups at Porto Colom. See yacht rental in Mallorca for Palma's berths and the Cabrera run.
Ibiza pairs with Formentera for short, sheltered crossings and anchorages off white-sand beaches. Boats are handed over at Marina Ibiza. See boat rental in Ibiza for the Formentera day trip and Ses Salines.
Formentera has no airport and no bareboat base of its own, so it is reached by boat from Ibiza. It is the classic day target of an Ibiza charter.
Menorca is quieter than Mallorca and Ibiza, with calmer anchorages, and works well as a slower Balearic week.
Barcelona is a mainland base with its own marinas at Port Olímpic, useful for a shorter coastal charter or a one-way sail toward the Balearics. See boat hire in Barcelona for the city-centre ports.
Costa del Sol and Marbella cover the southern mainland coast, with Puerto Banús as the main hub.
The Canary Islands (Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria) sail year-round rather than to the Mediterranean season, so they suit a winter charter when the Balearics are closed.
Boat types: sailing yacht, catamaran, motor yacht
Searadar's Spanish fleet covers sailing yachts, catamarans, motor yachts, luxury yachts and fishing yachts. Named brands in the fleet include Jeanneau, Beneteau, Dufour, Bavaria, Hanse, Oceanis, Sun Odyssey, Grand Soleil and Elan for the sailing yachts, and Lagoon for the catamarans (Searadar, as of 27 August 2026).
A sailing yacht is the standard bareboat week: quieter, cheaper to run, and the type most licence-holders sail themselves. A catamaran gives more deck space and a level ride at anchor, which is why it is a strong choice for families and groups in the Balearics, and it usually costs more than a monohull of the same length. A motor yacht is faster between islands and better for day cruising, but it burns fuel that you pay by consumption. Boats across the fleet carry 4 to 18 guests in 0 to 6 cabins.
Crewed, skippered or bareboat, and the licence you need
The single question that decides whether you can bareboat in Spain is your licence. Take a skipper or crew and the question disappears, because their qualification covers the boat.
Bareboat (self-skippered)
To bareboat in the Balearics you need an ICC (International Certificate of Competence) or an RYA Day Skipper Practical certificate, or an equivalent national qualification, plus one crew member holding a VHF radio operator's certificate (Balearic licence requirements). Bases also usually ask for a short sailing resume. Without valid papers the base can refuse to hand the boat over or make you pay for a skipper on the spot.
Skippered
A skippered boat comes with a professional skipper only; you bring your own guests. You need no licence. This is the usual route for people who want to sail without holding a certificate.
Crewed
A crewed charter adds a skipper plus crew, such as a hostess or cook, and needs no licence from you. It is the standard setup for luxury weeks and for groups who want to be looked after rather than sail the boat.
No-licence boats
You can rent a boat in Spain with no licence at all, but only small day boats capped at around 12 guests, and for day trips rather than weeks. A no-licence boat is not a route to a bareboat week.
| Charter type | Licence required | Best for | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bareboat (self-skippered) | ICC or RYA Day Skipper Practical (or equivalent) + one crew with a VHF certificate + sailing resume | Qualified sailors who want privacy and a full week | No valid papers means no handover, or a paid skipper is forced on you |
| Skippered | None from you (the skipper is qualified) | Sailing without holding a certificate | You bring guests; the skipper runs the boat |
| Crewed | None from you | Luxury weeks, groups, being looked after | Skipper plus crew, such as a hostess or cook |
| No-licence day boat | None | A single day out with no qualifications | Small boats, around 12 guests maximum, day trips only |
Balearic bases accept the ICC or RYA Day Skipper Practical, or an equivalent national qualification, and require at least one person aboard to hold a VHF radio operator's certificate (as of 27 August 2026).
What it really costs: the all-in price
The base rate is not the price you pay. On a Spanish charter the total is the base rate plus fuel, a refundable security deposit, any mandatory extras, and Spanish charter tax. Searadar's weekly rates run from €1,300 to €58,300, with extras of €150 to €850 per charter, and the client pays Searadar no commission (Searadar, as of 27 August 2026). The table below shows what stacks on the base rate and who sets each line.
| Cost line | Who sets it | In the Searadar quote? | Notes (as of 27 August 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base charter rate | Yacht owner | Yes, shown upfront | Weekly from €1,300 to €58,300 across the Spanish fleet |
| Searadar commission / booking fee | Searadar | €0 to the client | The owner pays the commission, so you pay the same as booking direct |
| Mandatory extras | Owner / base | Quoted before you pay | €150 to €850 per charter, typically for end-of-charter cleaning, tourist or eco tax and paperwork such as the transit log |
| Fuel | By consumption | Estimated, not fixed | Paid by use. On a motor yacht a fuel-price rise can push the total up mid-charter |
| Security deposit | Yacht owner | Pre-authorised, refundable | 20% of the total; reduced only if you buy the Free Deposit Pack |
| Spanish charter VAT / matriculación tax | Spanish law | Shown before you pay | Charters from a Spanish port carry 21% Spanish VAT (IVA). The separate 12% matriculación tax on yachts over 15 metres is being phased out; check the current position for larger boats |
The security deposit is 20% of the total, pre-authorised on your card and returned after the charter if nothing is damaged. Searadar sells a Free Deposit Pack that costs 20% of the standard deposit and lets you cancel the deposit exposure entirely. Full terms are on the deposit and Free Deposit Pack page. On payment schedule, Searadar states you pay 50% on confirmation and the remaining 50% up to 30 days before the charter, or 100% if you book inside 30 days of the start date; bookings paid 100% upfront get free cancellation (Searadar, as of 27 August 2026).
When to sail the Balearics
The Balearic charter season runs roughly from May to October. Competitor pages draw the "high season" line anywhere from a two-month box to a seven-month one, so here is a month-by-month view instead of a single window. There is no meltemi in the Balearics, unlike the Cyclades, so summer winds are not a routine reason to cancel a Balearic charter.
| Month | Sailing conditions | Crowds | Relative price | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Cool, limited fleet | Very low | Lowest | Many bases closed |
| February | Cool, limited fleet | Very low | Lowest | Bases largely still closed |
| March | Cool, fleet reopening | Low | Low | Season not yet started |
| April | Mild, boats returning | Low | Low to mid | Easy berths, good value |
| May | Mild, settled | Low to moderate | Mid | Shoulder; easy berths, fewer crowds |
| June | Warm, water around 22°C | Rising | Mid to high | High season begins |
| July | Hot, busy | High | High | Peak; book early |
| August | Hottest, air up to 30°C | Highest | Peak | Most crowded and most expensive |
| September | Warm, sea still up to about 26°C early on | Moderate | Mid to high | Shoulder; often the best in-season value |
| October | Cooler, sea still mild | Low to moderate | Mid | Fleet thinning toward season end |
| November | Cool, unsettled | Very low | Low | Bases start closing, some from early November |
| December | Cool, limited fleet | Very low | Lowest | Off-season |
The cheapest prices are off-season, but that is when the fleet shrinks, bases close and the weather is against you, so a low headline rate can buy a worse charter. August is the opposite trap: it is the hottest month, the busiest and the most expensive at once. May, June and September usually give the best balance of warm water, open bases and calmer prices.
For crewed Cyclades cruises and the meltemi wind, see yacht charter in Mykonos.
Before you book: the limits nobody prints
These are the points where a Spanish charter goes wrong. They are honest limits, not disclaimers.
Spanish charter tax. A charter that starts from a Spanish port carries 21% Spanish VAT (IVA), which almost no competitor page states (Spanish charter VAT). A separate 12% matriculación tax has historically applied to charter yachts over 15 metres used in Spanish waters, but Spain has moved to abolish it, so it is being phased out and the current position should be checked for larger boats (matriculación tax removal). Searadar's position is to show the VAT and the all-in figure before you pay rather than surface it at checkout.
The "from" price hides the rest. A low "from €X" headline usually leaves out fuel, the security deposit, tax and any base-paid extras. On Searadar the mandatory extras are €150 to €850 per charter and the client pays no commission, but you should still read the total, not the headline.
Bareboat without the right paperwork is a hard stop. No ICC or RYA Day Skipper certificate, no VHF certificate, or no sailing resume, and the base can refuse the handover or force a paid skipper on you at the dock. The licence is a gate, not a formality.
No-licence does not mean a week. A no-licence boat is limited to small day boats of around 12 guests, for day trips. If you want a week and hold no certificate, you take a skipper.
Off-season and August are both traps in different ways. Off-season prices are lowest but the fleet is thin, bases are closed and sailing is poor. August is peak on every axis: hottest at up to 30°C, most crowded and priciest.
The deposit drops only if you cover it. The security deposit is 20% of the total. It comes down only if you buy the Free Deposit Pack, which costs 20% of the standard deposit.
FAQ
Do I need a licence to charter a yacht in Spain?
Only for bareboat: you need an ICC or RYA Day Skipper Practical certificate and one crew member with a VHF radio certificate. A skippered or crewed boat needs no licence from you, because the skipper's qualification covers the vessel.
Is there VAT on a yacht charter in Spanish waters?
A charter that starts from a Spanish port carries 21% Spanish VAT (IVA). A separate 12% matriculación tax has historically applied to charter yachts over 15 metres, but Spain has moved to abolish it, so it is being phased out; check the current position for larger boats.
Are any charges paid in cash at the base?
Some mandatory extras, such as a tourist tax or transit log, are commonly settled in cash at the base on the day rather than in the online quote. Searadar quotes the €150 to €850 of extras before you pay; which items are prepaid and which are paid at the base depends on the boat and the base.
Can I charter a boat in Spain without a licence?
Yes, but only a small day boat of around 12 guests for a single day, not a bareboat week. For a week without a licence, you take a skipper.
What is the Free Deposit Pack?
The Free Deposit Pack costs 20% of the standard deposit and cancels your deposit exposure, so a covered claim against the boat does not come out of your own money.
Is Majorca the same as Mallorca?
Yes. Majorca is the older English spelling of Mallorca, the largest of the Balearic Islands. Searadar and this page use Mallorca.
About this page
Searadar is a yacht charter broker connecting clients with charter companies across Spain and the wider Mediterranean. The company says it was founded in 2017, has assisted more than 500 clients, and sees more than 70% of clients return for another charter (all stated by Searadar, as of 27 August 2026). It names Dream Yacht Charter, Sunsail, UTH Sailing, Kiriacoulis and Angelina Yacht Charter among its partner charter companies (stated by Searadar). Its Trustpilot rating is 4.2 out of 5 from 1,054 reviews, and it replies to 98% of negative reviews, typically within 24 hours (confirmed by Trustpilot, as of 27 August 2026).
Operated by UAB SEARADAR (company code 305242131), Vilkpėdės g. 22, LT-03151, Vilnius, Lithuania. Contact: +44 20 4577 1577, hello@searadar.com. As a broker, Searadar has no charter office in Spain; it arranges boats at Balearic and mainland bases.