Party in Ibiza by boat
Ibiza is world-famous for its nightlife. If you’re travelling on a charter yacht, there’s no need to miss out on a legendary night out at a club – quite the opposite, in fact. The harbour at Sant Antoni de Portmany, in particular, has established itself as the ideal base for this.
Sant Antoni instead of Ibiza Town
Many crews head for Ibiza Town first, as it is home to world-famous clubs such as Ushuaïa, Hï Ibiza and Pacha. What many people don’t realise, however, is that for charter crews, Sant Antoni is often the much more relaxed and affordable alternative.
Despite the modern marina, mooring fees here are noticeably lower than in Ibiza Town. Whilst in peak season a mooring for a larger charter yacht can easily cost around €350 per night (around €200 in the off-season), prices in Ibiza Town are usually significantly higher still – €1,000 or more!
Booking a berth – here’s how it works
Anyone wishing to secure a berth at Club Nàutic Sant Antoni should put their name on the waiting list via the marina’s website a few days in advance.
What’s special about the booking system is that long-term berth holders and boats already moored in the harbour can usually decide by 12 noon on the day of arrival whether they wish to stay for another night. Only then does it become clear which berths will actually become available.
As a result, you will often only receive final confirmation by email around midday on the same day. This will include an offer for the berth, which must be confirmed and paid for within approximately two hours. Anyone who misses this deadline will lose their reserved berth.
Alternatively, you can sail directly into the harbour and pay for the berth on the spot – before the deadline expires.
The cheaper alternative: buoys
If you can’t get a berth in the harbour or simply want to save money, you’ll often find free buoys off Sant Antoni.
The big advantage: the buoys often cost less than a third of the mooring fee in the harbour and officially even include a 24-hour shuttle service between the buoy and the marina.
In practice, however, this service doesn’t always run reliably. Particularly at night or outside peak times, the shuttle is occasionally unavailable. Many crews therefore prefer to take their own dinghy directly to the marina’s dinghy dock – even if the journey is a little longer.
Entering the marina
Before entering, you should contact the marina via channel 09.
A basic knowledge of Spanish is helpful, but the harbour staff can usually assist in English without any problems and will assign a berth or buoy.
The marina itself is modern, has well-maintained toilet facilities and is patrolled at night. This provides a reassuring sense of security, particularly for charter crews who are out and about until the early hours of the morning.
From Sant Antoni to Ibiza’s nightlife
The big advantage of Sant Antoni is that you don’t have to be moored right in Ibiza Town to go out and party there.
From the harbour, you can easily reach the island’s capital by taxi, Uber or bus. The easiest option is usually the taxi rank, which is just a few minutes’ walk from the marina.
The journey to Ibiza Town usually costs between €30 and €35 according to the meter. From there, the island’s most famous clubs are within easy reach.
For the return journey, however, you should allow for a bit of a wait. After the clubs close, long queues often form at the official taxi ranks. It’s often quicker to hail a free taxi directly on the street.
Partying right in Sant Antoni
If you’d rather avoid the journey to Ibiza Town, you’ll find a lively nightlife scene in Sant Antoni itself.
Well-known clubs such as Eden and Es Paradis regularly host international DJs and events. Entry prices are often significantly cheaper than at the island’s major clubs – particularly if you arrive early or buy tickets in advance.
When it comes to drinks, however, you shouldn’t expect any major differences in price. These are usually on a similar level to those in the well-known clubs in Ibiza Town.
For charter crews, Sant Antoni is one of the best starting points for a night out on Ibiza. The marina is cheaper than Ibiza Town, mooring buoys offer a particularly affordable alternative, and even without a berth in the harbour, you can easily enjoy the island’s nightlife.
With a bit of planning when making your booking and a taxi ride to Ibiza Town, nothing stands in the way of a long night out – before heading back out onto the water the next morning.
