Alcudia: Sailing Yacht Excursion with Wine & Tapas

The best part of this Alcudia sailing trip is the stop at Cala en Gossalba, a small bay near Cap de Formentor that you can reach from the water. After sailing across the Bay of Pollença, you have time to swim, snorkel, use the SUP, and eat a proper spread of homemade tapas aboard a 14-meter yacht.

I like the relaxed mix of hands-on sailing and easygoing food service. You can take the wheel and learn from the skipper, or simply sit with a glass of wine while Mallorca slips past. The garlic prawns, tortilla, Padrón peppers, and other tapas make this more than a basic boat ride.

The main drawback is that the sailing portion depends on the wind. With strong wind, you may sail for about two and a half hours. With little wind, the yacht uses its engine, and the crew chooses a nearby swimming spot instead. Also, call one day ahead to confirm the exact departure point and weather.

Key points to know before you book

• The bay stop is the heart of the trip: Cala en Gossalba offers swimming, snorkeling, SUP time, photos, and lunch in one two-hour break.
• You can take the helm: No sailing skills are needed, and the skipper can show you how to steer the yacht.
• The food is included: Expect garlic prawns in white wine sauce, tortilla de patatas, Padrón peppers, bacon-wrapped dates, salad, fruit, and more.
• Drinks are included too: Beer, wine, Prosecco, cola, and water are available during the outing.
• The yacht leaves from the Bay of Pollença: Departure arrangements can vary between Bar Restaurante Cocodrilo and Bar Restaurante Bonaire.
• This is best for adults and older children: Children under four are not allowed unless you book a private trip.

Sailing from Alcudia toward Cap de Formentor

This four-hour outing begins around the Bay of Pollença, with two possible starting points: Bar Restaurante Cocodrilo or Bar Restaurante Bonaire. The meeting details can change, so call Romantic Sailing at least one day before departure. The operator asks you to park at Bonaire and take a seat there while you confirm the exact place and time.

That small bit of planning matters. You do not want to arrive at the wrong restaurant in beach clothes, towel under your arm, while the yacht is preparing to leave elsewhere. Bring sunglasses, a towel, and swimwear. Smoking and pets are not allowed on board.

Once you are settled on the yacht, the first hour is devoted to sailing across the Bay of Pollença. The route heads toward the Formentor area, where Mallorca’s coast looks best from the water. You get a different view from the usual road trip to Cap de Formentor: instead of driving to a lookout, you approach the headland from the sea and see the shoreline from its quieter side.

The 14-meter yacht gives you room to move around, but this is still a boat, not a floating restaurant. You will want to keep your belongings tidy and use care when moving between the seating area and the swimming platform. The reward is a more personal outing than a large sightseeing cruise.

Take the wheel or settle in with a drink

One of the most useful features here is the choice between participation and rest. If you want to learn, the skipper can explain the basics and let you take the helm. You do not need previous sailing experience, and taking the wheel offers a memorable photo as well as a better sense of how the yacht moves.

You will not be operating the boat independently. The skipper remains responsible for navigation and safety, but you can take part in the action instead of simply watching from a seat. This is especially appealing if you have always wanted to try sailing but do not want to commit to a full sailing course.

If you would rather rest, that is perfectly fine. Sit back with a cool drink and watch the coast. The included drinks cover beer, Spanish wine, Prosecco, cola, and water, so the outing does not require you to keep buying refreshments during the four hours.

The guide language options are German, English, and Spanish. Jörn is named as a guide and captain on some departures, and the friendly tone of the trip depends in part on the skipper assigned to your boat. The experience currently carries a 4.4 out of 5 rating from 236 ratings, with especially strong praise for the skipper’s friendly manner and the easy mood on board.

Cala en Gossalba: two hours for swimming and lunch

After about an hour of sailing, the yacht reaches Cala en Gossalba in the Pollença area. This is the main pause of the day and lasts roughly two hours. The stop combines the most active and most relaxing parts of the excursion.

You can swim in the clear water, use the provided snorkeling equipment, or paddle away from the yacht on the stand-up paddleboard. The bay is described as a small, idyllic spot accessible by boat, which gives the stop a quieter feel than a beach reached by road. Still, conditions can vary with wind and sea movement, so do not expect a guaranteed calm-water session every time.

The snorkeling gear and SUP are included, which improves the value of the $147 price. You do not need to rent separate equipment or carry fins and a board from Alcudia. Bring your own towel and swimwear, but the main water gear is supplied.

This is also when the skipper prepares the meal. The food is not a prepacked sandwich lunch. The menu includes garlic prawns cooked in white wine sauce, tortilla de patatas, Padrón peppers, bacon-wrapped dates, mozzarella with tomato, baguette, rocket salad, and seasonal fruit. The skipper is known for cooking on board, so lunch is part of the character of the trip rather than a quick refueling stop.

Vegetarians are catered for, with dishes such as tortilla, peppers, tomato and mozzarella, salad, bread, and fruit. If you have a serious allergy or strict dietary requirement, the available information does not promise a custom menu, so ask the operator before booking.

The meal works best as a shared tapas-style spread. You can sample several Spanish dishes, have a drink, then return to the water. I like this format because it avoids the usual split between a boat trip and a restaurant stop. The food, swimming, and scenery all happen in the same place.

Cap de Formentor from the sea

Cap de Formentor is one of Mallorca’s signature coastal areas, and this trip gives you a water-level view rather than a road-and-lookout visit. You will not spend the day walking around the cape or visiting a lighthouse. The appeal is the approach by yacht, the coastal silhouette, and the chance to stop in a bay near the Formentor area.

That distinction is important when comparing excursions. If you want a land tour of the cape, this is not the right choice. If you want to combine the cape with sailing, food, and a swim, it makes more sense.

The stop at Cala en Gossalba also means the trip is not built around constant movement. You sail for an hour, pause for two hours, then sail back for another hour. That rhythm gives you enough time to enjoy the yacht without feeling rushed through the water activities.

At midday, the crew may sail farther out into the bay when conditions allow, giving you views toward the other side of the Bay of Pollença. Wind affects how much of this plan is possible. On windy days, the sailing time can reach about two and a half hours. When the wind is weak, the yacht uses its engine to reach a pleasant nearby swimming area.

How the weather changes the experience

Sailing is always more weather-dependent than a bus tour, and the operator is clear about that. The advertised route and the actual day on the water may differ depending on wind and sea conditions.

With enough wind, you get the quiet pleasure of moving under sail, with fewer engine sounds and a stronger sense of the yacht responding to the sea. Stronger wind can also mean a livelier ride, so anyone who gets seasick should consider that before booking.

With little wind, the boat uses its engine. That does not cancel the water stop, but it changes the character of the outing. You may get less pure sailing and more coastal cruising before reaching a suitable place to swim.

The provider’s weather check is part of the booking routine. Call one day before departure to confirm that the trip is running and to learn the exact meeting point. One caution is worth keeping in mind: a recent cancellation was made the night before and was later disputed by the group, who believed low numbers rather than weather were the real cause. That appears to be an isolated but important reminder to keep your schedule flexible and confirm directly.

Is $147 a fair price?

At $147 per person, this is not the cheapest way to get on the water around Alcudia. The price makes more sense when you count what is included: four hours aboard a 14-meter yacht, a skipper, insurance, photos, snorkeling equipment, a SUP, a substantial tapas meal, and a full selection of drinks.

A simpler boat ride may cost less, but it may not include a cooked meal, sailing instruction, or water equipment. A private yacht charter will usually cost more overall, even if the per-person price can work well for a larger group. This excursion sits between those choices, offering a small-group setting without requiring you to organize a private boat.

The value is strongest if you plan to eat lunch on board, want to swim and snorkel, and like the option of taking the helm. It is weaker if you only want a short scenic cruise or if you do not drink and would not use the SUP or snorkeling equipment.

Private and small-group options are available. A private trip may also suit families with children under four, since younger children are not allowed on standard departures but can be accepted on a private trip. Safety vests for children are available on board.

Who will enjoy this yacht trip most?

I would recommend this outing to couples, friends, solo visitors comfortable joining a small group, and families with children aged four and over. It suits people who want a full half-day on the water rather than a quick photo cruise.

It is particularly good for a birthday or special occasion. The combination of a scenic route, hands-on sailing, and a shared meal gives the day a natural sense of occasion without requiring a formal luxury package.

You should also like flexible activities. One person can snorkel while another rests with wine, and someone else can try the helm. That mix makes the trip easier to enjoy as a group when everyone has different ideas about what a perfect boat day looks like.

I would think twice if you need a fixed, weather-proof itinerary, dislike boats, or want a fully private experience at the standard group price. The yacht can be affected by wind, the departure point can vary, and a small group depends on enough people booking.

Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before departure, and reserve-now-pay-later booking is available. Those terms help if your Mallorca plans are still shifting, but they do not remove the need to confirm the trip directly one day in advance.

Should you book the Alcudia sailing excursion?

Book it if you want a complete half-day outing rather than a simple cruise. The strongest reasons are the homemade tapas, included wine and beer, swimming stop near Cap de Formentor, and chance to learn a little sailing from the skipper.

I would choose this for a relaxed couple’s day, a birthday, or a small group that wants several activities in one package. Call the day before, ask for the precise departure point, and arrive with swimwear, a towel, and sunglasses.

Skip it if your top priority is a guaranteed sailing route, a private yacht, or a visit to Cap de Formentor on land. For everyone else, the mix of food, water time, and real sailing makes the $147 fare reasonable, provided the weather cooperates.

FAQ

Where does the sailing trip start?

There are two possible starting locations: Bar Restaurante Cocodrilo and Bar Restaurante Bonaire. Park at Bonaire and call the local partner one day before departure to confirm the exact departure point and weather.

How long is the excursion?

The full experience lasts four hours. The usual plan includes about one hour sailing out, two hours at Cala en Gossalba, and one hour sailing back.

Is sailing experience required?

No. You can simply relax on board, or the skipper can teach you basic sailing and let you take the helm.

What food is included?

The meal includes garlic prawns in white wine sauce, tortilla de patatas, Padrón peppers, bacon-wrapped dates, mozzarella with tomato, baguette, rocket salad, and seasonal fruit.

Which drinks are included?

Beer, wine, Prosecco, cola, and water are included in the price.

Are snorkeling equipment and a SUP provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and a stand-up paddleboard are included for use during the swimming stop.

Are young children allowed?

Children under four are not allowed on standard trips. They may be accepted if you book a private trip, and safety vests for children are available on board.

What happens if there is little wind?

The yacht uses its engine and continues along the coast to find a pleasant nearby swimming spot. The exact balance between sailing and engine-powered cruising depends on the weather.