Snorkeling in Menorca: Private boat with local skipper

You choose when to stop—the skipper knows where the water is clearest and the coves are hidden.

A private boat tour around Menorca with a local skipper, departing from Mahón port, where you decide which stops to make for snorkeling, swimming and picnicking among hidden coves and beaches reachable only by sea. The boat carries snorkeling gear, local food and drinks; an underwater photographer captures moments in the water. Tours run 4, 6 or 8 hours depending on how far you want to explore.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private boat tour exploring Menorca coast

• Board boat at Mahon port
• Navigate inside port for 20 minutes
• Choose north or south coast route
• Observe Menorca coast and seabed
• Stop for bathing and snorkeling
• Relax on bow solarium
• Enjoy picnic with local produce
• Take underwater photos with guide

The Experience

You board at Mahón port and spend the first 20 minutes navigating out to open water. Once past the harbor mouth, the skipper offers a choice: head north or south along Menorca's coast. Both routes show the same thing—seabed full of aquatic life and beaches that have no road access. The water stays crystal clear enough to see down, and you call the stops yourself. Want to snorkel at Cala Macarella? Stop there. Rather float on the bow watching the cliffs? The boat waits. The pace is yours.

Snorkeling gear sits ready on board, and you use it whenever you want to get in the water. The skipper knows the spots where the visibility is best and where the seabed holds the most life. Between stops, a picnic of local produce and drinks appears whenever you're ready to eat—no fixed meal time, no schedule beyond the one you're making. An underwater photographer travels with you and shoots photos in the water; those images come with the booking, no extra charge.

The tour length changes what you see. A 4-hour trip covers the nearer coves; 6 hours reaches further along the coast; 8 hours lets you explore both north and south routes in a single day. Service animals are welcome on board, and infants sit on an adult's lap. The skipper speaks English and Spanish.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment.
• bottled water and soft drinks.
• snacks and a picnic with local produce.
• underwater photos taken by the guide.
• a local skipper who speaks English and Spanish.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by OLIVES OCEAN

Is this one for you?Pick the 4-hour tour if you want a focused morning or afternoon exploring the nearest coves; choose 6 hours to reach further along the coast without rushing; book 8 hours if your group wants to see both the north and south routes in one day and has the time to linger at each stop.

Top questions

Can I snorkel the whole time or do we stop at beaches too?

You choose when to snorkel and when to swim or rest. The boat stops whenever you want—at coves for snorkeling, at beaches to wade, or on the bow to relax and watch the coast. There's no fixed itinerary, so the day follows what appeals to your group.

What's Cala Macarella like when we get there?

Cala Macarella is a cove with a sandy beach and shallow, clear water—the kind of place with no road in, so a boat is the only way to reach it. The seabed is visible from the surface, and the water stays calm enough for comfortable snorkeling.

Is the snorkeling gear included, or do I need to bring my own?

Snorkeling equipment is included in the price and waits on board. You don't need to bring anything except a swimsuit and sunscreen.

How much time do we actually spend in the water versus traveling between stops?

The first 20 minutes are spent leaving Mahón harbor. After that, you control the rhythm—stop for as long as you want at each cove or beach, then move on when you're ready. A 4-hour tour covers less distance than an 8-hour one, so longer bookings let you linger more.

Will the underwater photos be good enough to keep, or are they just a bonus?

The underwater photographer shoots photos during the tour and they're included in your booking price—you get the images to take home. The quality depends on water clarity and how deep you dive, but the photographer knows the best spots and times to shoot.

Do we need to be strong swimmers to book this tour?

The tour suits all physical fitness levels. You control when and where you enter the water, and the skipper chooses calm coves with shallow entry. If you prefer to stay on the boat and watch, that's fine too.