Ripolbras Portinatx Boat Rental: Self-Drive 15-hp Boat for 4 in North Ibiza

Ripolbras

North Ibiza: Boat Rental in Portinatx

★ 5.0 (34) · from $202

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Prices and timetables checked 2026-10-17. I earn a commission on bookings made through the links on this page.

The Ripolbras Portinatx boat rental is a self-drive hire of a small vintage motorboat with a 15-hp outboard from the port of Portinatx, in the far north of Ibiza, sold in three time slots between 8:30 AM and 8:00 PM. It is one of three rentals on my boat rental in Ibiza page.

The detail that changes the decision is the licence. The listing title and a line in the equipment list still say no licence is required, while the description opens with a notice that from 1 October rental is only possible with a boating licence. A Spanish decree changed the rule on the same date, so ask Ripolbras which licence or skipper option applies to you before you pay.

What do you get with the Ripolbras Portinatx boat rental?

You get a small boat with a 15-hp engine, enough fuel for the booked slot, snorkel masks and a briefing, and then you drive it yourself. There is no skipper, so you choose the coves within the permitted area.

• Boat: a vintage model for up to 4 people with an awning, swim ladder and cushions.
• Kit: snorkel masks, a cool box with two ice packs, and a safety briefing.
• Support: WhatsApp contact during the day, which reviewers used and praised.
• Not listed: the boat’s length, so I cannot say whether it fits the 5-metre figure in the new rule.

Is the Ripolbras Portinatx boat rental really licence-free?

Not any more, as far as the listing is concerned: its description opens by saying that rentals from 1 October need a boating licence, which is the same date Spain amended the exemption. The line in the equipment list saying no licence is required is therefore out of date, and I would not rely on it.

Real Decreto 1188/2025 rewrites article 10 of the nautical titles decree from 1 October 2026; the table summarises the amended text on the BOE page.

The text is on the BOE page for the decree. All the reviews I could read are dated before 1 October, so none shows how Ripolbras applies it.

Where does the boat hire start?

The boat is collected at the pier by the Los Enamorados restaurant in Portinatx port; arriving by road means taking the steps down to the quay, arriving from the beach means passing the boat sheds. Open the pier on Google Maps.

The listing gives no bus route, so I give no walking time. Check with Ripolbras how to reach the pier at your slot time.

Where can you sail, and where are you not allowed?

Your area runs from Sant Miquel marina in the west to Portinatx lighthouse in the east, unless Ripolbras agrees otherwise; the boat has GPS and leaving the area can mean a fine. The description wrongly places the lighthouse to the west, so I follow the rules note.

Reviewers mention swims and snorkel stops along Cala Xarraca, Benirràs and the Sant Miquel cove. I cannot confirm distances, so check that Ripolbras’ boundary is inside the decree’s 2-mile limit.

Which time slot should you choose?

The full-day slot gives the most swim time, the morning slot leaves the afternoon free; the sunset slot ends after dark for most of the year. Daylight matters because the decree allows daytime navigation only.

The sunset slot returns at 7:30 PM, so it ends in daylight from April to September, when the sun sets after 8:00 PM, and it runs into the dark from October. The listing does not say whether the slots shift in winter, so ask.

What is included and what do you pay extra for?

Fuel for the day, boat cleaning, snorkel gear, cooler, mooring and the briefing are in the price; food and drink are not, and you cannot go ashore to buy any. Pack everything before you board.

How does it compare with other Ibiza boat rentals?

At $202 it is the cheapest self-drive rental on my Ibiza list and takes four people, one fewer than the Daydream boat in the west.

If you want a larger boat or a crew, see the private boat tours in Ibiza.

Is the Ripolbras Portinatx boat rental worth it against a shared boat trip?

It is worth it for a group of three or four who want quiet north-coast coves and will sort the licence first; it is not worth it if you want to sit back. Four people pay $50 each, against $51 to $79 a head on shared snorkel boats.

• Worth it: friends or a family with a licensed driver, packing their own lunch.
• Weigh up: the licence question, the geographic limits and the no-shore rule.
• Look elsewhere: for a crewed day, the Ibiza boat tours hub.

Is hiring a self-drive boat in north Ibiza worth it?

Hiring a boat from Portinatx suits calm days and short hops, since the north coast has coves within the permitted stretch and the listing describes the area as quiet. It suits only competent small-boat drivers, because there is no crew and no landing.

When is the best time to go?

June to September is the best window for swimming, with July at 0.8 rain days and a long-term high of 31 degrees Celsius; the sea is still 24.6 degrees Celsius today. A small boat is also best on a calm day, so check the marine forecast from AEMET the day before.

19,053,592 tourists arrived in the Balearic Islands in 2025, which is why summer slots book out early.

The next Spanish public holidays are 1 November, 6 December and 8 December. The listing gives no end-of-season date, so ask Ripolbras.

What do renters say?

Renters talk about the briefing, the map and the coves. I could read ten reviews, all five-star, so the sample is at the favourable end.

• Briefing and instructions (6 of 10): clear and calm, even for first-time drivers.
• Map with limits and tips (4 of 10): boundaries, rocks and stops marked.
• Value (3 of 10): cheaper than other local providers.
• Snorkelling and coves (3 of 10): plenty of places to anchor and swim.
• Language (2 of 10): French and English spoken at drop-off.

Who should skip the Ripolbras boat hire?

Skip it if nobody in your group holds a title and the operator cannot offer a skipper, if you want a party, or if you are more than four. The Ibiza boat tours hub has crewed alternatives.

• Under 18: not allowed to drive.
• Party groups: not allowed.
• Alcohol: banned on board.

How do you book the Ripolbras Portinatx boat rental?

1. Ask Ripolbras which title or skipper option applies on your date.
2. Choose the slot and pack food and drink.
3. Request the map with limits and rocks.
4. Cancel up to 24 hours before for a full refund.

Frequently asked questions

Sources: GetYourGuide listing 1332240 (price, slots, rules, reviews, checked 2026-10-17); BOE, Real Decreto 1188/2025 (article 10 amendment, in force 1 October 2026); IBESTAT, FRONTUR 2025; AEMET; Ports de Balears; Open-Meteo climate and marine data; sunrise-sunset.org; Nager.Date; Frankfurter.