Kayak and snorkel in Ibiza’s sea caves: north-east, Cala Codolar or sunset?
Updated October 18, 2026 · 7 min read
If you want to get into the caves rather than look at them from a deck, a guided kayak tour is the way in. Ibiza has three popular ones at €50 per person, and they differ mostly in where they start. The most-reviewed is the kayak and snorkel tour from Es Figueral in the north-east, with 436 reviews and 4.7 stars. For most people that is the one to book first, and the two others are alternatives if your base is on a different part of the coast.
What the tours have in common
All three are guided, last two and a half to three hours, and combine paddling with snorkelling. Snorkelling is part of each tour; the listings do not say what gear is provided, so ask. You paddle along a cliff coast, go into one or more caves, and stop somewhere to swim. The difference is the starting beach and with it the stretch of coast you see.
Compared with a boat trip that “visits a sea cave”, a kayak gets you into spaces a boat cannot enter. Boat tours are bigger, often include food and drinks, and usually look at a cave from the water. A kayak is quiet, slow, and you are in the water at the level of the rock. If your priority is drinks and music, look at the boat trips instead. If it is the cave, the kayak is the more honest version.
The tours side by side
| Tour | Starts at | Duration | From | Rating | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kayak and snorkel in the north-east | Es Figueral | 3 hours | €50 | 4.7 ★ · 436 | the east coast; snacks and juice included |
| Sea and caves kayaking with snorkelling | Cala Codolar | 2.5–3 hours | €50 | 4.8 ★ · 338 | the west and south-west coast |
| Kayak and snorkel, beginner-friendly | not named in the listing | 2.5 hours | €50 | 4.8 ★ · 325 | first-timers; optional cliff jumping |
| Sea kayaking at sunset | northern bays | 3 hours | €60 | 4.8 ★ · 96 | golden hour on the north coast |
Check dates for the north-east kayak tour
Which start suits you
Es Figueral is on the east side of the island, a short way from Santa Eulària, and the listing mentions secret caves, beaches and islands, plus snacks and juice. Cala Codolar is on the west coast, where the listing says you will see hidden caves and coves and the marine life under you. The third tour is described as beginner-friendly and mentions optional cliff jumping, but does not name the start point; the booking page should say where you meet. Pick the one nearest where you sleep, because the transfer to the start is the part nobody counts.
The sunset tour is a different mood: the listing says you paddle the northern bays and watch the sun go down into the sea. There is also a listing that mentions views of Es Vedrà at sunset, but it has only four reviews so far, which is too little to say much about. If sunsets are the aim, our sunset boat trips are the bigger choice.
What a kayak tour asks of you
Paddling for two to three hours is physical, though the pace is set by the guide. You sit low, you get wet, and the sea decides the route. Swell and wind can change a tour or cancel it, so check the cancellation terms and keep the booking flexible.
Be honest about the following before you book:
- Not for everyone: if swimming in open water worries you, a kayak with snorkelling is not a gentle start. The beginner-friendly listing exists, but you still swim in the sea.
- Age, health and weight limits are not in the summary. They are on the booking page of each tour, so read them if you travel with children or have a back problem.
- Cameras: bring a waterproof pouch or leave the phone ashore; ask the guide whether photos are taken on the tour.
- Sun: the sea is bright, and a kayak has no shade. A hat and water are part of the plan.
Kayak or paddle board
The area has many guided stand-up paddle tours too: for example the snorkelling and paddle boarding tour to the sea caves at €70, with 294 reviews. A paddle board is harder to balance and wetter to fall off. A kayak is the steadier seat, which is why it is the better start. All options are on the kayak and paddle board page, and for caves seen from a larger boat there is the snorkelling and sea caves page.
Our choice
For most people: the north-east tour from Es Figueral. It has the most reviews, a rating of 4.7, and food and drink included. If you stay on the west side of the island, take the Cala Codolar tour instead, with the best rating of the two at 4.8.
