Rent a boat without a license

It’s easier than you think! In Mallorca, you can captain boats up to 5 meters long with 15 hp engines yourself. No license required—you just need to be 18+ and listen to a quick 15-minute briefing at the harbor. Google reviews consistently mention that these boats are slow, so don't expect to cross the whole island; pick a rental spot that is already close to the coves you want to see (like Santa Ponsa, Andratx, or Can Picafort). Heads up: they usually hold a deposit of €300–€500 on your card.

The rules have changed: since 1 October 2026, Royal Decree 1188/2025 has removed the exception that let you rent motor boats up to 5 metres without a licence. Whoever skippers a rental boat now needs a navigation licence or the corresponding qualification, however small the boat. Without one, you may only skipper a boat like that for private use. Some websites still advertise licence-free boats in Mallorca: ask what they require before you pay.

If you have no licence, you still have options: rent the boat with a skipper, join a group trip, or get the Spanish licencia de navegación, a course of about 6 hours (2 of theory and 4 of practice) with no exam, valid for boats up to 6 metres, by day and close to the coast. When you anchor, do it on sand or a mooring buoy, never on posidonia seagrass: in the Balearics it is banned.

Frequently asked questions

Can you rent a boat without a licence in Mallorca?

Since 1 October 2026, no: Royal Decree 1188/2025 requires whoever skippers a rental boat to hold a navigation licence or the relevant qualification, even for a 5-metre boat. Renting with a skipper and joining group boat trips are still possible.

What is the Spanish navigation licence and how long does it take?

The licencia de navegación is Spain's simplest boating qualification: a course of about 6 hours, theory and practice, with no exam, for over-16s with a medical-psychological certificate. It covers recreational boats up to 6 metres, by day and close to the coast.

Where can you anchor a boat in Mallorca?

On sand or at authorised mooring buoys. In the Balearics anchoring on posidonia, the seagrass that keeps the water clear and shows as dark patches on the seabed, is banned. Look for a sandy patch and check that the anchor is not dragging.

Updated in October 2026