Price: from £1,445pp
2024 Dates: Sunday 6 October – Friday 11 October
2025 Dates: Sunday 5 October – Friday 10 October
EFFICIENT FREESTYLE with james ewart
Join efficient freestyle specialist James Ewart and the SwimQuest team for a fantastic week of swimming around the stunning Balearic Island of Formentera. This trip comprises technique sessions that are structured to help you develop your stroke for a more effective, efficient freestyle, as well as exploratory adventure swims led by the SwimQuest guides. The trip also includes detailed one to one video stroke analysis.
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IS THIS WEEK FOR ME?
This tour is ideal for people who are already comfortable swimming 400m front crawl in <12 minutes and are comfortable swimming out of their depth. It’s also ideal for those who are new to swimming in open water who wish to develop their open water swimming skills and experience. Because of our small group sizes (max 14), we can ensure that every individual receives one-to-one advice and stroke analysis, as well as the opportunity to complete some stunning open water coastal swims. With a combination of video analysis sessions, pool sessions, seminars, and open water coastal swims, this is a varied trip resulting in new open water confidence and front crawl skills to take home.
ABOUT JAMES EWART
James is a technique-focused swim coach, video analysis expert and passionate open water swimmer. He helps you understand what you should be doing when you’re swimming and why. James specialises in coaching swimmers to become more efficient in the water through developing a streamlined and connected core-driven stroke. James is also a certified STA Level 2 Open Water Coach. To find out more about James visit his website www.twobeatkick.com.
ABOUT FORMENTERA
USEFUL INFORMATION
- Price £1,445pp (2024) and £1,599 (2025) based on a twin share room (see accommodation tab for single supplements and upgrades)
- Focus on swim technique, with pool and sea swimming and video analysis
- Minimum swimming requirement - 400m in front crawl, in <12 minutes and comfortable swimming out of your depth. If in doubt, please contact the office to discuss
- Average daily swimming - depends on ability, adaptable
- Approx. sea temperature range: May = 17-20C | October = 23-26C
- Group size – up to 14 swimmers
- Age range – 16+ (for family enquiries, please contact the office)
- Are non-swimmers welcome? Absolutely – non-swimmers are welcome to join the tour and enjoy beautiful Formentera.
WHAT’S INCLUDED?
- Accommodation for 5 nights at the Hotel RocaBella
- Daily technique coaching, including both pool and sea swimming
- One-to-one video analysis
- Daily exploratory coastal and bay swims
- A full swim itinerary and safety cover, including two swim guides and relevant boat escorts where required
- A ‘challenge swim event’ at the end of the week (distance will be adapted to suit your ability level)
- Breakfasts and lunches
- Return transfers from Formentera harbour to the hotel
- All transportation to and from swim start points
- A SwimQuest swim cap and SwimQuest poncho
- VAT
NOT INCLUDED:
- Flights (fly to Ibiza)
- Transport to Formentera Island (getting to Formentera is easy, just a short taxi / bus ride from Ibiza airport to the harbour, and then a 30-minute ferry across to Formentera, where we will meet you)
- Evening meals
- Any soft drink or alcohol purchases
- Wetsuit (if required)
- Single room supplements or superior room upgrades, please see ACCOMMODATION TAB for details
HOTEL ROCA BELLA
On this tour, you will stay in the friendly Hotel Roca Bella, situated on the beach of Es Pujols, moments away from crystal waters and Pujols town. Rooms are based on a twin share basis. If you wish, you can choose sole occupancy of a standard room or upgrade to a superior room subject to availability.
STANDARD TWIN ROOM (SHARING PLACE)
£1,445pp (2024) £1,599 (2025) - standard rooms are simple but comfortable. They all have a terrace and sea view.
STANDARD TWIN ROOM (SOLE OCCUPANCY)
If you would like your own private standard room, a sole occupancy supplement of £280 will be added to your booking. For 2025 bookings, please contact the office (sarah@swimquest.uk.com) if you would like to upgrade.
SUPERIOR ROOM UPGRADE (SOLE OCCUPANCY)
Upgrade your booking to a superior room for an extra £370 (please note this applies to sole occupancy places - these rooms do not offer a twin share set up). Superior Rooms are located in the newer building of the hotel and are recently renovated. All have a terrace with a sea view. For 2025 bookings, please contact the office (sarah@swimquest.uk.com) if you would like to upgrade.
SUPERIOR ROOM UPGRADE (DOUBLE SHARE)
If you are a couple and wish to upgrade to Superior you can do so for £350pp (please note - these rooms do not offer a twin share set up). Superior Rooms are located in the newer building of the hotel and are recently renovated. All have a terrace with a sea view. For 2025 bookings, please contact the office (sarah@swimquest.uk.com) if you would like to upgrade. THE ITINERARY
Please be aware that the below is a guide and that we will adapt the swims and the itinerary carefully, taking into account ability, safety and the weather conditions. Nature can be (and usually is!) unpredictable so swim timings and locations may need to be flexible and adapted from the below.
SUNDAY
- From 4pm Arrivals - SwimQuest to run transfer shuttles from Formentera harbour to hotel
- 5pm Welcome and introductions, and mandatory swim safety briefing and a quick dip!
- 7pm Meet for dinner (we will have a group booking at a local restaurants)
MONDAY
- 8am Breakfast at Roca Bella
- 10am Acclimatisation swim, finding a feel for the water and sighting tips
- 12.30pm Lunch at the Roca Bella’s Café Zulmar
- 2pm Technique session - balance, streamlining, breathing and breath timing
- 5pm Stroke seminar
- 7pm Sundowners followed by dinner
TUESDAY
- 8am Breakfast at Roca Bella
- 10am Technique session: Arm recovery and stroke timing
- 12.30pm Lunch at the Roca Bella’s Café Zulmar
- 2pm Sea Swim (1.5km – Illettes Bay)
- 5pm Breathing technique
- 7pm Sundowners followed by dinner
WEDNESDAY
- 8am Breakfast at Roca Bella
- 10am Technique session: Consolidate previous technique sessions along with coupling motions with catch
- 11am Video swimmers in the pool
- 1pm Lunch at the Roca Bella’s Café Zulmar
- 2pm Sea swim (2km – Platja de Migjorn)
- 5pm Catch Clinic
- 7pm Sundowners followed by dinner
THURSDAY
- 8am Breakfast at Roca Bella
- 10am “Challenge Swim” from Can Rolls Bay back to Pujols (2km)
- 12.30pm Lunch at the Roca Bella’s Café Zulmar
- 2pm Technique session: hips and weight shifting
- 4pm Video Analysis Feedback
- 7pm Sundowners followed by dinner
FRIDAY
- 7am Sunrise swim (Playa de Ses Canyes)
- 10am Sea swim (Pujols)
- 12.30pm Lunch at the Roca Bella’s Café Zulmar
- 2pm Departures (SwimQuest to run transfers back to Formentera Harbour)
TRAVEL TO FORMENTERA
TRIP START / FINISH TIMES
- We will meet at 5pm on the first day for introductions and safety briefing. SwimQuest head office will ask for your travel times pre-tour so that our swim guides can pick you up from Formentera harbour and take you to the hotel.
- The trip finishes at 2pm on the final day, however check out is at 10am. There'll be somewhere in the hotel to leave your bags. The guides will be able to take you back to Formentera harbour when the tour finishes on the final afternoon, however if you are staying on longer you may need to book a taxi back to the harbour with reception.
FLY TO IBIZA
Fly to Ibiza and then jump in a taxi from the airport to Ibiza harbour to get the ferry to Formentera (please budget approx. €15-20 for this taxi journey.) Taxis are regular just outside the airport. Tell the taxi driver you are going to get a ferry to Formentera and he / she will drop you off by the Formentera ticket kiosks. For the cheapest flight options, have a look at www.skyscanner.co.uk. If you would prefer to arrive a day early, we would recommend the cheap but friendly and comfortable Hotel el Puerto in Ibiza town, close to the ferry port.
FERRY FROM IBIZA TO FORMENTERA
There are a number of ferry companies offering a regular service (approx. every 30 minutes) from Ibiza to Formentera and back. Trasmappi, Balearia and Mediterranea–Pitiusa are popular options, cost the same and take the same amount of time (approx. 30 minute crossing). There is no need to buy a ticket in advance. Hint – when you buy a return ticket, it is worth checking that your return ferry journey allows you sufficient time to get to the airport, as you cannot transfer your ticket to another ferry provider and will have to purchase an additional single fare.AN EXTRA NIGHT IN IBIZA TOWN?
RECOMMENDED IN IBIZA TOWN:
Hotel el Puerto in Ibiza town is friendly and comfortable, and just a 2 minute walk from the ferry port should you need to arrive a day early / leave a day later. Please feel free to book a room through Lourdes in their reservations team. Tell them you are booking through SwimQuest and you can claim a 10% discount.HOTEL CONTACT:
CALLE CARLOS III, Nº 24. 07800 IBIZA // Contact number: 971.313812 FAX.971.317452 // E-mail: Lourdes at: reservas@ibizaelpuerto.com // Website: www.ibizaelpuerto.comWHAT DO I PACK?
- At least two Swimming costumes
- Wetsuit - optional*
- Two Pairs of swim goggles – ideally one clear and one tinted
- Tow float (required) - if you haven’t got one yet, you can purchase from our online shop here
- Rash vest (optional) - available from our online shop here
- Towel(s) although the hotel provide bath towels for in-hotel use
- Small daypack/rucksack to use for your personal equipment/clothing during the day (you will receive a 10L SwimQuest dry bag you can use for this purpose if you wish)
- Sandals/aqua shoes/flip flops – for getting wet
- Insect repellent & bite relief
- Fleece or warm jumper, tracksuit trousers/sweat pants
- Waterproof
- Sun hat, sun cream and glasses
- Travel insurance
HOLIDAY READING SUGGESTIONS
There's nothing better than packing a book to suit your holiday location! Author and adventure activist Jessica Hepburn has kindly put together some suggested 'Swimspiration' for Formentera here.READY TO BOOK?
We’re excited about meeting you on tour. To book your swimming holiday, simply fill in the booking form below. Once you have submitted the form, Sarah (our bookings co-ordinator) will be in touch to request payment and to help you with any additional requirements.
