Sunset at Benirras Beach, San Miguel
On a quiet Wednesday evening early in the season we decided that it was going to be a peach of a sunset and so heading to Benirras Beach in the north west was a definite on the days agenda.
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Aiyanna is charmingly eclectic, plain-spoken, sea-facing restaurant and beach set in Ibiza’s perfectly formed bay of Cala Nova.
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On a quiet Wednesday evening early in the season we decided that it was going to be a peach of a sunset and so heading to Benirras Beach in the north west was a definite on the days agenda.
The rugged coastline running north from San Antonio bay is a treasure trove of dramatic scenery and hidden coves, and Cala Yoga tucked into the cliffs at the base of Punta de sa Galera is an example of both these things. If you want to really feel like a local, get off the beaten track of tourist beaches and sea some beautiful views then head out exploring and find yourself at Cala Yoga.
To experience some beautiful areas of Ibiza’s coastline you need to get yourselves up to the north of the island. Far more rugged in nature and much less built up than the populated south, northern Ibiza is home to a collection of small coves hemmed in by rugged cliffs with steep descents and views out to nothing but ocean.
Las Salinas beach has long been listed as one of Ibiza’s top beaches, it’s long and wide with powder soft sand, luxury beach lounges and a backing of sand dunes and pine trees, not to mention its best feature – the crystal clear, strikingly blue sea with unhampered views out over the open ocean. Salinas is quite simply stunning.
Cala Llentia is tucked into the south-west of Ibiza in a stretch of coastline that boasts some much bigger and much busier beaches. Cala Bassa, Cala Conta and Cala Tarida are all not far away but come the summer months these well-known beaches draw the crowds in a big way.
Cala Figueretes is the closest beach to Ibiza town but it’s much more than just a town adjacent stretch of sand. Figueretes is a beautiful white sand beach that would be well worth trekking to, the fact that you don’t have to is simply a bonus.
The two beaches of Cala Conta and Cala Comte need little to no introduction, they are already famed throughout Ibiza and in San Antonio particularly for being two of the most stunning beaches in the immediate area.
Port des Torrent beach is really the last beach that can claim to be in the San Antonio Bay area and is also probably the furthest one you can conceivably walk to. Located 4.5 km away from San Antonio town along a lovely coastal stretch it will take you about an hour to walk. Once there you have the option to hop on a bus or ferry to get back to town.
Before you arrive in Ibiza you’ll probably already have heard about Playa d’en Bossa, a stretch of beach resort packed full of tourists, hotels, bars, beach clubs and lounges with DJ’s spinning tunes all day as buckets of cocktails, champagne and top shelf Vodka are downed on cabana beds stretching as far as the eye can see.
Port de Sant Miquel has a lovely main beach that’s large enough to accommodate all the guests of its many imposing hotels and also provides every amenity those guests could require. But if serenity matters to you more than size and service, then you might want to take a wander to one of these two smaller and much calmer little beaches close by.
Many beaches dot the coastline of San Antonio Bay and Punta Xinxo is the very last of them. The furthest away from the main town and consequently one of the least visited in the bay, it’s not very large and its neighbour Pinet beach is noticeably prettier and livelier and so tends to draw more people.
Neighbouring beach Cala Conta tends to get all the hype for being the stunning beach in this area and there’s no denying that it is truly beautiful but with that reputation comes the crowds, so if you’re looking for something a little quieter, a little less well known but just as beautiful then keep on going until you find tiny, perfect Cala Codolar.
Located only half an hour outside of San Antonio, but rarely visited by tourists, this under the radar beach is popular with Spanish families and locals and they are more than happy to keep it their little secret. A beautiful beach dotted with rocks for climbing and jumping off and with a healthy scattering of beach lounges and restaurants, this beach is a great spot to spend a day with the family.
Deciding to venture further a field along the south coast of Ibiza I made the choice to hire a moped (scooter) for the day, hoping to find it an easier way to travel around than on public transport.
Playa Pinet has long been one of the best beaches in San Antonio bay, a beautiful spot with white sand and clear water but stunning though it is, this beach tended to be remembered for the atmosphere rather than it’s beauty.
I have found my new happy place and it's called Cala Saladeta on the south-west coast of the island of Ibiza.
The south-west of Ibiza is a stretch of coastline that is known for its exceptional beaches, you’ll find yourself falling over beautiful coves and stretches of sand in this stunning corner of the island. Hard as it may be for one beach to stand out amidst so many, Cala Vadella manages just that.
Playa es Pouet is easy walking distance from the centre of San Antonio and yet infinitely more appealing than its larger neighbour the main beach S’Arenal de San Antonio.