Formentera, a postcard island

With more than 300 days of sun per year and with beaches of fine white sand comparable to those of the Bahamas, Formentera is a whim of nature that lies some 2 nautical miles from Ibiza, its Pitiüsa sister. Regarded as one of the prettiest destinations in our country, Formentera is like a natural retreat, an island full of unique postcards which we invite you to discover on a bicycle or motorcycle. 

The beach in Illetas will offer you the first dreamy postcard. A natural site of great beauty, located in the north side of Es Trucadors, which you will be able to access by bicycle or motorcycle from any spot on the island. Thus, and having enjoyed your breakfast at your hotel or apartment (choose one with views to the sea, if possible), start your route to Ses Illetes. 

Although distances on the island are short and the signs posts perfectly mark each destination, you will be aware when you approach Illetes on account of finding yourself before a veritable fairy-tale postcard composed of a beach with fine white sand bathed by turquoise blue waters; an illustration of the beaches that can only be found in Formentera. Once you have admired its beauty and authenticity, you will understand why it is among the top 10 of the best beaches in the world.  

While the plan of enjoying yourself with a whole morning of sunshine is more than ideal in a natural site like this one, we recommend that, after a few hours of swimming and relaxing, you get to know about Formentera's most unknown side: it's underwater world. It is a noted location for diving, and immersing yourself in its waters will bring you close to an extraordinary world full of Neptune Grass and coloured marine species.   

Following a few hours of scuba diving, the time has come to return to the land and delight in the local dishes offered by such restaurants as that of Juan and Andrea, two people in love who – after having been official watchpeople on the island of Espalmador- decided to open this gastronomic centre in which the sea and its products play a predominant role. The extra asset of the place? Its strategic location as, from its facilities, you will have a privileged view of the islets of Tramuntana, Forn and Conills.

Few experiences are as gratifying as that of seeing the island of Formentera from the sea as, in addition to being able to enjoy swims in paradisiacal waters, you will have unique postcard-worthy views right before your eyes. What will your starting point be on this second day of route through the smallest of the Pitiüsa Islands? The port of La Savina, a place in which you will be able to rent your sailboat (with or without a skipper) or a small speedboat. Now, whatever choice you make, do not forget to bring food, fruit and drinks as the plan is that of eating offshore. 

Start this mini-voyage in the waters of Formentera by sailing southwest to go round the natural area of Can Marroig (where the Interpretation Centre of the Natural Park of Ses Salines is located).  In this course of little more than two kilometres you will be able to closely see the coastal barrier known as Estany des Peix. An inlet of little more than three kilometres which one can only gain access to via Sa Boca, a natural inlet approximately measuring twenty metres that is unique in the Balearic Islands. 

Leaving Can Marroig on the left and taking advantage of the mid-morning breeze, continue sailing, marking Cala Saona, near the Punta des Bou, on your locator. You will reach this point in less than four nautical miles and, after enjoying a brief stop at the Caló d´en Trull, another of those postcard places. Once you approach its coast, not only will you be able to closely see its fishermen’s hut but will also bear witness to the reddish tone of its sand. 

You will reach the first relevant destination of your route by boat once you can distinguish the waters of Cala Saona. Regarded as one of the prettiest coves in Formentera, this natural corner, covering little more than 140 metres, is an ideal place for you to enjoy an offshore meal, paying special attention to the area you choose for anchoring. 

The route continues with the sun at its highest point and with a spectacular view of the Punta Rasa cliffs. Your final destination? Continue through this marine reserve until reach the mythical Cap de Barbaria lighthouse, right in the south of Formentera. At this point, in addition to having the chance to delight in the magnificence of its rock walls, you will be able to enjoy the depths of the sea with a few hours’ snorkelling.

With more than a thousand hours of sun and natural sites that are unique the world over, Formentera is known for its incredible sunsets. A phenomenon that, in the summer months, reaches a superior level of beauty, in which you will be a participant on this third day visiting our postcard island. Do, however, take into account that the journey will begin late (before the sun sets) and that you will only be able to choose a location out of the three we specify here in order to enjoy the event in all its splendour.  

The first option we suggest is enjoying a day walking around Ses Salines d´en Marroig and bathing in  Es Cavall D´En Borrás, a wild beach closet o the port of La Savina, which contains dunes and dense pine forests. This location also features Beso Beach, one of the most charming beach bars on the island as well as a meeting point for sunset hunters. Enjoying the setting of the king star to the accompaniment of music and the sound of the sea is a highly recommended experience. The culmination of this? Undoubtedly, a magnificent dinner and good island wine.    

If you prefer to choose a more natural location, we recommend another, equally charming option whose final destination is the Cap Barbaria lighthouse. Famous for being one of the main locations of the film Sex and Lucia, this lighthouse offers simply breathtaking sunsets. So enjoy a full day in the southern area of the isle to end the day in this location and enjoy a dinner in Sant Francesc Xavier, from which point you will be separated by less than 7 kilometres. 

Another of those recommended sunsets on the island of Formentera is that of the beach of Es Migjorn beach, which is over five kilometres in length and divides the La Mola from the Cap Barbaria lighthouse and fills with lovers of sunsets whenever the sun starts to disappear. Planning a full day in the Es Migjorn area, enjoying the water and the sun, the local cuisine and visits to such locations as the Cova d´En Xeroni is best rounded off with a sunset at the mythical Blue Bar, a 1960s beach bar whose predominant colour is blue.

Beyond its beaches, Formentera conceals true interior postcards impregnated with history and taking shape in such towns as Sant Francesc Xavier, the capital of the island. After enjoying a good homemade breakfast in the town centre (the Café Matinal of the street Arxiduc Lluis Salvador), the visit will begin in Sant Francesc, paying special attention to the flour mills of sa Miranda and Tanca Vella, a Romanesque chapel built in the fourteenth century in honour of Saint Valerius, with little ornamentation and a lot of history.

The route continues until reaching Sant Ferrán de Ses Roques, an inland town in which one can enjoy the best local cuisine in such benchmark venues as Fonda Pepe. With centuries of history behind it, Sant Ferran still retains some of its past as the core of the hippie movement on the island. A charming visit full of original corners such as Formentera Guitars (a musical temple in which Pink Floyd got to appear) and the Cuevas d´en Geroni caves, famous for sheltering a lake that is over three million years old.  

After spending the afternoon on the pretty beach of Es Pujols and enjoying some shopping in its hippie stalls, you can cap this fourth day of visiting the lost corners of Formentera by approaching the La Mola area, in which the intriguing Cova des Fum comes to life.  

Located in the centre of a group of cliffs that face the island of Ibiza, this cave – also known as “the cathedral” – is not only known for having been inhabited over three thousand years by the first dwellers who arrived on the island but also for having been a prime setting for the battles between the Normans and the Muslims who occupied the insular territory.

One of the standout areas on the isle of Formentera is the Natural Park of Ses Salines, a protected natural space located in front of the private island of Espalmador and whose importance goes beyond its landscape beauty.

Getting to know the area on a kayak or sailboat is one of the most attractive and fun activities that can be experienced on the last day on the small Pitiüsa island.