Gastronomic routes by bicycle

Day 1: Discover the wine of Formentera in Cap de Barbaria

Take a sustainable bicycle trip along one of Formentera's green routes, route 8, which will take you from Sant Francesc to the mythical Cap de Barbaria lighthouse, passing by the wineries of the same name, one of the two wineries that produce Vi de la terra de Formentera, a geographical indication that protects the wines produced on the island. The other winery, Terramoll, is in Pilar de la Mola, which is also worth a visit. 

This stage is of medium-difficulty, with a distance of 9.6 kilometres each way and a maximum difference in altitude of 76 metres. The trails are suitable for a mountain bike, and the entire route will take about a couple of hours of cycling.

Leaving Sant Francesc behind, the route enters the authentic rural Formentera. Here, fields of almond trees, vineyards and fig trees are surrounded by dry stone walls. The path will take you through a wooded area that suddenly transforms into a barren, rocky landscape. Low Mediterranean vegetation predominates in this area and scents the path. It was once a lush forest before it was massively cleared for charcoal production.

This itinerary will allow you to discover the wines of Formentera, which are unique due to the characteristics of the terrain, the proximity of the sea and its extraordinary vines.

The Cap de Barbaria wineries are located around kilometre 5 of the road that links Sant Francesc with this desert area of the island. This stop on the route is an opportunity to discover and taste local wines, which reflect the unique combination of Mediterranean winemaking tradition and the distinctive character of Formentera. It is an ideal opportunity to savour the local gastronomy, paired with the island's excellent wines.

When you reach the end of Es Cap de Barbaria, the lighthouse rises majestically before us. On the right, you will see the entrance to the cave, also famous for the film Lucía y el Sexo by Julio Médem, which offers impressive views of the sea. On a clear day, the mountainous silhouette of the peninsula is visible in the distance.

Day 2: Taste the liquid gold of Formentera

This stage takes us from the charming village of El Pilar de la Mola to the lighthouse of La Mola, a beautiful white lighthouse with spectacular views of the south of the island. On the way out, the route will follow the PM-820 road, which links the town with the lighthouse, to make our gastronomic stop for the day: the Can Vicent Puig estate and its exquisite olive oil. You can buy oil at the farm from 9 am to 1 pm.

Its olive grove is mainly the picual variety, which is very well suited to the island's climate. They also grow the empeltre and arbequina varieties.

The olives are harvested entirely by hand, using scrapers and by plucking them from the branches. They are then taken to the Can Durban oil mill in Ibiza, where the oil is produced using traditional cold-pressing methods.

The enormous popularity of this oil led them to increase the surface area planted with olive groves and they also joined a project to optimise the use of irrigation water.

After visiting the farm and enjoying the olive oil, we can rejoin the road to visit the lighthouse and its impressive views. The return to El Pilar de la Mola will be along the green route no. 29, an easy route along rural roads, perfect for enjoying the scenery and relaxing after your tasting session.

Day 3: Sant Francesc pagan market

This time, you will combine gastronomy and the beach. Follow Route 2 of the Green Routes of Formentera, cycling from the port of La Savina and stopping in Sant Francesc Xavier to visit the Mercat Pagès, culminating in Es Pujols, where you can enjoy the refreshing breeze sitting by the sea.

Starting from the port of La Savina, this route goes around the large salt lake known as S'Estany Pudent. It will allow you to discover Ses Salines, which stand out for their pink and violet tones. These salt flats are part of Formentera's cultural heritage and were the island's only industry in the pre-tourist era.

Cycle along the Es Brolls path, which skirts a large part of the lake, a unique place for a stroll. As the name suggests, this trail contains underground freshwater springs that provide ideal nesting areas for birds. In winter, it is common to see flamingos, grey herons and mallards. In this peculiar environment, reeds, rushes and other freshwater flora coexist with vegetation adapted to the salty environment.

Via a detour, this circular route visits the main town of Formentera, Sant Francesc Xavier. Stop by the Centre Antoni Tur and the Mercat Pagès de Formentera. This market sells superb local produces, ideal for preparing healthy meals. The opening hours are from Monday to Saturday from 9 am to 2 pm, and you will find fresh seasonal fruit and vegetables.

This market is packed with an incredible variety of products, flavours, aromas and textures. They are authentic km0 foods sold directly by the local farmers. Strolling through the market and tasting the food is an experience for the senses and an opportunity to take home unique products. 

Finally, the route will take us to the coastal town of Es Pujols, where you can enjoy the food we have just bought, lulled by the sea breeze and the spectacular turquoise blue waters of Formentera's beaches.

Day 4: Taste the delights of the sea

Today we'll treat ourselves to the delicacies of the sea of Formentera in a place with a time-honoured fishing tradition: Es Caló de Sant Agustí. We will take our bikes with us because, after lunch, we will "descend" to the south coast of the island, separated by only 1.4 kilometres. 

On the east part of the island, before the ascent to la Mola, the two opposite coasts come very close. Route 24, with a slight slope, joins Tramontana coast with the south coast. We will set off from the picturesque village of Es Caló de San Agustí, famous for its fishermen's wharf and its escars, the picturesque dry docks of Formentera. It is a marvellous spot to taste the island's fresh fish and typical dishes like bullit de peix, ensalada payesa and flaó.

You will be spellbound by the sea around Formentera, with its crystal-clear waters and sprawling meadows of Posidonia, the marine plant that has been a World Heritage Site since 1999.

After this culinary experience, we will head towards the south coast on a relaxed route of 1.4 kilometres. The path takes us through a wooded area of pines and junipers to Es Copinar, one of the last beaches of Migjorn. It is a quiet beach, with clear waters, white sand and small rocky areas.

Beyond the hotel complexes, you will find welcoming family restaurants serving typical dishes and one of the most emblematic and genuine beach kiosks on the island, just a few metres from the sea and with breathtaking views. A five-minute walk towards La Mola will take you to Es Caló des Mort, a small cove separated from Es Copinar by a steep, rocky area.

This day promises to be a perfect combination of local gastronomy and breathtaking natural landscapes, ideal to enjoy the true essence of Formentera with all five senses.