Natural Formentera: experience sustainable wellness

Formentera is the smallest of the Balearic Islands, but it is home to an enormous natural treasure that deserves to be explored. For many, it is also a haven for reconnecting with nature through its pristine landscapes and serene atmosphere, free from distractions and stress. That's why the best way to discover the island is at your own pace: by bike, on horseback or on foot along 32 green routes, totalling more than 100 km, designed to allow unspoilt nature to reveal all its splendour at every step. 

In Formentera, the relationship between humans and nature is so intimate that sometimes the line between natural and cultural heritage becomes blurred. For years, the availability of land and marine resources have significantly shaped life on the island. This is why it is full of little-known paths, dotted with flour mills, cisterns, waterwheels, century-old fig trees or escars (dry docks) that help us to understand this relationship between the people who live here and the environment. 

An undersea treasure

To experience Formentera from the sea is to discover another island. Its mild temperatures and more than 300 sunny days a year make it a perfect destination to explore from the sea, practising nautical sports such as kayaking, paddle surfing, snorkelling or sailing. The island is known for its crystal-clear waters, although few people know why they are so clear. We have the Posidonia oceanica to thank for them. 

This marine plant, not algae, filters the sediment and gives it a unique transparency. It is distributed throughout the Mediterranean, although there is a huge meadow located between Ibiza and Formentera. So much so that it was declared a World Heritage Site in 1999. Now you can also get involved in the preservation of posidonia, either by respecting its presence or through Save posidonia project, a pioneering project to raise funds through sponsorships to preserve posidonia launched by the same Consell de Formentera. Are you in?

Sustainable pleasure in every bite

Formentera is the living representation of the slow food philosophy and zero-kilometre products. Here, every ingredient has a story and its origin is measured in steps, not kilometres. The fruits of the unirrigated orchards and strips of dried fish caressed by the warm Mediterranean wind fill the markets with unique colours and flavours. 

Local products from Formentera are the result of human creativity to make the most of the resources available on the island due to its isolation.  

A prime example is peix sec (dried fish, in Catalan). In the past, fishermen used to dry the fish in order to be able to consume it all year round. Today, it is one of the island’s main gastronomic attractions and the main ingredient of the ensalada payesa, a typical dish of Formentera's gastronomy. Other products worth particular mention are the liquid salt from Formentera, a high quality salt presented in this innovative format, the honey, which owes its excellent quality to the absence of chemical products, the dried figs, highly appreciated for their intense flavour, with notes of aniseed and laurel, incorporated in the production process. 

Formentera also has around 80 hectares of vineyards that produce wines that are highly appreciated by the most demanding palates. There are currently two wineries on the island, Terramoll and Es Cap de Barbaria, which are worth a visit. In addition, many households still make the traditional "vi pagès", generally for their own consumption.

On Formentera, sustainability is not just a choice, it's a way of life. In fact, one aspect to bear in mind is that during the summer months the population of Formentera triples and, consequently, so does the number of cars, motorbikes and other motor vehicles. In light of this, and to guarantee environmental sustainability and preserve the peace of the island, the Balearic Government has drawn up a law limiting the circulation of vehicles in summer. For more information on sustainable initiatives in Formentera, click here.