You will find a variety of some of the most beautiful, unspoilt
beaches in the whole of the Mediterranean here on the island of Ibiza. Most of
them are readily accessible, either on foot, by car and bike or by public transport.
Some lie in small protected bays; the more remote ones you can visit by boat,
which operate regular ferry services from a number of landing points around the
island. In time we will have a special section dedicated to
itemise every beach on the island by giving precise details with pictures of exact
locations, the size, facilities and activities that are available on each of the
beaches around this unique island. However, this will
obviously require a great deal of time and labour so for now it's my initial intention
to simply list the names of the beaches and their whereabouts as we start to travel
anticlockwise around the island of Ibiza. Las Salinas
is found at the southern tip coastline of Ibiza. This is a very long, wide sandy
beach and the number one meeting place during the day where you will be able to
mix with all the fashionable party people who hang out here throughout the height
of the summer season. Es Cavallet has a sweeping
sandy beach which is known as the nude bathing venue of the island and a popular
rendezvous for the third gender. Playa d'en Bossa
is the longest and probably the most popular beach on the southern side of the
island. This is within walking distance from Ibiza town. Talamanca
is on the head-land that shelters the north-east side of the Bay of Ibiza
town and because of its proximity to the city this small sandy beach tends to
become over-crowded during the summer months. Cala Llonga
is about eight miles up the coastline north of Ibiza town and within two or three
miles of Santa Eulálía. This is certainly one of the loveliest bays
on the island. The deep but narrow sandy bay is flanked by high wooded hills running
out on either side to the sea for a quarter of a mile in distance. Playa
De Santa Eulálía is found at the front of the town and within
the huge Bay of Santa Eulálía. Playa
des Niu Blau is a small sandy beach that is set between Santa Eulálía
and Cala Pada. Cala Pada is a small, tranquil sandy
beach which is set in a small cove. Playa de S'Argamassa
is a region of the coast line that has areas of natural sand but is also combined
with rocky sections. Playas de Can Martina is a
small cove with shallow water and has a sandy sea bottom. Playa
Es Caña is a small and very popular sandy beach for families and is
situated in the town of the same name which is about three miles north of Santa
Eulálía. Cala Nova is a cove with
a spacious sandy beach but there are strong under water currants which can present
danger for a weak swimmer. Cala Leña is
a cove with steep pine clad cliffs which surround a lovely sandy beach and the
sea here is idea for snorkelling. Cala Mastella
is a narrow inlet that has two separate coves. The first is a small sandy beach
and the second is an enchanting bay which houses one of the islands most famous
fish restaurant. This special place is surely one of the hidden gems of Ibiza.
Cala Boix is a dark sandy coloured beach with a
very fine typical style restaurant where fresh fish is a speciality. Pou
d'es Lleó has a small sandy beach but it's a very special place for
sea views and again there is an excellent fish restaurant that's available close
at hand. Aigua Blanca is a mixture of being a small
sandy and rocky beach that is set amongst a tranquil environment. Playa
D'es Figueral is a one of the most beautiful sandy beaches in the north-east
of the island and is ideal for all types of water sports. Cala
San Vicente is a family holiday type of sandy beach that's situated in a beautiful
bay and caters for the two or three hotels at the top of the north-east of the
island. Portinatx is an extremely popular beach
destination for thousands of holidaymakers who flock here to the island each summer
because it has crystal clear water, spectacular sea views and a mixture of both
sandy and rocky areas next to the sea. Cala Xuclar
is a small beach set in a cove which has huts for the fisherman of Ibiza. Cala
Xarraca has two small sandy beach set in a large bay that is a perfect place
for all types of water sports. Playa Benirras is
a lovely sandy beach which is set in a sheltered bay with high sounding hills
that are covered with pine trees. Puerto de San Miquel
is an average size sandy beach which is set in a beautiful bay with two large
two hotels perch on the hill overlooking the beach. Cala
Salada is a small sandy beach set in a deep cove where fishermen still have
their boathouses. Cala Grassio is a dual bay and
both have small water frontages but with sand recedes a long way back up the narrow
beaches that are surrounded by rocks and pine tree. Port
d'es Torrent is a sandy beach which lies at the back of a small sheltered
cove with high rocky coast on the south side of the bay of San Antonio. Cala
Bassa has a wide sandy beach with sand dunes and pine trees surrounding and
this is a very popular beach for the younger type of tourist who spend their holidays
in San Antonio. Cala Conta is on the south-western
corner of the bay of San Antonio. This is an exceptional stretch of beaches with
crystal clear water and panoramic views of the rock Es Vedra. Cala
Tarida is a truly most magnificent sandy beach which is definitely worthwhile
a visit if only for the spectacular sea views and especially the technicolor sunsets.
Cala Moli is a small sandy beach with translucent
water which is set in an isolated cove on the west side of the island. Cala
Vadella is a sandy beach set in a deep sheltered bay which is popular for
a night or two stop over for the many private sailing vessels that petrol the
Mediterranean. Cala Carbo is an isolated, sandy
beach set in a small rocky cove with crystal-clear water. Cala
d'Hort is a sandy beach with a unique close-up view of the spiritual rock
isle Es Vedra, which is within swimming distance from the seashore. Cala
Jondal is a long stretch of beach which is set in a huge wide-open bay and
is surrounded by pine clad hills. This has now brought
us full circumference of the island and amongst all these beautiful beaches my
personal favourite has always been Cala Tarida. I first came to Ibiza in the mid-1970's
and during this period the only way you could possibly get down to Cala Tarida
was by sea in a boat, by foot, on horseback or on a motor bike because there simply
wasn't a road to drive a car. Cala Tarida got its name
from the pirates during the period of 1235 when King Jaime 1 and William of Portugal
were on their way back across the Atlantic from their Spanish conquest after looting
the Aztecs in South America. On departing to the New World
they set off in their huge battle ship which weren't built to carry cargo but
could only take men, canon, shot and provisions for them to stay alive at sea.
Therefore, when they wanted to return to Europe and had all this bullion and gold
to bring back with them they had to build a wooden type of barge which they filled
with their spoils of war and towed it behind their ships. Cala
Tarida during this period in history was a harbour and home for the famous Corsairs,
who were in those days the notorious skull and cross bones pirates of the Mediterranean.
As the Spanish Armada were bringing their fleet home towing these huge barges
the Corsairs used to set sail at night and go about cutting the ropes that were
towing these barges full of goodies and bring them back here to their base at
Cala Tarida. The reason why this magnificent beach got
its name was simply because the barges that the Spanish built to transport their
gold was called a tarida. Closing time: I read yesterday
in a newspaper the obituary of Glenn Hughes, the biker in the Village People,
who had a top of the charts hit number one with YMCA back in 1978. Glenn Hughes
was born in 1949 and before joining the Village People had worked as a toll collector
at the Brooklyn Tunnel. Hughes joined the group after answering an advert for
"singers with moustaches". Hughes was the most preposterous of the group,
clad from head to foot in black leather gear, his jacket worn open to the navel
to reveal a hairy chest covered in chains. After several hits he left the group
in 1995 but, at his own request, was buried in his leather biker's outfit.
Gary Hardy
garyhardy@ibizahistoryculture.com
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