Exploring beautiful Formentera!
I’ve been meaning to share this post for so long now, but you know what it’s like with holiday photos – it took me forever to sort through them, pick out my favourites and then arrange them in to a post, all the while it pours with rain in good old Glasgow!
I wanted to put together a sort of mini-guide to Formentera, a place we were recommended many, many times when we were planning our first Ibiza vaycay. Formentera is a small island in the Balearics just off the coast of Ibiza, and no trip to the party island is complete without jumping over to its smaller neighbour. It’s home to some of the most mesmerising beaches I’ve ever seen, the kind of white sand and turquoise water scenes that I’ve only ever really come across in the Caribbean before.
Formentera is easy to get to from anywhere in Ibiza, although it is only accessibly by boat. Both times we went, we took a short ferry ride from Ibiza Town. The ferries are every 30 minutes or so, and there’s return trips right up until around midnight so it’s perfect for a day trip.
The first time we went, we decided to do an overnight stay, which I loved! When we went back earlier this month, we decided to squeeze in a quick day trip from Ibiza and, although I loved my time there and the ease of it all, I wanted to stay for longer!
A few recommendations…
Getting Around
If you’re there for a day trip, I recommend renting a bicycles for the day and cycling to the beach and back. We found a little place in the marina that was super cheap – although the bikes were a bit questionable so perhaps do your research before you go!
There’s a great amount of cycle baths and the cycle to the beach takes around 15-20 minutes. Be warned though, there’s not a lot of shops up near the beach (only crazy busy restaurants!), so pack lots of water and maybe a packed lunch before you set off.
The Perfect Place To Stay
I found a last minute hotel on Mr & Mrs Smith, which I’d previously never used before, and discovered an absolute gem; Paraiso de los Pinos.
I’ve been lucky enough to stay in some truly beautiful hotels over the years, but I really think this has to be one of my favourites. I don’t always share where I stay because I don’t always recommend them, but I have to give a nod to this wonderful find. The staff were so incredibly helpful, the location was lovely and peaceful and there were electric bikes for rent too. I adored the pool, and the entire hotel just felt like paradise! I know we’ll go back one day.
A Must For Dinner…
Jordan came across Bona Espina and said “I think you’ll like this place”, and he was correct. This quirky eatery is cactus themed, and the interiors are crazy! The food is good too, but seriously, you have to see this place!
The Beaches!
Of course, you have to visit Ses Illetes while you’re there, it really is such a beautiful beach. We took our bikes as far as we could go, and then walked the rest of the way, finding other incredible spots as we went.
We also took a trip to Gecko Beach Club for some lunch, and although the food and pool here were lovely, we didn’t like the look of the beach too much. It’s definitely quieter but a lot more seaweed!
Formentera felt a bit more ‘off the beaten track’ than Ibiza, there was more to discover and we felt ourselves relaxing a lot more here. I think when you stay in such a lovely hotel you do sort of slip in to holiday mode a lot more, especially when it’s so beautiful and peaceful!
Whether you’re heading for a day trip from Ibiza or are planning a couple of days escape (I highly recommend the latter!), Formentera is definitely somewhere to pop on your list. I promise it was hassle-free to get to, even with a bit of luggage, and definitely worth visiting if you’re planning an Ibiza trip any time soon.
