Trails of Ibiza and Formentera

From Ibiza Airport in the south of the island it is just a 30min transfer to the small town of Sant Carles de Peralta where you will be based for your first couple of nights.

This small village, with a pretty 18th century  whitewashed church at its centre, is a laidback little place with a distinctly bohemian vibe. You will stay in one of two traditional agroturismos both of which lie just outside the village.

Your first day’s walk takes you from the village of Sant Carles through scented pine forest to the picturesque Cala Mestella—a small sheltered inlet perfect for swimming! Enjoy some tasty grilled fish and fresh salad at the “El Bigotes” chiringuito before setting off again.

Continue inland through peaceful woodland and back to Sant Carles de Peralta.

Ascent/descent: +220m/-220m descent

After a short local bus journey (paid locally) to the little seaside resort of Cala St Vicent, you will walk across its coastal promenade before rising steeply up a road and to the edge of a thick forest. Entering the forest, the air is thick with the scent of pine and wildflowers, the welcome shade provides a dappled light to the winding paths. Dropping out of the forest you will walk across exposed ochre brown clifftops rising up above the azure, yacht speckled sea before rising up back through the forest and down to the sea.

Take a bus back to Sant Carles de Peralta. If you are in Sant Carles at the weekend, the Las Dalias Hippy Market is well worth a visit if you have enough time when arriving back from your walk. 

Ascent/decent: +240m/-240m

A fantastic days walk filled with variety today. After a short transfer to Sant Joan de Labritja, head along dirt tracks through the forest and then past beautiful farmsteads to Cala Xarraca, one of the most isolated bays in Ibiza, surrounded by green pineforests and rocky paths and with crystalline waters. Climb out of the bay on an asphalt path and through a pristine part of the island and enjoy wonderful views over the Northern coast.

A highlight of your day is sure to be Es Calo de s’Illa or “Moon Beach” so called because of it’s rocky moon-like landscape featuring small craters. This is a perfect place to stop for a picnic lunch before a detour inland, via forested valley, takes you to the beach at Cala Benirras, where a transfer will pick you up and take you back to your accommodation in Sant Carles de Peralta.

Ascent/descent: +221m ascent/-419m 

Check out after breakfast and a private taxi transfer will take you to the port in Eivissa Town (25min) from where you will catch a fast ferry to Formentera taking just 30 minutes. Before you know it you will have arrived in the port of La Savina and a quick taxi journey (paid locally) will take you to your beachside hotel.

Formentera is famed for its beautiful white sandy beaches and azure waters, and is the perfect place to recharge the batteries!  Just 20km long, it is easy to explore the island over a few days. We recommend a few different walks but it is also possible to hire bikes locally if you fancy a change of pace, with quiet roads and tracks leading you to many of the small coves.

Enjoy a choice of routes in Formentera today. We recommend the full loop walk to the La Mola Plateau, known as an "island within an island" due to its unique landscape. Walk through vineyards and forests, and enjoy amazing views over the turquoise sea from the clifftops. Return to your hotel and enjoy delicious seafood for dinner - a typical Formentera dish is the tasty Peix Sec (dried fish) which comes highly recommended!

If you would prefer a more leisurely day, or want a longer, relaxed lunch break, this walk can also be shortened in a number of ways. You can walk to El Pilar de la Mola only and then return to Es Calo, or take the bus to El Pilar de la Mola and then complete the loop. Both these options shorten the walk to 12km.

The second route we recommend in Formentera is a walk to the Es Cap de Barbaria on the south-eastern tip of the island. Starting from the island's capital, Sant Francesc, switch off and listen to the birdsong as you walk through almond groves and vineyards. You pass through a dry and rocky landscape to finally reach the lighthouse on the very tip. Another option for today is to head to Es Pujols and enjoy relaxing on the white sandy beach. From here it is also a very short walk to the Estany Pudent, a large salt water lagoon whicih attracts varied birdlife.

Enjoy a final night on your island paradise perhaps sampling some of the delicious Formentera wine or herb liqueur.

Check out after breakfast and a short taxi journey (paid locally) will take you back to the port at La Savina where you catch the ferry back over to Ibiza for your onward travel plans.