Formentera Island is the smallest and most picturesque of the Balearic Islands. There is only one full – fledged city-San Frances de Formentera, and the western and southern parts of the island are practically untouched by civilization.
General information
Formentera, Spain – one of the parts of the Pitiusa Islands, located in the Mediterranean Sea. This is the most peaceful and small piece of land, very popular with tourists due to the abundance of recreation areas and picturesque nature. Despite its small size, more than 50 thousand tourists visit Formentera in Spain every year, and this despite the fact that the island’s population is less than 12,000 people. The total area of the territory is 83.2 km2.
The name of the island comes from the Spanish word “frumentum“, which literally translates as”grain of wheat”. This unusual name of the area is explained by the fact that initially the island wanted to be completely sown with rye and millet, but due to poor soil and a large number of rocks, this was not possible.
Beaches
In total, there are more than 30 beaches on the island of Formentera in Spain, and all of them have similar characteristics: golden sand, clear sea, poorly developed infrastructure and a fairly large number of tourists.
Playa de Ses Illetes
Playa Illetes is one of the most popular beaches on the island, where both locals and foreigners like to relax. Located 10 km from the city of Palme de Mallorca and just 4 km from La Savina.
This is a very small recreation area – it is only 120 meters long and less than 25 meters wide. It is precisely because of such a small size that it seems that there are always a lot of tourists here.
Otherwise, Playa Illetes is not much different from other beaches on the island – it has a gentle entrance to the water, fine golden sand and no rocks. The water has a bright turquoise hue, there is no garbage.
As for the infrastructure, everything is fine: there are many cafes, restaurants, changing rooms, toilets and parking. A big advantage of this place is that there are restaurants and hotels within walking distance.
Cala Saona
Cala Saona is one of the most cozy beaches on the island, located in the bay of the same name and surrounded by red rocks. The distance to the island’s capital is 5 km. There are always quite a lot of people here, since the length of Cala Saona does not exceed 140 meters, and the width is 120.
The entrance to the water is smooth, the sand is fine and golden. There is no debris, rocks or seaweed – it is an ideal place to relax with children. There is no entertainment available. On the beach, you can often meet nudists – usually they are located in the eastern part.
There are several cafes on Cala Saona in Spain, and 3 hotels are located nearby.
Playa de Llevant
Playa de Llevant is a clean and sparsely populated beach located in the northern part of the island (3 km from Es Pujols). Length – 1 km, width-about 90 meters. The sand on Playa de Llevant is very fine, and noticeably lighter than on the neighboring beaches. The entrance to the sea is smooth, there are no rocks and rocks on the coastline.
Infrastructure is not developed: there are no shops with cafes, no umbrellas with sun loungers. There are no toilets either. However, tourists say that this is more of a plus than a minus – Playa de Llevant is incredibly beautiful, and the buildings could destroy the atmosphere here.
Playa de Midjorn
Playa de Migiorn is one of the longest and most visited beaches on the island. Its length is just over 1.5 km, and its width is at least 110 meters. It is located in the southern part of the “spit ” – thanks to such a favorable location, cold winds rarely blow here, and there are no algae that prefer the shores of the northern part of Formentera.
The sand is fine and golden, the entrance to the sea is gentle. The water is very clear – take a mask with you and enjoy the underwater world of Spain.
Playa de Migiorn has sun loungers, umbrellas, toilets and changing rooms. In the distance there are a couple of cafes and a shop.
S’Espalmador
S’Espalmador is an atypical Spanish beach with white sand and pale blue water. It is located on the neighboring island of the same name, and you can only get to the attraction by boat or rented yacht.
The length of the beach is more than 2 km, and the width is 100 meters. There are areas with a large number of rocks and rocks, but mostly the approach to the sea is smooth. The sand is fine, like flour, and has a beautiful, snow-white hue. If you approach the shore, you can see a lot of small fish and crabs.
Since S’ESPALMADOR is located on the territory of the National Park of Spain, the infrastructure here is not developed, and all the facilities necessary for a comfortable stay are not available.
Playa Es Arenals
Es Arenals is the most visited beach in Formentera, located 12 km from the port of La Savina. Length-about 600 meters, width – from 50 to 150 (in different places).
The approach to the sea is smooth, but sometimes (especially on the outskirts of Playa Es Arenals) there are rocks and algae. The sand is fine and pale golden. The water is very clear and the bottom is clearly visible.
There are no problems with the infrastructure: sun beds and umbrellas are installed, there is a cafe, and right at the entrance to Playa Es Arenals there is a small family-run hotel. Please note that this place is very popular with nudists.
What beach in Majorca is called the “Spanish Caribbean”
Pulhos Beach
Puljos beach is located a few km from the town of the same name, and is very popular with tourists due to the absence of garbage, a small number of tourists and beautiful views.
The sand on the beach is golden, the water has a bright turquoise hue. The entrance to the water is gentle, there are no rocks and algae. The only vegetation on the beach is grass, which grows on all the hills adjacent to the beach.
As for the infrastructure, it is better developed here than on most beaches. There are 3 hotels, a cafe, a shop and sun beds with umbrellas are installed. There is also a toilet and newly built changing booths.
What to see on the island
La Mola Lighthouse
La Mola is the same lighthouse at the end of the world that Jules Verne described in one of his works. It looks like a completely ordinary tourist destination, but its location makes the attraction so popular and unique.
Despite the distance of the lighthouse from hiking trails, getting to it is quite simple – you need to take the L2 bus, and then walk 15-20 minutes on foot. At the foot of the attraction, you can also see the monument to Jules Verne and two beaches where you can relax.
If you want to take a couple of beautiful photos of Formentera, then come here with a camera – you can hardly find more beautiful places on the island.
Tourists note that this part of the island is home to many lizards that love tomatoes – if you want to feed them, grab a couple of tomatoes.
Cap de Barbaria Lighthouse
The second lighthouse, located on the island, is famous for its beautiful views. Unlike La Mola, the Cap de Barbaria lighthouse can be accessed from the inside, and you can climb up to the observation deck. The upper terrace offers incredible views of the surrounding area-tourists are advised to meet the sunset here and take a couple of photos of the island of Formentera.
The cave, which is located near the lighthouse, also deserves attention – it is small and very cozy, and the entrance to it is located near the sea.
San Francisco Village-Javier
The village of San Francisco Javier, named after a Catholic saint of Spanish origin, is located in the central part of the island. Currently, it is the largest settlement on the island and the main administrative center of Formentera.
The main attractions of the village are the old town hall and the Ethnological Museum. Noteworthy is the local church, which is very different from the traditional Spanish Catholic churches – snow-white stone walls and the complete absence of sculptures and stained-glass windows.
Speaking about the advantages of San Francisco Javier in Spain, tourists always note the abundance of green areas, the absence of multi-storey buildings and the small number of tourists in this part of the island.
Infrastructure of the island
Hotels
There are just over 20 hotels on the territory of Formentera, which are very popular with tourists. You should book your accommodation 5-6 months before the trip, as available rooms are rented very quickly.
Most hotels are located in cities close to popular recreation areas. Please note that there are no hotels in some parts of Formentera. Housing prices are high – you can hardly find a budget room.
How to get around
The main means of transportation on the island are mopeds, which can be rented almost anywhere in Formentera. Cars are not very popular – it is too expensive and not so convenient.
Public transport is poorly developed – there are several bus services that run 7-8 times a day. They can only be taken to the main resorts of the island.
Restaurants and cafes
There are more than enough cafes and restaurants on the island of Formentera in Spain. Food outlets are located on many beaches and in cities. There are mainly restaurants serving Italian, Spanish and Mediterranean cuisine. Less common are cafes with Asian and American cuisine. Prices are varied.
How to get
Formentera is located 28 km from Ibiza Town (Ibiza Island), 190 km from Palma (Majorca, Balearic Islands), 120 km from Denia (continental Spain) and 400 km from Algeria.
Since there is no airport on the island, Formentera can only be reached by ferry from Spain. The most convenient way to get here is from Ibiza (there are regular flights to Ibiza airport from many European countries and Russia) – the world-famous resort and Formentera are only 28 km away, which can be covered in 45-50 minutes.
If you are traveling by car, then this option is also suitable – you need to pay 35-40 euros for transporting a car by ferry.
Balearia ferries regularly run between the cities. From the continental part of Spain, the best way to get there is from the city of Denia.
Useful tips
- According to local residents, the best paella in Spain is prepared in the small town of Es Calo, located in the eastern part of the island.
- Tourists recommend walking along the Estani Pudent Lakes-these are amazing places in terms of beauty and color.
- Formentera in Spain is an ideal place for diving. Off the coast of the island grows a unique plant posidonia, thanks to which part of Formentera has become a biosphere reserve.
- If you are interested in natural attractions, then pay attention to Mount Es Vedra, which rises in the Balearic Sea. The distance to the attraction is 55 km, which can be covered by a rented boat or yacht.
- The island of Formentera is always warm and sunny, and the swimming season in Spain lasts 6 months-from May to October.
- For lovers of outdoor activities, the island’s travel agencies have developed 19 bike routes, where you can see the most interesting and beautiful places of Formentera.
The island of Formentera is one of the few resorts in Spain that was not completely built up with hotels, and managed to preserve its picturesque nature.
