Ibiza Tourism Guide - Formentera

Formentera Tourist Info

Formentera Island, the smallest of the Balearics, is all things paradise. Endless sandy beaches, Roman remains, superb walking and cycling, chillout bars with relaxation being the theme of the day and night, salt marshes and old salt pans to the south east and beautiful natural parks with some of the best birdwarching on the Balearics. Formentera is a nature lovers paradise and spans only 85 square kilometres. It's pretty flat on the whole, with it's highest point at La Mola to the East. Both extreme ends of Formentera, Cap de Barbaria on the south west tip and Punta de la Mola south east tip are beautifully wild and rocky, with perched lighthouses.

Whether you're taking a day trip to Formentera or staying for longer, there's plenty of activity options available when you arrive at the port of La Savina,to the north of Formentera. Take your pick from a choice range of services for Formentera car hire, motorbike hire, or the favourite of Formentera island cycling and bicycle hire (cyclotourism is a buzzword 'ere wot wot). Some sort of transport choice is well worth the trouble on Formentera for getting about, as Formentera island is long and thin, and there aren't many towns.

Centres that do exist with amenities like bars and restaurants are quite spread out as well. There are plenty of well marked Green Routes for bicycle trails, and with Formentera being fairly flat it's not too gruelling to get about by bicycle. Also when you arrive at La Savina, take time to visit the tourist information office there. They can help with maps and key information on Formentera. If you prefer public transport, then there is a reasonable bus service around Formentera to key hotspots. Check with the tourist information office at La Savina.

Formentera has retained it's hippie heritage somewhat, and continues to serve as the Balearic Island to escape all things noise and mayhem. If you love birdwatching then Formentera is for you. Head for the salt lakes of Estany Pudent and Estany des Peix to the north of Formentera and conveniently close to La Savina, your arrival point on Formentera. The essence of Formentera is to be found on it's magical beaches and of course in it's natural environment. Like some of the other Balearic Islands, particularly Menorca, the crystal clear sea waters are again due to filtering seaweed offshore. Formentera is all but flat, apart from the two promontories on it's southern base, Cap de Barbaria with the mountain Puig Guillem (109 metres) and Mola with its Talaiassa (192 metres), the highest point of the island. To the north of Formentera are two salt-water ponds s'Estany Pudent and s'Estany des Peix.

Formentera Sun, How to Get There

Formentera has no airport (probably in the longterm rather good, serving to keep this natural environment free from massive development). Formentera is reached by boat from the larger Pitiusa adjacent island Ibiza. Balearia Boats run regular trips from Eivissa/Ibiza town every day (pretty much every 45 minutes, check the 'aferry.to' weblink to the right for details and quick and easy online booking). The boat trip takes about 30 minutes, and you're dropped on Formentera at the port la Savina. Vessels are fast and efficient, so it's easy to take that day trip to Formentera. Ibiza and Formentera are separated by only 12 miles, with a few small islands distributed throughout the pas de es Freus. It's a scenic boat trip indeed.

Formentera Cycling and Snorkling

Formentera being rather flat, and with such an array of nature parks, pine forests and scrubland, not to mention a coastline covered in sublime sandy beaches to die for is the perfect Balearic island for cycling. Many visitors to Formentera get around entirely by bicycle, which is quite feasible. Formentera has adapted itself accordingly for cyclotourism, which is great cycling news. You'll discover an excellent network of cycle lanes on the main roads, and there is a circuit verd (green track), which takes cyclists away from main roads, off track to really discover the hert of Formentera. This cycling track is what used to be old country lanes, and it's all very well signposted.

Sailing around Formentera's splendid coastal waters is very popular, and there's usually quite a few private boats moored at La Savina port. There's even a bit of rowing going on in the sheltered waters of Estany des Peix. If you fancy a bit of scuba diving check out the day trips offered by the Phoenix Diving Centre to Formentera and the web link to the right.

Formentera Festivals & Crafts

Formentera has it's own traditions and culture, existing long before the influx of visitors since the late 1960s. Traditional music is rather important in Formentera, and they have their famous ball pagès folk dance which you can usually see performed at one of Formentera's festivals. For fiestas on Formentera check out Santa Maria on the 5th August, Sant Ferran on the 30th May, Nostra Senyora del Carme on the 16th July, Sant Jaume, patron of the island, whose festival is on the 25th July, El Pilar on the 12th October; and Sant Francesc Xavier on the 3rd December. Folk music and dance are always key themes at Formentera's many festivals.

Formentera, much like Ibiza, and with it's hippie legacy is great for arts and crafts and little market bazaars. There's a good one in La Mola late on Sunday afternoons during the summer season. Pick up some great jewellery, paintings, ceramics, and clothing here. Hand-knitted sweaters of Formenteran wool can also be found here!

Formentera Bird Watching & Nature Reserves

Formentera and birdwatching go together. Formentera island is home to at least 41 different species of birds no less. Many are to be found around S'Estany Pudent. The large calm pond here is at it's deepest only 2 metres, and is an important home for many species of birds.

Ses Salines nature reserve to the north of Formentera is situated on it's narrow spit, and commonly called Trucadors. Each side of Trucadors there are superb beaches with crystal clear waters. At the northern tip of the spit this strait stretching from Formentera to S'Espalmador island is less than 7 feet deep. Posidoniae is spread along the seabed here, and is part of the reason why this area has been classified by UNESCO as a world heritage site. To the south of the spit are the old salt marshes and stagnant pools.

Formentera Island History & Hotspots

Formentera's history stretches back about three centuries which marks the period when this island began to be seriously populated. There were people here though during the Bronze age. Tehre are funeral remains which you can visit at Ca Na Costa near Es Pujols which date from around 1,600 bc. There are many interesting historical sites to visit across Formentera. If you like windswept lighthouses then Formentera's two high promentaries are well worth a look. Cap de Barbaria to the west southernmost tip of Formentera has an isolated feel, with a narrow road running upto the lighthouse. The Far de la Mola lighthouse, built in 1861, has a lighthouse keeper. It's been famously described by Jules Verne as the 'lighthouse at the end of the earth', and you can believe that when you see it! The lighthouse at La Mola to the far south east of Formentera sits on cliffs that stand about 427 feet. Watch out for the Audouin gull, they're a hardy bunch!

The Museu d'Etnografia is a good place to start for some social history on past residents in Formentera. This superb little museum in Sant Francesc Xavier is crammed with photographs of peasant and fishing life, and the people who have lived and worked here. The museum also explores the salt industry and the transportation of salt out of Formentera. Well worth a look this museum.

There's some great little villages inland from Formentera's beaches as well. Check out Sant Ferran de ses Roques south of Es Pujols. This little spot was rather popular with the hippies back in the 1960s/70s. There's a rather famous bar café here called Fonda Pepe where the locals and hippie/beatniks chit chat, still goes on apparently. There's an old 19th century church here well worth a look as well.

Formentera has a famous cave as well. Cova d'en Xeroni in the centre of Formentera close to Ses Roques. Some hippies live in this 'ere Formentera cave for a while. Take the Formentera hippie trail, urr man, and take a look. Interesting for it's natural drama of stalactites and stalagmites, and some modern great multi-colored lighting thrown in to great effect. Get your tickets to the cave from the nearby bistro.

Formentera Hotspots

La Savina port is probably the first Formentera hotspot that most visitors will hit, and it has a bustling charm and character, and has evolved along with increasing numbers of visitors. If you're coming to Formentera by boat, then La Savina is a good place to moor, and is well equipped with a variety of bars, restaurants and small shops all along the seafront. La Savina is certainly not now the small fishing village it once was.

Formentera's capital is Sant Francesc Xavier, which is kind of Formentera's number one urban centre. The Town Hall is in Sant Francesc in the main square. This square is also the site for many a fiesta activity, with main events in Sant Francesc congregating here, and attracting plenty of visitors. There's some superb off the wall shops here as well, and there's a creative selection of hippy stalls selling crafts along the seafront. Highly recommended. Also, if time take a look at the interesting 18th century church was has served as a fortress against Barbarian invasion, and a shelter at one time.

Es Pujols in Formentera isn't the capital, but this is the Formentera hotspot with the most activity, nightlife wise. Es Pujols has a great atmosphere, with plenty of bars, shops, restaurants and a few discos. There'as a hippy market on the seafront, plus a good beach making Es Pujols probably the closest Formentera gets to a resort type meeting centre, but very much laid back Formentera style, and a long way from San Antonio for sure!