Ibiza Tourism Guide - Gay Ibiza

Gay Ibiza Beaches. Es Cavellet Magic

There are two main superb gay beaches on Ibiza, with a scattering of other popular beaches around the island. Really the whole of the south of the island has a bustling gay culture ingrained in the clubbing and tourist scene so no problemos with the closed minded on this little beauty of a Med Island. Cruising rules pretty much across the south so get ya glad rags on. Also, there's no shortage of Nude beaches and sunbathing spots, with plenty of private rocky coves if your bits are for the chosen few alone. Playa des Cavallet, just south of the airport in Ibiza has to be the most popular gay beach on the island, but Ibiza is an island of miles of unspoilt coastline and you choose your spot according to taste. If you're looking for seclusion you'll find it on Ibiza's coast! Watch the occasional jellyfish, and keep the sun lotion flowing to avoid the lobster factor - check out the superb Ibiza Gay website (link to the right) before you go. Essential info on all things Gay Ibiza, and a non-profit making website with an edge that kicks!

Es Cavallet, as mentioned is certainly the best gay beach on Ibiza, and potentially one of the best in Europe. Find it at the very end of Playa des Cavallet, on the southernmost tip of Ibiza with great views out to sea. The quality of this sandy beach is superb, with clean waters and sand, and it's a no kids stretch with a gay beach coffee bar sending out it chilled music vibes throughout the day. Highly recommended by the Gay Ibiza site (link to the right). Sea waters here are shallow so great for novice swimmers, and there's plenty of rocky coves for snorkling and for the more experienced swimmer.

Rather popular is Chiringay, the beach bar and restaurant on Es Cavellet beach with Rainbow flag atop. Lots of variety of dishes here, and there's a juice bar. It's real popular though so in peak season expect to wait a little for your order! The car parks heave as well in peak season so it's advisable to get there early if you're in the car, or why not take the bus if you're based in Ibiza Town. Bus trips are only just over one euro, and there's no need to worry about the odd tipple then! Check the bus timetable web link to the right!

The beach is directly south of the Airport, just the other side of the salt flats, and the 'pine forest'. Look at any map, pick the furthest point and head there. There are car parks at the northern (straight) end of Es Cavallet beach, and a much larger one to the south west, near the Las Salinas bus stop. Whichever you choose, expect a twenty-minute walk to the gay beach, the most tranquil being through the pine groves from the larger car park. From the Es Cavallet car park - the first road left as you head towards the end of the salt flats (it is signposted), park: Follow the coast (with the sea to the left) until you get to the rainbow flag flying above Chiringay. From the Las Salinas car park (at the end of the salt flats, where the bus stops and turns around), head to the southernmost corner of the car park (usually the furthest point from where you've parked, unless you get there early), and follow the dirt road, which winds its' way down to the gay beach. You will eventually spot the rainbow flag, as you get closer.

Ibiza Gay Beaches. Los Molinos

If you fancy a beach definitely much more of the old beaten track than Es Cavallet then check out The Little Beach at Figueretes, but be prepared to work to get there! It can get crowded as well, as it's a popular beach with the late risers aka club staff. This pebble beach cove is situated midway between Ibiza Town and Figueretes, just beneath Puig des Molins. Check out the Gay Ibiza site for full and comprehensive directions, but basically from Figueretes, you head uphill towards Ibiza Town along Calle Ramon Muntaner, which takes you past past the Panoramic apartments, and leads you on past a car park, evolving into a dirt track. Pass the phone box, then turn right down Calle Cirer y Vela, which takes you to the Rosello Apartments.

Urr, it now starts to get a little tricky so if you've any mobility issues or don't like a bit of scrambling turn back now! Take Cirer y Vela, essentially a long, terraced staircase, down until you reach a little turning off to the right, pass through two posts. The steps now get pretty precarious, so watch it. Take them to the bottom, and then follow the coastline whilst at the same time, eek, scrambling over rocks and this eventually takes you to a pebble beach where nude beach sunbathing is standard. There are no facilities down here, and in peak season it can get pretty crowded as it's not a big space.

There are plenty of other superb sandy beaches along Ibiza's coastline (check the Ibiza beaches section).

Ibiza Gay Clubs

Ibiza is renowned for it's club scene, and although there is only one gay only club, Anfora in Dalt Vila and this is seeing some structural changes and improvements recently. Check out Ibiza Boy's web link to the right for full details. Anfora is not exactly cutting edge dance music, but for great atmosphere, nice dark room, cave like dancefloor and a real friendly welcome it can't be beaten.

Amnesia, situated half way between Ibiza Town and San Antonio in San Rafael is celebrated as host of the best gay party in Ibiza, namely La Troya Asesina. Many agree that it's the presence of Barcelona born DJ Oliver that really gives Amnesia it's kick, combined with a supremo sound system. Marti rates it anyway (see Ibiza Boy's link to the right), so it'll be good.

If you were looking for the chill, then you'd have headed for Bora Bora the ultimate pre-club beach party - now closed! Big clubs are sort of taking over a little across Ibiza. It's certainly a strange turn of events. Still Bora Bora has been touring, and will no doubt find a new venue soon, best of luck to it!

DJ Gee isn't too happy about Bora Bora's closure, "Jealousy and greed are very powerful and destructive human emotions and unfortunately we now see them being used against all who have been coming to Ibiza to enjoy the party and make it wealthy over the past thirty years or so. I don't want to use this writing to promote those responsible for the islands closures any more than necessary, it's incredible and sad to think that Bora Bora, DC10 terrace, Sa Trinxa, KM5, Kumharas, Benirras, etc could be such a threat to those who feel their superiority being challenged, these are more than parties they are traditions that help bring people on to the island who also feed the clubs, if they are to be the only ones here then the sprit of the island is lost, Disneyland with only Mickey mouse is not so much of an attraction ......Oh, and tables are for dancing on."

Ibiza Club Details

Anfora, C/ San Carlos 7, Dalt Vila, Ibiza 07800, Spain. Open May-October.

Amnesia, Ibiza/San Antonio, KM5, San Rafael 07800. Ibiza, Spain. (+34) 971 198 041. Usually open from June to September

Bora-Bora - the ultimate Beach Party, Jet Apartments, Playa den Bossa, Ibiza.

DC-10, Ibiza Town-Salinas road.

Ibiza Clubs

Lucifer, Marina Botafoch, Underneath Hotel Talamanca.

Pacha, Avd. ocho de agosto s/n, 07800 Ibiza, Spain. +34 971 31 36 00.

Privilege, Ibiza/San Antonio road (KM7), San Rafael, Ibiza, Spain. +34 971 198 160

Space, Playa den Bossa, Ibiza, Spain. +34 971 39 67 94.

Ibiza Clubs

Eden, Eden Discodance SL, Calle Salvador Espriu s/n, San Antonio, 07820 Ibiza. (+34) 971 80 32 39.

El Divino, Puerto Ibiza Nueva, Ibiza Town, 07800 Ibiza. (+34) 971 31 83 38.

Es Paradis Terrenal, Calle Salvador Espriu s/n, San Antonio, 07820 Ibiza. (+34) 971 34 66 00.