The Best of the Formentera Balearic Islands

The Formentera Balearic Islands are an unspoiled, peaceful paradise with gorgeous beaches, and sparkling waters.  You’ll find beaches with the whitest sand and waters more crystalline than you could ever hope for. This island is one of the most idyllic destinations in the Balearic Islands. Many believe that the beaches on Formentera are among the best in the world and when you get there, you will think so too. Playa de Ses Illetes is ranked one of the 20 best beaches in the world.  Off the beaten track and away from the main beaches, you can discover many deserted coves to take you away from the crowds.

Formentera is a great destination when you just want to lie on a beach, eat fine food, drink good wine and sleep long languorous hours.   You can stay on Formentera for  deep relaxation or just head over for a day’s visit from Ibiza. You could see the entire island in a day, but it’s better to take in the island at a slow pace. Laze on a beach, have lunch in a beach-side chiringuito, or take a walk around one of its small villages.  This is also a great place to take a walk, either by the coast or inland. Take in the breathtaking views from fields or cliff tops and stand in awe at the beauty. Many like to hike to the old lighthouses, or seek out ancient caves, and all go to watch the incredible sunset.

The sea, with its clear waters is perfect for snorkeling or diving with an amazing kaleidoscope of marine life just under the surface of the water.  The openness of the island means that there few shady spots, so you’ll want to use a good sunscreen.

The transparency of Formentera’s waters is due to the presence of the biggest area of Posidonia seagrass in the Mediterranean Sea that covers the seabed. These underwater grasses are protected by the Ses Salines Nature Park that extends from Ibiza. Ses Salines was once the center of Formentera’s salt industry, which is now no more, but the pretty pink salt flats remain.  The limited development on the island is what keeps the island unspoiled.  You won’t find any tall buildings, not on the beaches, or in the resorts.  For more information on the Balearic Islands, visit here.  Or visit us on Pinterest.

Formentera Weather (When to Visit)

From December to February, the weather is characterized by sunny periods alternating with rainy periods. The wind blows frequently. Very cold days are rare, but sometimes night-time temperatures can approach freezing.  From March to May the weather is mild, but in April or mid-May, windy and rainy days are possible, with a bit of cold at night.  June to mid-September is hot and sunny. The air is a bit sultry, but sea breezes temper the heat. Very hot days are rare, however, highs can sometimes reach  95/97 °F in July and August.  From mid-September to November it is pleasantly warm with some wind and rain.  The amount of sunshine in Formentera is great in summer, and is also frequent in spring. In autumn and winter there is a moderate amount of sunny days with some periods of bad weather.

High season in Formentera is July and August. During these 2 months, hotel rates spike, and the Island gets pretty crowded with tourists.  During this time traffic will be pretty awful, and the beaches are so crowded that you can hardly lie on the sand or see the horizon due to the large number of boats and yachts moored in its wonderful waters.  Even if you do come during this time, relax and make the most of your time in Formentera!
The best time to visit Formentera is May, June, September and even October. Prices offer a good value for hotels and restaurants.  The shops are open and beaches are like heaven in paradise.  No multitudes, no traffic and excellent service in every sense.

Best Formentera Beaches

Ses Illetes

There’s no doubt that the most famous beach in Formentera is Ses Illetes, which was voted as the most beautiful beach in Spain several times. It’s a 1.5 km long beach and the beach is very popular in summer, but since it’s very long, if you are patient enough to walk far enough from the parking, you can have a bath without too many people bothering you.

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Llevant Beach

In this side of the peninsula there’s always more wind and therefore there are more waves. It means of course that this beach is much less busy even in high season than Illetes. Llevant is the favorite beach of surfers.

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Caló des Mort

This cove is very small, and there’s only a tiny beach there, but it’s considered as one of the most precious beaches in Formentera. As it’s quite small and fairly popular, it can get very crowded in summer, so get there early if you want space for your towel.

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Es Pujols Beach

Es Pujols is a nice moption if you like being close to a great variety of facilities or if you like beaches with a lot of people and even party there.  The beach itself is really pretty with the same crystal clean water you find on the rest of the island.

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Ses Platgetes Beach

Ses Platgetes is a series of sand beaches with rocky areas in between. It’s a great beach area, because they are almost never crowded, the water is crystal clear to enjoy a great bath, and the sand is soft to lay down on it.

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Best Formentera Restaurants

Aigua  $31 – 60

Located right on the marina at La Savina, and with a large outdoor terrace, Aigua is a great choice for a romantic dinner date. The menu is primarily seafood, with an emphasis on Italian cuisine, but also some excellent sushi and sashimi. It’s not cheap but it’s easy to see why this place is popular – the setting is stunning, and the food is great, and presented beautifully on the plate. The restaurant is only open in the evenings, and tables on the terrace are the place to be, so it’s best to book ahead.  Telephone:  +34 971 323 322  Web:   Aigua.

Can Carlos  $31 – 60

With the outdoor terrace set in a beautiful garden with fairy lights twinkling in the trees, Can Carlos certainly makes for a picture-worthy romantic setting. It’s not all about the garden though, as the food and service are both fantastic, as is the wine list. The menu is Mediterranean with a heavy leaning towards Italian, and the seafood is particularly good, with the local squid and tuna carpaccio being firm favourites. This restaurant is extremely popular, and only opens for dinner, so booking ahead is essential, particularly if you want to sit outside. Telephone:  +34 971 322 874   Web:   Can Carlos.

Juan Y Andrea  $31 – 60

The restaurant is instantly recognisable by the four huge palm trees surrounding it, which are the only trees on the beach. It was established in 1971 by a local fisherman and his wife, and was originally a small seafood shack but is now a large restaurant with a huge shaded ‘terrace’ with tables directly on the sand. The premise of the restaurant hasn’t changed, and it is still a family-run restaurant, whose local seafood specialities are outstanding.  Telepone:   +34 630 258 144  Web:  Juan Y Andrea

Es Caló  $31 – 60

At Es Caló, tables are set on an open-sided wooden structure on a beach of the same name, with clear views over the pretty cove and out to sea. For a delicious seafood lunch, in a relaxed and tranquil beach setting, this is the place to come. Their paellas and other rice dishes are excellent, and the spiny lobster casserole, (which doesn’t come cheap, and has to be ordered in advance) is a real treat. Local dishes like the octopus or salads with dried salty fish, are also worth trying. Telephone:  +34 971 327 311 Web:  Es Caló.

Es Moli De Sal  $31 – 60

Chi-chi but family friendly, this beach side bar and restaurant is the place to come if you want perfect sunset views with your pre-dinner drinks. Es Moli de Sal is located in an old windmill right on the edge of the sea, and is apparently a favorite of the King of Spain, among other celebrities, which would explain the eye-watering prices. Drinks however are fairly reasonable, and if you are prepared to splash out on a nice meal, the extensive seafood menu is very good, and the homemade ice-cream is raved about.  Telephone:  +34 971 187 491 Web:  Es Moli De Sal.

Best Formentera Bars

Piratabus

Started by a couple of hippies from Germany who arrived over 40 years ago, Piratabus is one of the Formentera’s oldest bars and one that still manages to retain plenty of its seventies island vibe. Originally a bus (hence the name) its now a wooden beach hut located on the sand dunes of Mitjorn. As well and cold beer and outstanding mojitos, it serves up some excellent tapas that can be gobbled down while enjoying some great music and spectacular sunsets. Telephone:  +34 637 011 998  Web:  Piratabus.

Kiosko 62

Another off-the-beaten-track chiringuito, Kiosko 62 is located at the other end of Mitjorn beach and shares the friendly and super-chill mood of Piratabus. You can almost dangle your toes into the crystal-clear water while supping back a cold one at this popular and reasonably-priced beachfront bar. Don’t leave without trying their specialty – the pomada – a refreshingly simple mix of Balearic gin and cloudy lemonade. Telephone:  +34 697 840 795 Web:  Kiosko 62.

Gecko Beach Club

Just along the beach from Kiosko 62, but a world apart is the super-swish Gecko Beach Club. Dubbed “barefoot luxury” by its owners, expect the well-heeled, the jet-set, and the occasional A-list (certain Dicaprio once dropped in) to be lounging around custom-designed loungers ordering expertly-mixed cocktails. Why not join them and splurge on a canopied day-bed and enjoy the sunset in style? Telephone:  +34 971 328 024 Web:  Gecko Beach Club.

Blue Bar

With a peace sign on its roof that can be seen from the air, this quirky bar also features a resident alien mascot and galactic-themed decor. Expect a mix of reggae, ambient, and jazz music from live DJs as well as regular – and rather bizarre – extra-terrestrial performances. Set on the dunes overlooking Mitjorn beach, it can also claim some gorgeous sunsets and rumors abound that the likes of Dylan kicked back here in the sixties. Telephone:  +34 666 758 190 Web:  Blue Bar.

Chezz Gerdi

While principally a restaurant (and a fine one at that), Chezz Gerdi is also one of the finest places on the island to sink a sundowner or two. A playfully-decorated chill-out area provides a great spot for exploring their impressive cocktail menu – the Green Tea Gin is a highlight – and if the mood takes you stay for their delicious traditional Italian-inspired cooking. To find it look out for the rooftop VW camper van just on the outskirts of Es Pujols. Telephone:  +34 648 020 106 Web:  Chezz Gerdi.

Best Formentera Hotels