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English10 must-see places in Formentera
- Location: Formentera is part of the Balearic Islands, 20 kilometres south of Ibiza, and can only be reached by sea. This article lists ten places to visit.
- Coves and beaches: Caló des Mort is 70 metres long, hidden among the Migjorn beaches. Cala Saona is 140 metres long and 120 metres wide, surrounded by pine trees. Ses Illetes, on the Es Trucadors peninsula, stretches for almost 500 metres. Migjorn is more than 4 kilometres long.
- Viewpoints: the Cap de Barbaria lighthouse stands on an 80-metre cliff in the south of the island, near the Cova Foradada and the Es Garroveret tower. The Faro de la Mola sits on a 120-metre cliff.
- Villages and market: Sant Francesc is the capital; Es Caló is the starting point of the Camí de Sa Pujada, a 3-kilometre path. The Pilar de la Mola market is held on Wednesdays and Sundays from 4.30 pm to 10.30 pm, near the Molí Vell, the best preserved of the 7 remaining windmills.
- Key point: the island of Espalmador, with no inhabitants or facilities, can be reached by boat from the port of La Savina or from Ses Illetes.
This list of the best places to see in Formentera will help you plan your visits to this beautiful island of white sand beaches and clear turquoise water.
Part of the Balearic archipelago, Formentera lies 20 kilometres south of Ibiza. This small island, which can only be reached by sea, is a true paradise for anyone who wants to relax and swim in dream coves that rank among the best in the world.
The island offers fun experiences such as boat or kayak trips, scuba diving and snorkelling, breathtaking sunsets and delicious fish and seafood.
As we said, it is one of the most beautiful islands to visit in Spain and in the world, so we have put together this list of what we think are the 10 places not to miss when visiting Formentera.
Caló des Mort
Visiting Caló des Mort, one of the most idyllic coves on the island, hidden among the Migjorn beaches, is one of the best things to do in Formentera.
Its 70 metres, its half-moon shape, its crystal-clear water perfect for snorkelling or scuba diving, its wonderful rocky landscape and its hand-built shelters for small fishing boats make it a true little paradise.
Although the spot is quite remote, it is becoming more popular. If you want to find room for your towel, we recommend going early in the morning or at sunset.
Caló des Mort
Cap de Barbaria lighthouse
The Cap de Barbaria lighthouse, at the southern tip of the island on an 80-metre cliff, is another of the most beautiful places to see in Formentera.
To reach this idyllic lighthouse, you take a narrow road through a completely arid landscape, with the sea in the background. It has become the star of one of the most Instagrammable photo spots on the island.
As well as being one of the busiest spots on the island to watch one of the best sunsets over the Mediterranean, the lighthouse became even more famous after it appeared in the film “Lucía y el sexo” (Sex and Lucía).
Near this spot is the Cova Foradada, an incredible cave that ends in a terrace facing the sea. A little further on you reach the Es Garroveret defence tower, one of five towers built on the island to watch for ships.
Cap de Barbaria lighthouse
Ses Illetes beach
Ses Illetes, on the Es Trucadors peninsula at the northernmost point of the island, is another of the must-see beaches in Formentera.
This beach, almost 500 metres long, is the busiest on the island and appears on several lists of the most beautiful beaches in the world, thanks to its clear, shallow turquoise water, which contrasts with the pinkish colour of the sand, a mix of white sand and coral fragments.
We also recommend visiting Beso beach, one of the most iconic and photogenic on the island. However, if the wind is too strong, you can go to the neighbouring Llevant beach, on the other side.
Ses Illetes beach
Formentera viewpoint
Driving up the steep road to the magnificent Formentera viewpoint is another essential thing to do on the island.
From this viewpoint you get a fantastic view over the whole island: its plain, the isthmus, the many shades of blue of the sea and a magnificent sunset.
Mirador de Formentera
Cala Saona, the star of Formentera
Cala Saona, in a small bay on the west coast of the island, is another of the most beautiful coves to see in Formentera.
This heavenly beach, 140 metres long and 120 metres wide, is surrounded by a dense pine forest. The colour of its water, reminiscent of the Caribbean, is hard to resist.
Two more attractions are the fishermen's huts among the rocks around the cove and the impressive sunset you can watch lying on the sand or in a hammock.
Cala Saona
Pilar de la Mola
As in Ibiza, shopping at one of the island's markets is another of the best things to do in Formentera.
The most famous one is in the small town of Pilar de la Mola, which was peacefully “invaded” by the hippie movement in the 1960s and 1970s and still keeps its peace and love spirit as a souvenir of that time.
At this market, held on Wednesdays and Sundays from 4.30 pm to 10.30 pm, you will find all kinds of jewellery, bags, bracelets, T-shirts and ceramics sold by local craftspeople.
The town is also famous for the Molí Vell, an old windmill once used to grind wheat and the best preserved of the 7 left on the island. A little further on is the Faro de la Mola, on a 120-metre cliff.
Molí Vell
Espalmador island
A few kilometres off the north coast of the island, surrounded by turquoise water, lies the small island of Espalmador.
A true paradise on earth, with no inhabitants or facilities, inside the Ses Salines Natural Park: here you can relax on untouched white sand beaches such as S'Alga.
To get to the island, you can take the Bahia boat, which leaves from the port of La Savina or from Ses Illetes beach, just opposite the island.
Espalmador island
Towns of Formentera
As well as its famous coves and beaches, the island has several charming inland towns that are worth a visit.
The most beautiful towns to visit in Formentera include:
- Sant Francesc: the island's capital. The town stands out for its white houses around a square with the town hall and an 18th-century church.
- Es Caló: a small fishing village with a relaxed pace of life, sea air and peace and quiet. From here you can start the Camí de Sa Pujada, a 3-kilometre path with fantastic views.
- Es Pujols: a town surrounded by beaches with crystal-clear water and probably the best place to enjoy the island's nightlife.
- Sant Ferran de Ses Roques: an inland town with a strong hippie past, which you can still feel at La Fonda Pepe, one of the most legendary spots on the island. Another good place to eat in town is Macondo, for its delicious pizzas.
Sant Francesc
Migjorn beach
Another of the best things to do in Formentera is to swim in the crystal-clear water of Migjorn beach, the longest on the island at more than 4 kilometres.
Because it is so long, this beach is perfect for long walks along the shore, and it even has a wooden boardwalk where you can enjoy the sea breeze and nature.
Its crystal-clear water and seabed full of fish also make it ideal for snorkelling or diving.
Migjorn beach
Other coves and beaches in Formentera
If you have more time on the island, our last recommendation to complete this list of places to see in Formentera is to swim at each of these beaches and coves:
- Ses Platgetes des Caló: three lovely small coves separated by rocks; one of the best spots for snorkelling.
- Es Pujols: an urban beach, perfect if you want all services a few metres away and a nightclub close by.
Es Ram: a rocky cove that is hard to reach, where you can enjoy peace and quiet and good snorkelling.
Formentera coves
Thomas Rouer is the founder of Alveo Search and the CEO of the Alveo group. Based in Spain for almost ten years, he develops property services designed for the specific needs of foreign buyers.
His expertise covers every aspect of buying property in Spain: understanding the market, searching for and selecting properties, negotiation, financing, paperwork, tax and securing the purchase process.
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