GEOGRAPHY
Ibiza (natively and officially in Catalan: Eivissa) is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea off the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. It is 150 kilometres (93 miles) from the city of Valencia. It is the third largest of the Balearic Islands. Its largest settlements are Ibiza Town (Catalan: Vila d'Eivissa, or simply Vila), Santa Eulària des Riu, and Sant Antoni de Portmany. Its highest point, called Sa Talaiassa (or Sa Talaia), is 475 metres (1,558 feet) above sea level.
Ibiza is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.Ibiza and the nearby island of Formentera to its south are called the Pine Islands, or "Pityuses".
BEACHES
Ibiza town and south
The southern beaches of the island are made up from Playa de Talamanca to Cala Jondal. Incredible white sand beaches with a pure nature that will leave you dazzled. In the south we have Ibiza Town where you will discover the magic that its old town has, getting lost in the streets and restaurants after having enjoyed these wonderful beaches.
TALAMANCA
Due to its easy access and its services, Talamanca is a beach for families seeking tranquility and calm waters.
FIGUERETAS
Located in the urban center of Ibiza, Figueretas Beach (Ses Figueretes) is one of the busiest on the island.
PLAYA D’EN BOSSA
Playa d’en Bossa is the most famous and lively beach on the island. It is a 24 hour fun beach.
ES CAVALLET
Es Cavallet is a nudist beach and a gay space, but in practice there is a very varied audience.
LAS SALINAS
The beach where you can see celebrities and public figures, Las Salinas is one of the best known
ES CODOLAR
Located in the west of the island, very close to San José, Cala Es Codolar is a small, very quiet beach.
ES BOL NOU
Es Bol Nou, also known as Sa Caleta, is a small cove in the south of the island of Ibiza with very clean waters.
CALA JONDAL
Cala Jondal is a wide bay that instead of sand has boulders on most of its surface. Famous for its beach club.
Sant antoni de portmany and west
The west beaches of Ibiza are magical, starting with Cala d’Hort where you will see Es Vedra in the background, something so magical and so mysterious that only the true hippies of the island will know until the famous Cala Salada, which is next to it Cala Saladeta which is one of the most beautiful on the island. We cannot forget San Antonio Town, an emblematic town where you will find nightlife and a good hotel offer.
CALA D’HORT
Located in the southwest of Ibiza, Cala d’Hort is a privileged beach with views of Es Vedrà.
CALA CARBÓ
Cala Carbó is a small beach in a quiet place surrounded by pine trees and nature.
CALA VADELLA
Located in the sea inlet in the southwest of Ibiza, Cala Vadella is a beautiful beach with turquoise waters.
CALA MOLÍ
Cala Molí is a small beach surrounded by pine trees and pebbles, making it necessary to wear shoes.
CALA TARIDA
Cala Tarida is an urbanized beach with hotels, apartments and restaurants, very crystalline waters.
CALA COMTE
Made up of fine, pearly sands and intense turquoise waters, this beach offers the best of Ibiza.
CALA BASSA
Surrounded by a sparsely developed green environment, this is one of the best valued and most visited.
CALA SALADA
Cala Salada and Cala Saladeta are some of the most photographed beaches on the island.
SA PEDRERA
Sa Pedrera is a mysterious place on the coast of Ibiza. Also known as Atlantis, its magic is due to its strange rock.
CALA GRACIÓ
Cala Gració is a beautiful “u” shaped beach located next to San Antonio. There is also a smaller Cala Gracioneta.
CALÓ DES MORO
In the heart of San Antonio is this small cove with privileged views of the best sunsets.
SA PUNTA GALERA
A place much loved by the Ibizans, clean waters, bohemian, hippie and nudist atmosphere.
Portinatx and north
The northern beaches of Ibiza are very special and different from those in the south. Calmer and more familiar. From the Port of San Miguel to Cala San Vicent you will find natural beaches and coves, not forgetting the famous sunset in Benirras where the drums and the magic of a beautiful sunset come together.
PUERTO SAN MIGUEL
Natural sea port, with a wide beach that houses an area for families. The beach is fine sand and calm.
CALA BENIRRÁS
Famous for its spectacular sunsets and for the hippy drumming party on Sundays, make this beach a must visit.
CALA XARRACA
It is a long and narrow beach surrounded by rocks where Posidonia has completely taken over the coast.
CALA XUCLAR
It is one of those little things that we still find untouched on the coast of Ibiza, calm and with pine trees.
CALA PORTINATX
Portinatx is a beautiful cove that is highly urbanized but still retains part of its natural charm.
CALA SAN VICENTE
This beach is covered by mountains of pine trees, Cala de San Vicente is an extensive beach with calm waters.
CALA ES CANARET
Es Canaret is one of the beaches that are hidden in the north of the island of Ibiza. Calm and crystal clear waters.
CALA ES PORTIXOL
This beach is one of those coves in Ibiza that you dream of when you think of the Mediterranean, a lost paradise.
CALA D’EN SERRA
Possibly one of the most beautiful coves in the north of the island for being a virgin beach.
Santa eulalia and east
The eastern beaches breathe in peace and harmony, family and relaxation where you will have fantastic hotels so you do not leave this wonderful quiet area. Beaches from Es Figueral to Niu Biau Beach you will have a choice of relaxation.
ES FIGUERAL
Es Figueral means land of fig trees, for fields planted with these fruit trees. It consists of two contiguous beaches.
CALA BOIX
It is a beach surrounded by mountains that has sand of a peculiar ashen color that is very different from the rest.
CALA LLENYA
Surrounded by a leafy pine forest, ideal for sheltering from the summer sun, it’s made up of a large strip of sand.
CALA NOVA
It is a long and narrow beach surrounded by a pine forest where it is possible to shelter from the sun.
CALA MARTINA
It is a sandy, calm and very familiar beach. It offers the practice of a wide range of water sports and fun.
CALA PADA
Cala Pada is a cove with fine white sand. An ideal place for the little ones with very clean water.
CALA LLONGA
Located near Santa Eulalia, Cala Llonga is a pleasant beach with a large expanse of sand bathed by clear.
PLAYA NIU BLAU
It is a quiet beach, with a family atmosphere, surrounded by a pine forest that almost reaches the sea.
AGUAS BLANCAS
Aguas Blancas is a beach located on a long and narrow coastal strip located at the foot of steep cliffs.
CALA OLIVERA
A quiet, peaceful cove far from the noise to enjoy the nature of the island between pine forests and clean waters.
NATURE
In the sea that surrounds this island there is a great diversity of marine fauna, hundreds of impressive species that when we see them we are astonished with their beauty. Many types of fish and shellfish are found under these beautiful crystalline waters.
In the interior of the island, the terrestrial fauna is scarce, due to the aridity of the climate and the increasing human transformation of the ecosystem. The fauna is marked by small mammals, mostly nocturnal. Some of them are: Hedgehogs, Genetta or Musk Cat, Martes, Fura or Desert Beetle and finally and most famous animal of this island, the lizard.
A very curious fact about the island is that it was not inhabited by mammals until the arrival of humans to the island.
THE VIROT OR BALEARIC SHEARWATER (EMBLEMATIC BIRD)
This small brownish-gray bird, native to the Balearic Islands, belongs to the Procellariidae family and only breeds on the Balearic Islands, although it can be found in other areas of the Mediterranean wintering or feeding.
One of the threats suffered by these birds was the hunting of these birds by feral or stray cats, the predation of lice on rats, the pollution of the sea and overfishing.
Today this species is listed as an endangered bird and is considered the most endangered bird in Europe, it is also estimated that in a few decades this bird will no longer exist.
THE LIZARDS
They are the most abundant and characteristic species of the island. This tiny invertebrate hides where there are walls, rocks or stones. They come in different colors, depending on where they live in the Pitiusas.
Thus, in the sands of Formentera they are almost white, while in Ibiza, you can find them green, blue or multicolored, and it is the only native terrestrial animal of the island! Because of their important presence and typical character they have become the icon and symbol of Ibiza and Formentera.
HEDGEHOGS
The hedgehog is exuberant, occupies all accessible habitats; in Ibiza there is the same subspecies as in the rest of the Balearic Islands, characterized by the light coloration of its fur and its limited size (compared to that of the North African populations from which it comes).
They feed on waste, gastropods, isopods, small insects and small vertebrates; the climate of the Pitiusas makes it possible for them to be active throughout the year and they are crepuscular and nocturnal
GENETTA OR MUSK CAT
The Musk Cat is a wild mammal, diminutive in stature, but with a large and agile body. This specimen is a member of the core family Viverridae, and so far about 5 subspecies have been identified.
It is generally a nocturnal animal, quite fast and silent when hunting its prey.
Both its eyesight and sense of smell remain well developed, which is why it locates its food even in the treetops.
NATURE PARKS
ELS AMUNTS NATURAL SITE
Els Amunts is a mountainous area running along the northwest of Ibiza, from the cape Nunó de Sant Antoni de Portmany to the municipality of Sant Joan de Labritja.
Its coastal side is a landscape of rugged cliffs, nestling among which are some coves, where endemic plant life grows. The limestone mountains inland are covered in Phoenician junipers, pines, rosemary, junipers, fan palms and strawberry trees. The clay areas, forming vast plains, are cultivated, growing almond and carob trees in particular.
In terms of fauna, in the cliff areas you can see specimens of Eleonor’s falcon and the peregrine falcon, as well as marine species such as European shags, shearwaters and seagulls. The inland area is inhabited by greenfinches, goldfinches, hoopoes, blackbirds and owls, and mammals such as rabbits, dormice and genets.
ES VEDRÀ NATURAL PARK
The natural reserve of Es Vedrà, Es Vendranell, and the western islets is located in the west and southeast of Ibiza.
Landscape: The diversity in its natural landscape is one of the main features of the reserve. From the different heights, you will be able to contemplate the spectacular panoramic views. Es Vedràs' silhouette rising up from the sea is one of the most emblematic images on Ibiza Island.
The islets: catalogued as strictly protected (natural reserve since 2002), the 9 islets included within the reserve include Es Vedrà, Es Vedranell, Sa Conillera, S´Illa des Bosc, Ses Bledes (4 islets), and S´Espartar.
Vegetation: The islets are constantly influenced by the sea and the wind, as well as by soil deficiencies. Despite these hard conditions, many species manage to survive. Some of them are endemic species and species of great interest due to their rarity.
Some of the main endemic vegetation on the islets includes Silene hifacensis, Limonium pseudoebusitanum, Asperula paui, Medicago cetrina, Diplotaxis ibicensis, Lamottea dianae, etc. The fan palm (Chamaerops humilis) and the tree spurge (Euphorbia dendroides) stand out as the most significant singular species due to their scarce presence on the Balearic archipelago.
The island of S'Espartar holds special importance due to the esparto grass fields that cover the largest part of land in the Pityuses.
Fauna: The main feature of the fauna found on the islets is the large variety of birds, lizards, and several groups of invertebrates. It is one of the main nesting places for seabirds and birds of prey. Regarding invertebrates, the most important ones are the Trochoidea family snails. The Ibiza wall lizard (Podarcis pityusensis) is protected by several European and National directives. The endemic subspecies of this lizard present on the islets can be determined from their color and size.
SES SALINES NATURAL PARK
The Natural Park of Ses Salines of Ibiza and Formentera is located between the Pitiusas islands and covers from the south of Ibiza to the north of Formentera, including the narrow sea channel that divides them and has an approximate extension of 2.838,44 land hectares and more than 13.000 by sea.
Maritime Environment: The maritime environment represents 75% of the park’s territory and is known for the ecological importance of the underwater vegetation of Posidonia Oceanica. Such marine plant, exclusively found in our sea, helps safekeeping of fish stocks, marine organisms, oxygenates the water by keeping them clean and transparent, protects beaches of erosive waves and maintains a natural dynamic in sand dunes, which were declared to be World Heritage by UNESCO.
Terrestrial Environment: The park’s terrestrial environment includes a great variety of most vegetation formations that exist in the Pitiusas islands of more than 178 different plant species. The Mediterranean pine forests, coastal juniper groves, saltworts and halophytic vegetation surrounding the pools is represented, as well as the sand dunes and coastal vegetation in cliffs.
Wildlife: 210 new bird species have been identified in the natural park. We can highlight stock of aquatic birds such as flamingos (Phoenicopterus ruber), storks (Himantopus himantopus), white crested ducks (Tadorna tadorna), Kentish plovers (Charadrius alexandrinus) and aquatic birds such as the Audouin gull (Larus audouinii) and the Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus). Other terrestrial species worth mentioning are the Pitiusan lizard (Podarcis pityusensis), symbol of the islands, and different subspecies in the islets, the dormouse or the white Sacoa rat (Eliomys quercinus ophiusae) of Formentera, as well as different species of snails and endemic beetles.
Culture: The remains of ancient civilizations and historic traces all over the Pitiusas islands are present in the Natural Park. This is reflected in the remains found in the Phoenician village of Sa Caleta (declared World Heritage by UNESCO) and the defense towers scattered all over the Park’s coastline. The presence of a millennial salt industry, along with its historic, cultural and socioeconomic value, add a unique landscape providing beauty and relevance, perfectly integrated in the natural ecosystems.
OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES: Parasailing, Quad and Buggy Excursion, Hot air baloon flight over Ibica, Stand Up Paddle excursion around Portinatx, Ibiza, Jet ski excursion from Cala Bassa to Cala Salada, Ibiza,Sunset Trip Sailing on an Ecological Catamaran from Sant Antonio, Ibiza, Beach and Cave Tour in Ibiza and many others.
SOME OF THE RESTAURANS
ibiza town and south:
EL OLIVO MIO (Mediterranean & Italian), LA CAVA (Tapas, Mediterranean & Spanish), IT IBIZA (Mediterranean cuisine & Italian), LA BRASSA (Mediterranean, Meat & Barbecue)
sant antoni de portmany and west:
CAFÉ DEL MAR (Mediterranean & Mexican), SA CAPELLA (Mediterranean, Meat & Grill), KUMHARAS (Asian & Mexican), MAMBO IBIZA (Mediterranean & International), BAM-BU-KU (Mediterranean, Mexican & American)
santa eulalia and east:
BAMBUDDHA IBIZA (Sushi, Asian & Thai), CALA BONITA (Seafood & Mediterranean), CA NA RIBES (Mediterranean cuisine), AMANTE IBIZA (Seafood & Mediterranean), LA PALOMA (Italian & Mediterranean)
RELIGION IN IBIZA
There is no official religion, but the majority of the population is Roman Catholic.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
The best time to visit Ibiza is from May to October when high temperatures hover in the mid-70s and mid-80s and the party crowd descends.
OFFICIAL LANGUAGE
In Ibiza, there are two official languages: Spanish and Catalan. As the island is an important international tourist destination, many people working in tourist establishments also speak other languages such as English, Italian, French or German.
Sites that were used:www.wikipedia.com;www.purenatureibica.com;www.viroteacharter.com;www.descubreibiza.com;www.manawa.com
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