FORMENTERA
Formentera is much more than the last Mediterranean
Paradise where classic summer holidays can be enjoyed.
It is an island oasis surrounded by peace and tranquillity,
enhanced by a surprisingly well-conserved natural environment.
Formentera offers visitors an assortment of simple
pleasures which ensure a pleasurable stay on the island
at any time of the year. Its mild climate (with an average
temperature of 16ºC between November and April)
allows for swimming in the sea year round, while our
renowned autumns and springs paint the island in magnificent
shades of light and incredible colours.
The hues of the landscape are rendered more harmonious
and limpid when the island is relieved of the dazzling
light that invades it in the summer season. Watching
the sunset or simply gazing at the sky and the sea become
unique experiences which, in and of themselves, justify
a trip to Formentera.
> VILLAGES:
La Savina:
the Harbour of La Savina is the first urban center we
have to consider, since it is the only access that the
tourists have to reach the island and, therefore, an
extremely important place. If there is something characteristic
of La Savina, it is the continuous craft traffic: boats
that bring here or take back to somewhere else tourists
and islanders, small and big fishing boats and, in summer,
an incredible number of pleasure boats with captains
on board that have decided to spend their summer holidays
at the sea, travelling Mediterranean coasts. The evolution
of tourism has brought a similar evolution at the harbour.
The place that once was a mooring for some fishing boats
is currently a harbour that provides space for a great
number of boats, mainly in summer season. That is also
the reason why the urban center of La Savina has grown.
Nowadays, there is a great variety of bars, restaurants
and small shops that surround the seafront, which gives
colourful movement to the small harbour of Formentera.
San Francisco Javier:
Three kilometers far from the harbour we can find Sant
Francesc Xavier, which could be considered as the most
important urban center, the capital of the island indeed,
due to the fact that the Town Hall is located in its
square. Just in front of the Town Hall, you can find
the church of the town, which in the 18th century was
used as a fortress against the Barbarians and afterwards
has become a shelter for the town's parishioners. At
the Town Hall square the fiestas and most important
events of the town are celebrated. These events usually
bring residents and tourists together in a festive,
quiet and, above all, friendly atmosphere. San Francisco
is the most visited town during the day due to its great
quantity of shops and bars, and, above all, due to its
seafront, meeting point for numerous hippy stalls, which
attract tourists because of the great quantity of objects
related to the island they offer. All these things make
of this town the capital of the island and an obligatory
place to visit during the day.
San Fernando:
Going ahead following the same road that begins in the
harbour and passes through Sant Francesc, the following
town you will find is Sant Ferran. You will be obliged
to pass through Sant Ferran if you want to reach La
Mola or Es Pujols. Sant Ferran offers a great variety
of bars and restaurants where you can stop and have
something to eat or just take something to drink while
watching the people passing by, or the tourists visiting
the town. One of the most mythical and famous local
of Formentera is located in Sant Ferran: La Fonda Pepe,
which in the sixties had already opened its doors and
has been being visited since then by everyone who wants
to enjoy the calm and authentically hippy atmosphere
of the island, beacuse, although many years has gone
by, this is one of the few places that have hardly changed.
Es Pujols:
The last urban center and probably the most aimed at
tourists is Es Pujols. You can reach this point either
taking the road that begins at the harbour or going
through Sant Ferran. As soon as you have gone into this
town, you will notice that the atmosphere here is completely
different from everywhere else, especially at night.
The great variety of shops, restaurants, bars, pubs
and discos turns this place into the tourist's paradise.
At every hour, day or night, there are constantly people
passing by. During the day, you can enjoy its beaches
and go shopping. At night you will discover that there
is a festive atmosphere everywhere, especially at the
various pubs and at the seafront, where the hippy market
attracts lots of people. Here the festive atmosphere
get mixed with the sea scent.
La Mola:
Always straight away at the main road, the next stop
after Sant Ferran is La Mola. La Mola is located at
the highest point of the island, about 15 kilometers
far of Sant Ferran. We could state that this town is
one of the calmest ones because, due to its far-off
position in the map, it is not very frequented by tourists
and there are just a few shops and restaurants. The
town's main appeal is the hippy market that opens twice
a week and attracts lots of people. Another appeal of
this small town is its lighthouse, located over the
cliffs, from which you will be able to watch wonderful
sunsets and enjoy the marvellous solitude of this place.
> BEACHES:
If there is something really charcateristic
of Formentera, these are ist beaches. Formentera?s coast
is full of many of the best European beaches, as it
becomes confirmed every year by thousands of turists
which arrive here in summer to enjoy the water of those
beaches. The tourism evolution has brought about the
possibility for anyone to sstay the whole day at the
beach without the need to go out of it: today there
is actually restaurants, deck chairs, sunshades, water
sports..., everything necessary to enjoy the sun of
these beaches.
Here there is a list of some of the best beaches in
Formentera, which can easily be found in the following
map:
Illetes: Illetes beaches are situated at the furthest
north part of Formentera, which is the closest point
to the island of Espalmador, approximately 150 meters
far away from Formentera. These beaches are the ones
who receive the highest number of turists. You can reach
Illetes with any type of vehice, although it is recommended
to go there on foot or by bicycle, in order to enjoy
the landscape and contribute to the environmental protection,
slightly neglected because of the constant movement
of turists. Furthermore, due to the unevenness of the
landscape, there is no possibility to reach one part
of this zone if you don?t go on foot.
Illetes zone is one of the most complete when talking
about leisure time. Here you will find water sports
(sailing, ski, etc.), restaurants,kiosks, deck chairs,
sunshades, etc.; basically, everything you need to enjoy
every minute of the day. There is also a boat service
that takes you from Illetes into the Sabina port or
until the island of Espalmador, which makes the transport
much easier...
Llevant: Llevant beach is also situated at the furthest
north end of Formentera, but, as its ibicenco name means,
on the east side. This beach is also very large and,
although it lies very close to Illetes and, therefore,
in a very crowded area, due to its large extent, it
is still possible to find calm and lonely places therein.
Obviously, you will also find restaurants and kiosks.
As it is located very close to Illetes, you can cover
on foot all the beaches located at the North of Formentera.
Cala Sahona: This little cove, despite its reduced
extent, scarcely 200 meters long, is one of the most
beautiful beaches you can visit. Its characteristic
peace and beauty make it obligatory for every tourist
to come here to visit this cove. It is also sorrounded,
obviously, by restaurants and kiosks where you can eat
or, simply, have a fresh drink and, at the same time,
enjoy the wonderful sight of the neighbouring island
of Ibiza or, not so far away, of the coast of Punta
Pedrera, or even of the beautiful cliffs of Punta Rasa,
where you can easily arrive on foot, due to the fact
that they are located 10 minutes far from the beach.
Migjorn: About the beach of Migjorn we could say that
it is one of the biggest in Formentera. Ist sand extends
from almost the whole south coast of the island -almost
from La Mola- to Es Cap de Barbaria. From the beach
of Migjorn, you can see these two points, which are
so far-off. The large extent and the geographic position
of Migjorn lead to a lack of massive tourismus. In fact,
Migjorn is one of the least visited beaches in Formentera
and, therefore, one of the most peaceful ones. Nevertheless,
forget about finding a virgin beach. Here you will also
find all kind of restaurants and kiosks at the very
edge of the water.
Espalmador: There is scarcely 150 meters between the
island of Formentera and the island of Espalmador. Espalmador,
despite ist reduced extent, 3 km2, hides a lot of treasures
in ist interior. There are two ways to arrive here:
by boat, taking the one that covers the journey between
Formentera?s harbour, passing through Illetas, until
Espalmador, or swimming in order to cover the existing
distance between both islands (always when the weather
and tide allow to do so). The most famous beach of the
island of Espalmador is Platja de S?Alga, a big one
taking into account how big is the island, declared
natural harbour because of its closed shape. The vigilance
tower (Torre de Sa Guardiola), loated at the highest
part of this little island, observs the tourists passing
by along the coast. You must never forget that this
island has a private character and therefore, it must
be respected. You have to bear in mind that this island
has been declared nature reserve due to the wide variety
of fauna and flora that lives in it. Thats the reason
why you will never find a restaurant or any similar
business in Espalmador. It is forbidden to establish
business here, which makes the idea of visiting this
little island and its beaches much more interesting.
They have not been altered by human hands.
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