Guide of Ibiza and Formentera

Formentera, Coves and Beaches and Dangers to navigation

By Alberto de Zunzunegui (Shipping Diamond)

Port of Savin: 38º 44´1 " N - 01º 25´ 2 " E

Although in Marine high season of Formentera (Tf. 971 322 346) in Savin, is one of the most expensive ports of Spain, if we can pay for it and we obtained mooring, is an option that is worth the trouble. It must, besides being the unique port of the island and the best place to victual to us, to that the interior of Formentera deserves happening hours in earth well to explore its highways and the attractiveness that offer some of their more spectacular corners.

For it nothing good than to rent motorcycle in the same port, that by a very reasonable price will allow to discover us that the exploration of the interior of the islands is, without a doubt, another one of great the attractiveness of the cruise navigation. For most expert and adventurous, the possibility exists of renting motorcycles of “trail” type that will allow to discover the corners us more separating from the island, with special mention for cliffs of the southwest….thirst prudent and you do not forget the helmet.

The small population of Savin not especially attractive, but still has fortunately not undergone an excessive city-planning development reason why it maintains its simple but traditional flavor. In the same port we can find supermarkets and stores, even a diving center: Vellmari.

If during the day it seems to us an animated and boisterous place, at night the port remains in silence, once the majority of the visitors has left the island course again to Ibiza; the tourists lodged in Formentera are few. In order to leave to have dinner, there is next to the port some that another acceptable restaurant. As far as the glasses, the thing complica a little, since in the port there is no place where to be able to take something after having dinner. The option is to take to a taxi until San Francisco Javier, the capital of the island, where if we will be able to enjoy one animated evening, that we will share with numerous the Italians which they have chosen Formentera as destiny of vacations.

Island of Espalmador: 38º 46´8 " N - 01º 25´ 7 " E

Hardly it would be possible to be spoken of Formentera without mentioning to Espalmador, the small island practically united and that it arises like an prolongation towards Ibiza of the North end of Formentera. The call Port of Espalmador, that is not in fact but a small and warm natural bay with beach, is one of the more habitual destinations when crossing from the Peninsula, especially if we arrived during the day since at night the entrance to Espalmador can be really complicated and dangerous, unless it is known very well. In fact, still entering by day we will have to observe kindly the letter and to give a defense important to the end of Gastabí.

When totally isolated being and without constructions, except the residence of the proprietors of the island, the calm cove and transparent waters of Espalmador it is or it used to be one of most beautiful of our islands; unfortunately the last time that I was that way I cursed deeply to our species for being able to destroy type of wastes yet, including can and gas cylinder of butane, the bottom of our seas. Perhaps one is been able to clean all that one, but it is our responsibility to obtain that something thus does not happen… even if we must increpar to our neighbors of anchorage, in case they not yet had learned to respect our planet.

Recommended coves and Beaches

Trocadors beach: 38º 45´9 " N - 01º 26´ 0 " E

Next to Espalmador and or in Formentera is the beach the Trocadors, perhaps most beautiful of our islands, or at least, like Espalmador, someday was it; until now its bottoms always I have found them clean, but never I have returned to see its waters so I am transparent, blue and clean like the first time that I knew ten years back.

With a easy anchorage on sand, the beach is concurred very in high season and until it is possible that it can cost to find a space to us where to be able to cast anchor. With something of experience and being prudent, the arrival at night would not have to be too complicated, although we cannot forget that there is one that does not ignite its anchor lights.

In the beach there is chiringuito and restaurants and if it does not desire to us to walk putting the motor to dinghy, we can raise the hand and to warn the young man of “zodiac” that quick will come to take to us to earth in exchange for apequeña offers, is a “attention” of the restaurants.

It pierces Pujols: 38º 43´6 " N - 01º 28´ 1 " E

An alternative in the East side of the island, to which we will have to come near.

Beach of Tramontana: 38º 41´4 " N - 01º 30´ 2 " E

It is one long beach of stone and sand exhibited enough and normally less comfortable than the other, but in its environs we can realize some interesting diving.

Beach of Mitjorn: 38º 40´6 " N - 01º 29´ 0 " E

In the South side is the longer sand beach of the island, ideal to spend the day enjoying of the bath. Perhaps it does not have the beauty of Trocadors, but when remoter being of Ibiza it receives many less visitors and normally she will be quite calm. When hazardous being enough we will have to consider the conditions of sea and wind before raising going to us to spend the day until there.

It pierces Sahona: 38º 41´8 " N - 01º 23´ 3 " E

After Espalmador, it is the most beautiful cove of the island and an excellent anchorage… pity the mamotreto of hotel that has constructed in one of their sides. Even so and especially outside season, it is worth the trouble to visit it and to spend the night there.

Next to the beach there is a simple one and small chiringuito to which we can lower to have dinner and to enjoy the tranquility of the cove, while we see as the anchor lights of our boat is rocked in the water… pity that stops to work the chiringuito needs to have an ignited gasohol generator….

Dangers to navigation

Generally, and except for the passage of freus and the zone next to the small islands of the North end, Espalmador, Espardel and Ahorcados, navigation by Formentera is quite simple and free of stumbling blocks practically submerged.

In any case, to consult the letter and to assure to us than we have at every moment under our helmet never is of more.