About Ibiza

Sailing in San Miguel Port, Ibiza

Ibiza has a reputation as a party island, but there is much more to Ibiza than nightclubs and mass tourism. The island offers natural beauty, quiet coves, and plenty of interesting cultural activities. In fact, large portions of the island such as "God's Finger" in the Benirràs Bay, are registered as U.N. World Heritage Sites, and thus protected from development. Because of its rustic beauty, the island is often the site of movies and film shoots.

Ibiza is the closest of all the Balearic islands to mainland Spain and offers 200 km (125 miles) of coastline, sporting over 50 excellent beaches. When combined to the nearby island of Formentera, the two "Pine Islands" provide an excellent array of sun drenched activies and attractions.

The main city of the island is Ibiza, on the south of the island. The other two major cities are Santa Eulària des Riu (further east) and Sant Antoni de Portmany (on the west coast, and therefore known for its sunsets).

The town of Ibiza as seen from the old Port

Chartering in Ibiza

Ibiza is a popular yacht charter desitination for all types of charters - be it Bareboat Sailing, Motor yachting for a day (often to the island of Formentera and back) or a key stop on a large yacht cruising the Spanish Balearic islands.

Sailing Ibiza

Ibiza Charter Destinations

A cruise around the island generally includes a stop in Santa Eulalia, a tour of the rugged North Coast, and a stop off in Sant Antoni (often referred to as San Antonio) and of course a stop in the Old Port of Ibiza.

Santa Eulària

Santa Eulària des Riu offers with beauty, serenity, light and tradition. The key sights in the town are the Puid de Missa, declared a site of scenic beauty by the Ministry of Culture in 1952. The church, built in the 16th century as part of the island’s defences, was a centrepiece for the construction of the first houses in the town in the following century.

There are plenty of churches to explore including Marede Deu de Jesus, Santa Gertrudis de Fruitera, and Charles de Peralta. There is also a 400+ meter aquaduct, build in the first century AD.

There are several beautiful beaches near Santa Eulària that offer great sand, beautiful views and clean waters. Nudism is practised on most beaches.

Sant Antoni (San Antionio)

San Antonio, facing west, is renowned for its stunning sunsets

San Antonio is famous for its sunsets and lively night-life. The town fills up in the summer months with predominantly British holiday makers. At this time the port will often have scores of boats anchored, adding to the festivities.

The promenade along the water is called Passeig de ses Fonts, which was developed in the early 1990s to improve the appearance of the town. There are many plants, including palm trees and rubber plants, as well as massive fountains, which are illuminated by night. Across the square are a host of restaurants and cafes offering a view over Sant Antoni Bay. It is also the best place from which to watch the massive Fireworks Display which celebrates the fiesta of Saint Bartholomew on the 24 August.

The 'West End' is where all the night life in Sant Antoni is centred. The main street is the Carrer de Santa Agnès, which hosts a variety of bars and small clubs ranging from the Dance and House music Ibiza is famed for to Rock and indie music. Popular bars include Viva, Hush, Koppas, Tropicana, Soul City, Funky Flares, Ground Zero and The Huddle Bar.

Formentera

Formentera is an island that is largely unsettled, and therefore pristine and unspoiled. The island is just south of Ibiza and a popular destination for day charters who go there to bathe, relax in the sun, and have a lunch at one of the beach restaurants - the most famous being Juan Y Andrea. The island is 19 kilometres long and is located approximately 3 nautical miles (6 km) south of Ibiza. Its major villages are Sant Francesc Xavier, Sant Ferran de ses Roques, El Pilar de la Mola and La Savina.

The island is known for its many pristine beaches and the fact that nude sunbathing is allowed on most of its beaches.

Getting to Ibiza

Ibiza, being a major tourist destination, is easily reachable from most any major airport in Europe. Low cost carriers, charters and standard commercial carriers all fly to Ibiza, especially in the high season summer months.

If you're in Spain, there are regular, almost commuter flights to Ibiza from Barcelona and Madrid. You can also catch ferries from Denia, Vallencia or Mallorca.

Many charterers choose to see all of the Balearic Islands - Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera, giving a varied itinerary that offers it all.

Clubbing in Ibiza

Ibiza is legendary for its clubs and nightlife centered around two areas: Ibiza Town, the island's capital on the eastern shore and Sant Antoni to the West. Well-known nightclubs are Privilege (the largest club in the world), Eden (the busiest nightclub in Sant Antoni), Es Paradís (noted for its water parties), Amnesia (known for foam parties), Space (an afterparty club), Pacha, and DC10. These clubs have become the centre of the worldwide electronic music movement. During the summer, well-known DJs perform at the various clubs on weekly schedules, in between touring to other international destinations.

Also well-known is Café del Mar, a long-standing bar in Sant Antoni where many tourists traditionally view the sunset made famous by José Padilla.

Climate and Weather

The climate of Ibiza is Mediterranean and has milder winters but slightly cooler summers than Majorca. The winters are generally mild with temperatures around 15° during the day Celsius (60° Fahrenheit) and 8 at night. The hottest time of the year is July and August with temperatures reaching 30°C (85°F) most afternoons. The winds in the eastern part of the isle are mostly from the NW and NE. From May until August generally NE or ESE

Ibizan Cuisine

Traditional Paella

Ibiza offers a tremendous variety of excellent restaurants, many are known for their traditional Mediterranean style cuisine: fresh fish and shellfish, grilled 'Butifarra' sausages and of course Paella.

Almost all the restaurants in Ibiza town have a sidewalk table area, a terrace or garden with swift and professional service, as almost nobody wants to eat indoors on those sultry warm summer nights.

Our Charter Yachts

Ibiza is a remarkable charter and holiday destination. Boatbookings.com knows the region and boats, and can find you the ideal charter yacht, be it bareboat, crewed, sail, motor or catamaran. Click here to see our Ibiza Charter Yachts or simply contact us and we'll recommend the best boat for you.

Other Mediterranean Destinations: Mallorca, French Riviera, Italian Riviera , Greece, Croatia

Some content courtesy of Wikipedia