Ibiza’s north-west has some of the island’s most exquisite bays – picture crystal clear waters in coves surrounded by pine trees – as well as quaint villages, world renowned restaurants, and some of the island’s best wine.
This side of Ibiza’s coast is known for its majestic sunsets and though the southern stretch has more of the famous sunset spots, the northern part of Ibiza’s west coast offers many locations for an unforgettable end to your day.
Busiest in the summer months, winter in the north-west of Ibiza will make you feel like you have the island to yourself. The village of Santa Agnes is known for its stunning almond blossoms, and many people on the island make a spring pilgrimage to see the blooms in February.
There are a number of well-known beaches on this part of Ibiza’s coasts, like Cala Salada with its blue-green waters and famous seafood restaurant, and Cala Xuclar and Xarraca’s clear waters. Benirras is famous for the Sunday drums and the Sunset Ashram, while Cala Gracioneta’s rural feel makes it popular with the locals and Punta Galera has large, flat rocks that are great for swimming with kids.
The Port de Sant Miguel, where the waves wash up against steep cliffs, has a reputation for being a watersports hub, and the gateway to Ibiza’s wine-making region.
For a memorable introduction to the marine life of the Mediterranean, spend an afternoon at The Aquarium Cap Blanc – where rays and octopus bask in tanks in a former smuggler’s cave. If pirate history intrigues you, you can also visit the caves at Can Marca, or find your own kind of treasure at the original island boutique World Family Ibiza.
Properties in this area
Restaurants & bars
Es Tragon is the only Michelin-starred restaurant on the island. Found in a villa-style country house in the hills just outside San Antoni de Portmany, Es Tragon has an unrivalled passion for flavour and an innovative approach to modern dining. The menu, created by Chef Álvaro Sanz Clavijo, boasts genuinely imaginative dishes that rework traditional flavours from the island. Choose the wine-pairing menu for the full Es Tragon experience and marvel at the extravagant decorative plating. The offerings evolve and change to reflect the harvest at different times of year.
Fine dining restaurant Salvia Ibiza serves Spanish and international dishes in a garden planted with fruit trees. The romantic setting heightens the enjoyment of the gastronomic adventure they’ve created, showing off the best Mediterranean flavours cooked in innovative ways. The restaurant is part of the Ca Na Xica Boutique Hotel and uses only the highest quality ingredients.
Charming La Luna Nell’Orto in the village of Sant Miguel de Balansat offers Italian and Mediterranean food at tables under the boughs of an old fig tree. Their fresh pasta is worth ordering. Otherwise, you can wander down the road for authentic Asian flavours at Ca Na Hathai, where they serve fresh Thai-inspired food. The relaxed Pom Thai restaurant in San José also prepares Thai cuisine; they have a peaceful terrace and a pool in the garden.
In the pretty village of Santa Agnes, known for its annual almond blossoms, we encourage you to seek out the understated local spot Can Cosmi, which serves up the best tortilla (Spanish omelette) and patatas on the island. It’s a simple place, but well worth the visit. Just outside of the village is the Las Puertas del Cielo, a classic Spanish tapas style menu with seafood dishes and an amazing view of the sunset over the hills.
The Restaurante Cala Salada, found on the beautiful Cala Salada beach, serves amazing paella. The setting is rustic, with simple outdoor chairs and tables where you can order lobster, fresh mussels and local rice dishes.
Found in Sant Mateu d’Alarca, the Restaurante Juntos Can Cires has an impressive wine list, a playground for children and a terrace for romantic summer evenings. They make their steak tartare traditional style at the table in front of your eyes and prepare other classic dishes with bold Mediterranean flavours.
The El Chiringuito on Cala Gracioneta has earned its reputation as an exceptional seaside lunch spot and is the sister restaurant of Hostal la Torres, both conceived by the Mambo Brothers. Near to San Antonio Bay the little cove of Cala Gracioneta is a great place to spend a day in the sunshine and you can order food directly to the sand. The specialty is fresh fish on the grill.
The Elements Beach Club is a well-known spot to watch the sun go down at Cala Benirras. They have both a cocktail and juice bar, DJ decks and massage beds, a local fashion outlet and a restaurant serving meals all day. The interiors of Elements have a boho-modern feel, enhanced by the recycled materials that have been used to decorate the space. The restaurant serves Mediterranean and Italian food, prepared using local ingredients.
Los Enamorados at the northernmost tip of the island is a boutique hotel set right on the sea, and the beach bar and food at the restaurant draws visitors from across the island.
Beaches
Benirras beach near Puerto de San Miguel has a mix of sand and pebbles and, though the seabed is slightly rough for bare feet, the clear water is made for great snorkelling. The beautiful, sheltered bay is the perfect anchorage for boats and yachts, so there are often a lot of them out in the water. It gets very busy in the summer months, and there is a small outdoor market with views of the sea. Benirras is legendary for its Sunday night drumming. This weekly ritual began as a protest against the first gulf war on a Sunday night in the summer of 1991. It was originally attended by hundreds of advocates for peace and an annual “day of the drums” marked the gathering’s August anniversary before it became a weekly occurrence. Now, a small group of dedicated drummers come to the beach every Sunday as the sun sets to invoke that same spirit of peace. The classic weekly combination is drumming on the beach and a cocktail at the Elements Beach Club.
Puerto San Miguel itself has a touristy beach strip surrounded by pine hills with two beach bars. Many of the surrounding resorts close for the winter months, which means that off season this beach can be delightfully quiet.
The gorgeous little cove of Caló de s’Illa in the north of the island is also known as “Moon Beach” because of the otherworldly rocky landscape – the large flat rocks look like craters on the surface of the moon. The shore is hemmed in with small fisherman’s huts and is a great spot for exploring with a snorkel.
Cala Salada is just north of San Antonio and is surrounded by pine forests. The sandy shores and unbelievably blue water make it one of the more popular beaches on this part of the island, and often the crowds spill over the sand onto the surrounding rocks. Cala Salada’s protected cove is popular amongst islanders and boat owners.
The exquisite cove of Es Portitxol is a small, isolated beach that is mostly only occupied by the fisherman who keep their boats there. It’s a short hike to get to the beach (downhill on the way and uphill on the way out) and there is no activity, drinks or music on offer, which makes it one of the more peaceful bays on the island.
Cala d’Albarca has a great view of the Es Amunts area of the island. Hemmed in by cliffs, there isn’t much shore, but swimming amongst the rockpools is a delightful experience. The bay was historically known by pirates, who used it as an access point to run raids on the island communities. There are caves nearby and a unique natural stone bridge that arches over the sea.
Ses Balandres is a rocky cove with a small beach very near to the village of Santa Agnes de Corona. For the intrepid beach goers only, this beach is a 45-minute climb down the cliff with the use of an old wooden ladder and ropes that were put there by local fisherman years ago.
At the foot of the descent you reach a small, pebbly beach with deliciously bright waters.
See & Do
The Can Marça caves near Port de San Miguel house a spooky and cool underground network of stalagmites and stalactites. The caves used to be used by smugglers and you can see the markings on the walls that they used to guide them back to the sea in the dark of the night.
At the heart of the cave network, visitors are rewarded with a music and light show against the old groves where waterfalls would have run through the caverns. From the mouth of the cave you have a pretty spectacular view out over the northern bays.
Visit the colourful fish, octopus and rays who inhabit the tanks of The Cap Blanc Aquarium. The aquarium was built into a grotto that was once the haunt of pirates and was then used by fishermen who would store their lobsters in the rockpools there before taking them to sell at the markets. The aquarium also has a programme that rehabilitates turtles and there is a bar on a terrace that looks out over the sea.
In the village of San Juan in the very north of the island you’ll find World Family Ibiza, a boutique fashion store that was opened at the end of the 1980s. Selling unique pieces and handmade items, they pioneered the island’s now-signature bohemian style. World Family Ibiza sells elaborate and ethical clothing, whimsical dresses, embroidered handbags, and hippy-chic accessories. The products are designed by the family who own the store and are either made in-house or are part of a curated collection of items from around the world.
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