On this island you could go to any beach and holding hands wouldn't be an issue: every beach is gay friendly; it's as simple as that. Here beaches can be wild, compact, have turquoise or almost clear water, can be surrounded by sweet smelling pines or be possessed of a Jurassic rocky backdrop. In short there's a beach to suit every palate.
Es Cavellet has the only really “official” gay beach having a big gay area that's popular with men. Then there's the beach at Figueretas, a resort popular with the LGBTQ community, which has its own gay bar/café Chaos and is where many reasonably priced hotels are located. You'll find the biggest concentration of gay culture in the south of the island, one which has had a big influence on the island's clubbing scene. The south is where all the cruising goes on too; you'll see the sideways glances so you'll know where you are when you get there.
There are a lot of nudist beaches on Ibiza, which are generally more relaxed, liberal and yes, gay-friendly. Straights and gays mingle pointing all their bodies towards the Mecca that is the sun. Es Cavellet is nudist; Las Salinas has a patch for bare-it-all bathers past Sa Trinxa and Cala Conta has a cool nude area. Aguas Blancas in the north might give you more seclusion, as it's harder to get to, but if it's just you and your lover, that might be just what you want.
Playa Es Cavallet
Es Cavallet beach is what we call a gay beach. It is where Ibiza and the gay world collide, which may be one and the same thing anyway. Located on the southern part of the island, there's a bit of a walk once you arrive at one of the car parks, but it's worth it when you get there. There's the beach bar and restaurant called Chiringay, which is considered as THE gay hub of the island by day and into the night. It starts to get busy from midday, so get there early to snag your sunbed. A livelier party atmosphere descends from 4pm onwards, with the tuned-up tempo wafting out of Chiringay to match the mood. There are hunting grounds in the sand dunes or privacy in little coves and corners.
Getting there: There are two car parks from which to walk here: the northern straight end of Es Cavellet beach or from the Las Salinas car park, to which a bus service runs to and from. Either way, it's a 20-minute trek to the gay area and when you see the beach bar rainbow flag, you've arrived.
Figueretas
The first bay of Figueretas beach on this long promenade is very popular with the gay community and it makes a great choice if you don't want to venture out to Es Cavellet. Then theere's the gay bar Chaos and there's the very gay-friendly pool bar at the Cenit Hotel nearby.
Playa d'en Bossa
No, Playa d'en Bossa is not a gay beach but it has its points. Whilst the Bora Bora end of the beach is full on hedonism, further down the beach there's the uber cool Ushuaia, with its daytime parties or further along the light airiness of Beachouse beach club. Partying on this action-packed beach by day with a sublime cocktail – fabulous!
Like anything on Ibiza, when it comes to beaches you can have what you want from a full on gay beach to a quiet romantic cove. Many are stunningly pretty: all are very much Ibiza!
Read more about nudist beaches on Ibiza
