When looking for a little more tranquillity, there are many small beaches where you can escape to. Many have small secluded bays, ideal for nudists or couples that want to relax away from the crowds. Most are blessed with pristine, shallow waters to cool off in and when surrounded by rocks are ideal for snorkelling. Here's our selection of some of the best.
El Tiburón
El Tiburón is located between Playa Illetes and La Savina beaches, but even so, it remains quiet and peaceful even during high season. Expect pristine waters, the colour of turquoise, and soft white sand. Pine trees surround this beach and offer shade when the heat reaches its daytime peak.
Walking along the boardwalk to this beach, you will be afforded great views of Ibiza and the steep rocky island of Es Vedrà and once there, you can watch the yachts of the rich and famous as they approach the island. Most likely those on board will be stopping for a spot of lunch at the excellent, though quite expensive and eponymous El Tiburón restaurant, a popular place with the wet-set and the glitterati.
Note: A small fee has to be paid when you access the small peninsula where Illetes, Levante and El Tiburón beaches are located by car or scooter. The access is limited, when all parking places are full, they don't let you through anymore, so go early. Quad bikes don't have access at all.
PLAYA TANGA
This bright white sandy beach can be found between Es Pujols and Playa de Levante and is only a short ride with the bike, car or scooter from La Savina. Backed by dunes that provide wind shelter and possessed of shallow pale blue waters, this beach offers space and moderate peace. A volleyball net is put up in summer, so there's a chance for a little activity.
La Tanga beach restaurant has been here for around 40 years and offers lovely paellas and excellent fresh fish dishes; the lobster stew is highly recommended. It's also where you will find the car park, directly behind the restaurant.
Note: As this beach is accessed via the area of Playa Illetas, a parking fee applies unless you travel there on foot or use eco-transport, such as bikes, electric bikes and electric cars.
PLAYA SA ROQUETA
Another pure white beach with crystalline waters, the popular beach Playa Sa Roqueta lies between Es Pujols and Playa de Levante.
The beach is very popular with nudists, who love the secluded spots of fine-sanded small bays. Though surrounded by flat rocks, the waters are shallow with underlying soft sand so it is perfect for families too; it also means it's great for snorkelling. Couples and sole travellers love this beach too as it makes for a relatively peaceful escape.
If you walk to the end of the beach you will find a traditional beach bar serving drinks. No parking area exists, so visitors should park their cars next to the main road.
PLAYA TRAMUNTANA
This secluded beach, popular with families and couples, is situated on an otherwise rocky coast in the south-eastern part of Formentera. It is a sweep of almost pure white sand lapped by a calm turquoise sea and divided into small bays by flat rocks - a great place to get shelter from any wind.
It's worthwhile stocking up on food and drink as there are no beach amenities here, though small shops as well as a some restaurants are in the nearby village of Es Caló.
To get to it, take the road from San Fernando to La Mola and you find the bay on the left just before Es Caló. There is no parking area, so visitors should park their cars next to the main road.
ES CALÓ
Es Caló is a small fisher village at the foot of the steep hill leading up to La Mola. At the coast there are several small inlets, beautiful to stop and swim in with some of the most beautiful turquoise waters you will ever see. An area of deep water has an amazing shade of blue due to minerals in the rocks that reflect the light.
A pretty pier is surrounded by fishermen's huts with sloping wooden berths to launch boats into the water around which is a snorkeller's playground. Around here there are small sandy beaches and coves where you can escape to sunbathe or dive into the clear blue sea.
Es Caló has some great restaurants serving wonderful food. One of our favourites is Can Rafalet, from where you can have one of the most heavenly picture-postcard views of the sea from its terrace.
Check out Ibiza Spotlight's comprehensive guide to the main beaches of Formentera.
