When planning a holiday to Ibiza, a day trip to its idyllic little sister island of Formentera would surely have been suggested as a must-visit. Ask around, and you'll find this is a recommendation that would only be doubled down on; this is because, as stunning as Ibiza is, Formentera is the twinkling jewel in the Balearic Islands' crown.
Calm, serene and strikingly beautiful, Formentera still feels untouched, maintaining her salty-haired, bohemian vibe whilst still successfully welcoming thousands of tourists each year. And this is exactly what the Ibiza Spotlight team decided to become for the day; beach towel and sun hat at the ready, we were off on the Formentera tourist trail for the day.
If you've ever wondered how much of the island's beauty you can squeeze into one day, read on to find out...
We began our day as many of you will, by meeting at the Ibiza Town port, ready and eager to board our Aquabus ferry. An easy journey, the foot passenger service offered us a calm ride across the water in around 40 minutes, before landing us safely in the pretty port of La Savina.
A fusion of working port status and million-pound yacht holding ground, La Savina is lined with lovely restaurants, with open terraces, small supermarkets (make sure to top up on snacks and water here), and many transport rental companies, which was our first port of call.
Just a moment's stroll behind the port, La Savina Rent a Car & Scooter prepared us for our day of exploring with a compact yet perfectly sized Micra. You'll see these cars all over Formentera, as they are ideal for navigating the island's roads and busy parking areas.
Formentera Top Tip: Make sure to read our guide on getting to Formentera and getting around with ease, which covers ferry trips, car, scooter and bike hire. It also contains important information if you plan to take your own car on the ferry, which must be booked via a website in advance.
Before our adventures began, our rumbling stomachs had to be soothed, and where better than the island institution, Hostal La Savina.
Sat right on the beachfront, the hotel has been serving Formentera's growing number of tourists for over 70 years. Although a hotel, external guests are welcome to dine in its beachfront restaurant, which offers beautiful views across the water. If you make it for breakfast, we highly recommend ordering one of the Pan de Cristal dishes. A typical Catalan/Spanish bread, the crystal, glass-like bread is a delicious base for whichever topping you choose.
Fed and well hydrated, we got ourselves on the road and made our way through the stunning salt flats, the pink shimmering hues leading the way to the island's only holiday resort: Es Pujols.
This pretty beachside village is a popular destination, thanks to its fantastic fashion boutiques (we found some great pieces), a beautiful, long beach, and a lengthy promenade to stroll and dine upon.
Despite making the most of each shop's air conditioning on the walk down, once reaching the sand we dove straight into the sea - its refreshing aquamarine waters too much to resist. Broken into smaller sandy sections, Es Pujols beach covers a great length, with a long wooden walkway running alongside. Ideal for families with pushchairs, it's also one of two beaches on Formentera (the other being Es Arenals) with disabled access and support to enter the sea.
Formentera Top Tip: If you don’t have a car, staying in Es Pujols is a great option, especially for families, as you have a well-established resort on your doorstep, along with bus routes to other areas of the island.
All that shopping and lazing on the beach worked up an appetite. To ensure we got a full taste of the island's gastronomic scene, the team split into two for this arduous task.
Very handily, ChezzGerdi Formentera is located at the far end of the Es Pujols boardwalk. Easily recognisable by the red VW campervan outside, ChezzGerdi is a popular seafront location I have always been eager to experience.
I began with a much-needed Bloody Mary before diving into delicious Thai Rolls and fresh Bluefin Tuna Tartar. On a hot summer's day, this was the ideal choice. Light, refreshing, and delicious, the food was a winner, as were the cool, laid-back vibes of the restaurant.
My colleagues made their way to Gecko Beach Club, a beautiful resort restaurant overlooking Playa Migjorn Beach. Maria and Juan's appetites were very well fed with a fantastic array of tapas dishes, which included Gildas (a classic Spanish aperitif) and these standout Braised Beef Cheek Croquettes. Accompanied by the only refreshment needed in this warm weather, a well-chilled bottle of rosé wine.
Open to external guests, you too can enjoy stunning views of the crystal-clear, turquoise waters of Formentera while you lunch.
Formentera Top Tip: Especially in peak summer, make sure to reserve a table, as beachfront venues in particular are in very high demand. For a cheaper, more relaxed option, why not take a cool bag with a picnic and dine on the sands at your leisure.
With full stomachs, we then made our way to Es Caló, a tiny village made up of cream-coloured and whitewashed buildings, with some of the original stone buildings still occupying envy-inducing positions on the seafront. But why stop here, you may wonder?
Well, look past the tiny village, towards the jagged rock entrance, and you'll find an aquarium of wonders waiting to be explored. It truly was mind-blowing, its white seabed reflecting in the sun to create a snorkelling experience that left us all in awe.
Formentera Top Tip: Sturdy shoes are recommended, as the rocky walk to enter the sea is not particularly comfortable or easy to navigate - but well worth it. To know more about all the other beaches in Formentera, make sure to read our guide.
While we found our entrance point to the right, however, if you look left you'll spot a stunning parade of fishermen's huts.
It's a picturesque scene, and also offers a fantastic walkway into the brightly coloured underwater world. Walk a little further, and you can dive in from the small jetty.
Dried off after our dip, the next leg of our journey took us up through the countryside, along winding, tree-lined roads, past the Mirador de Formentera viewpoint (worth stopping when there's no cloud cover, for breathtaking panoramic vistas) and into stunning stretches of countryside dotted with small farmhouses.
The drive took us to the easternmost point of the island, where the 18th-century Faro de La Mola lighthouse keeps watch. Casting vast views across the Mediterranean, it's a scene that helps you remember the island really is just a tiny dot in the ocean.
Squeezing in just one more pit-stop before our ferry back to Ibiza, we found ourselves in the island's capital of San Francisco.
This inland town features cool fashion boutiques, breezy and inviting restaurant terraces, and small winding streets that lead off from the town's central feature, a stunning 18th-century church. Easily reachable by car, bus, and push bike from La Savina port, it should make every day-trip list.
Whilst we were there, children played football in the square as tourists and residents went about their days or, like us, sat drinking a final toast to the beautiful day we'd just spent in the company of Formentera.
Formentera Top Tip: Plan your visit alongside the morning craft market that's open daily from 10:00 to 14:00 from May to October, or the flea market on Tuesdays and Saturdays, open year-round. In fact, for diehard shoppers, you could find a market almost every day of the week on the island to grab yourself a bargain.
For everything you need to know about planning and making the most of your time on this marvellous Mediterranean gem, our complete island guide has you covered.
