Discover the charming island of Formentera

Formentera has no airport, so the only way to get there is by boat. Several ferry companies, including Aquabus Ferry Boats, Baléaria, Trasmapi and Mediterranea Pitiusa, operate crossings from Ibiza town to the port of La Savina. From May to October, departures take place every 20 to 30 minutes (less regularly from November to April). Prices range from €15 to €27.

Day trips by boat are also organised in certain resorts, such as Sant-Antoni and Santa Eulària, or you can hire your own boat, with or without a skipper, for greater privacy and freedom.

The best way to discover Formentera is by bike or scooter. If you arrive by boat at the port of La Savina, you'll find plenty of rental companies.

Please note: Formentera bases its tourism around the environment and its preservation. You won't find the huge hotel complexes that disfigure the seafront here. If you want to stay on the island, there are a few quiet hotels to choose from. That said, there's plenty of time in a day to discover the beauty of Formentera without having to stay on site.

Trucador Peninsula :

Just off the port of La Savina is the slender Trucador peninsula, absolutely dazzling in its beauty, with long beaches caressed by almost supernaturally turquoise waters. These include the superb Platja Illetes, whose immaculate sand makes you feel as if you've left the European continent for the Caribbean. The only drawback is that the beach is very busy in high season. But that's hardly surprising! On the west coast of the peninsula, Platja LLevant is no exception when it comes to tropical beauty. The shallow, translucent water is ideal for children.

Why are the waters of Formentera so blue?

The electric, translucent colour of the water for which Formentera is famous is due to the vast underwater expanses of posidonia. This Mediterranean seaweed has many healing properties. It is its high oxygen production that gives the water its distinctive colour. Unfortunately, marine pollution, particularly from tourism, is endangering this species, which is so vital to the Balearic ecosystem.

Where can you eat?

La Platja Illettes is home to one of Formentera's best seafood restaurants, Es Moli de Sal. Housed in an old mill, the restaurant boasts magnificent views over southern Ibiza and the Es Vedrà peninsula. The lobster stew, while not cheap, is to die for. Opening times: 1pm-10pm from April to October.

Worth noting: The Trucador Peninsula is part of the Ses Salines Natural Park. Respect the signs and stay in the designated areas (wooden pontoons). Access by motorbike and car is subject to a charge (€4-6).

The village of Sant Francesc Xavier :

The charming village of Sant Francesc Xavier is an excellent place to grab a bite to eat and stroll between the ochre-coloured houses in the shade of the bougainvillea. In the charming central square, you can admire the imposing 15th-century fortified church. For a bite to eat, you can enjoy fine Mediterranean cuisine in a venerable 18th-century house at the RESTAURANTE CA NA JOANA(be warned, prices are rather high!), or take advantage of the delightful terrace at Ca Na Pepa for a quick bite of omelette or bocadillo_.

La Platja de Migjorn

On the southern part of the island, this 6km long beach, with its calm blue-green waters, is a favourite with naturists. Accessible by bumpy tracks, it is a haven of tranquillity for those who love peace and quiet. Among the bars dotting this immense sandy expanse are the CHIRINGUITO BARTOL, a tiny but very friendly beach bar on stilts, and the Bluebar. The Bluebar, with its psychedelic atmosphere, was the haunt of some of the world's greatest musicians! Bob Marley, Crimsom and Pink Floyd, all lovers of Formentera, were regulars. As its name suggests, everything is blue at the Blue Bar, from the tables to the parasols and the Curaçao cocktails. The sunsets that light up the azure decor are particularly sumptuous.

Migjorn beach is also home to one of the island's leading scuba diving centres, Orcasub, where you can explore Formentera's rich seabed.

Other must-sees in Formentera :

Among the places to discover on Formentera is the magnificent beach of Cala Saona, to the west of the island. Its electric blue water, sparkling sand and colourful fishermen's huts make it one of the most enchanting beaches in the Balearic Islands. You can get there by bus from La Savina on line 5.

At the western end of the island, perched on sublime cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean, Far de Sa Mola dates back to 1861 and offers breathtaking views. Here you can see a monument to the author Jules Verne, who drew inspiration from this landscape for his novel Hector Servadac. Just next door is the fantastic CODICE LUNA bar-restaurant, whose terrace, surrounded by prickly pear trees, overlooks the sea. Here you can enjoy some great tapas or go wild to the sound of fantastic DJ sets, organised every full moon evening in summer. Opening times: 10.30am-9pm from April to October.