There are at least 50 beaches encircling the island of Ibiza, all with predictable pros and cons. You can enjoy the biggest parties on the beaches—and deal with the biggest crowds—closer to Ibiza town, or you can battle the bus schedule to reach Ibiza’s nature reserves and smaller coves. No matter what you choose, you’ll be under that same Mediterranean sun, sipping (more or less) the same mojitos.
TPlatja de Ses Salines (in Parc Natural de Ses Salines d’Eivissa i Formentera) is one of Ibiza’s most popular (though not most crowded) beaches. In the Ses Salines Nature Reserve, you’ll find soft sand and clear waters. You’ll see tourists and locals wading out into the calm sea to test their skills at paddle ball or just floating around on an inflatable tube. While Ses Salines is the perfect place to relax and work on that tan, it’s also home to some of the biggest, most well-established beach restaurants on the island. The Jockey Club and Malibu will bring cocktails right to your lounge chair, spray you with their mist machines, and have their DJs spinning hot tunes all day long. (> Take bus #11 from Ibiza town to Ses Salines. * First aid available. ` Lounge chair and umbrella rentals €6-10. ~ Lifeguard on duty daily July-Sept 11am-7pm; early Oct noon-6pm; from mid-May to June noon-6pm.)
Cala Bassa: If you say its name fast enough, “Cala Bassa” may remind you of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ trademark “cowabunga!” While you can definitely enjoy pizza and sea creatures (and a life free of bad guys) at this small cove getaway, there’s way more to the Cala Bassa than any ’80s cartoon can provide. Leap off the rocky cliffs into the clear waters below, play some paddle ball on the shore, or just stretch out on the sand under the shade of the trees. Cala Bassa is also the perfect place to test your wits at some water sports—Ski Portmany offers waterskiing (€20), banana-boating (€10), and tubing (€15),and Phoenix Dive Center (}971 80 63 74; www.phoenixdive.de) offers snorkeling (from €15) and scuba diving (€34). Both companies work best with walk-ins, so just show up and hop in! (> Take bus #7 from Sant Antoni. * Showers and bathrooms available. Camping prohibited. ` Chair rentals €4. ~ Lifeguard on duty daily July-Sept 11am-7pm; early Oct noon-6pm; from mid-May to June noon-6pm. Ski Portmany open in summer daily 11am-7pm. Phoenix Dive Center open in summer daily 10am-6pm.)
Platja D’es Cavallet: Platja d’es Cavallet’s free-spirited vibe stems from a few factors: groups of locals frequently make the switch from swimsuits to birthday suits, masseuses perform aggressive and artistic massages right on the sand, and the few restaurants along the beach (like the huge Chiringay) play calmer tunes than the average Ibizan beach bar. Tourists who arrive via public transit must walk 30min. through the Platja de Ses Salines to arrive at this peaceful paradise. Along the coast you’ll find locals looking for some private tanning in the rocky coves and the 15th-century Torre de Ses Portes at the point. (> From Ibiza town, take bus #11 to Ses Salines and walk about 30min. along the coast to Platja D’es Cavallet. * First aid available. Nudity permitted. ~ Lifeguard on duty daily July-Sep 11am-7pm; early Oct noon-6pm; from mid-May to June noon-6pm.)
Platja d’en Bossa: Lounging around Platja d’en Bossa, you’ll hear bottles popping, lighters clicking, and the repeated, “Amigo, what’s your plan for tonight?” of promoters offering free and discounted club tickets. While you may not find the pristine cleanliness of the more distant nature reserve beaches here, you’ll get lines of huge hotels, tall palm trees, and Ibiza’s biggest seaside parties. Major beach bars like the legendary Bora Bora and Ushuaia Beach Hotel serve drinks and food all day before turning into raging discos after dark. One block inland, you’ll find tons of bars, pubs, supermarkets, internet cafes, gyms, and restaurants. (> Take bus #14, summer bus #10B, or the discobus to Platja d’en Bossa. * First aid, showers, and lockers available. Jet ski and banana boat rentals. On-beach massages. ` Lockers €3 per 10hr. Lounge chairs €7.)