Formentera

Formentera is the smaller island south of Ibiza in Spain's Balearic Islands, reached from the Port of Ibiza (Eivissa) by passenger ferry to Port de la Savina. The crossing covers roughly 6 km of open strait and takes about 30 to 40 minutes on the fast ferries run by Baleària, Aquabus and Trasmapi, while slower conventional boats take up to about an hour. One-way fares are typically in the range of EUR 29 to EUR 44, and sailings are more frequent from June to September, so the last return departure should be checked before the day begins. Because Formentera is flat and compact, most visitors hire a bicycle, e-bike or scooter at La Savina port rather than relying on buses or taxis. A suggested day starts with an early ferry and a ride north along the sandspit to Ses Illetes and Llevant beaches, known for pale sand and shallow turquoise water, where the morning is best spent swimming before the beach clubs fill up. Around midday the route can turn inland to the village of Sant Francesc Xavier, the island's small capital, for lunch among its cafes and the fortified church on the main square. The afternoon is well suited to the eastern plateau and the lighthouse at Faro de la Mola, or to the cliffs and lighthouse at Cap de Barbaria in the south-west, both of which offer wide sea views and quieter roads. Distances are short, but the heat and wind can make the cycling more tiring than the map suggests, especially in July and August. Food stops include beachside restaurants at Ses Illetes, bakeries and cafes in Sant Francesc Xavier and informal chiringuitos near the other beaches. The best season is May to early July and September to October, when the water is warm, crowds are lighter and bike hire is easier to arrange. Visitors usually allow a full day and aim to be back at La Savina well before the final ferry, since missing it means an unplanned overnight stay. The official tourist information is published at formentera.es.