Property for sale in Formentera, Balearic Islands, Spain

The Formentera area guide

Things to do

Ibiza’s sleepier cousin, Formentera is the smaller island of the two, located in the Balearic Islands of Spain. The island suffered a harsh existence for several centuries, being invaded numerous times, abandoned once and later re-settled to mine salt and grow crops. In the last few decades, new life has been breathed into the island and it subsides today as a tourist destination.

As a quieter tourist destination, the island is utterly unspoiled. The water sports in the area are particularly breath-taking, with fishing, snorkelling and scuba diving all extremely popular. Boat charters are also quite popular, with white beaches lying on the shores of many of the surrounding smaller islands, many of them often found totally deserted. Several antique churches and forts dot the island, with the circular towers known as “Martellos” particularly proving attractive.

The island of S’Espalmador lies adjacent to Formentera and can be waded to during low tide. This island is popular for day trips, possessing several freshwater springs, beaches, and a famous mud bath. Formentera itself hosts numerous beaches, however, often populated by tourists or even celebrities on day trips from Ibiza. Whether you’re a celebrity or not, Formentera’s appeal is simply that it’s a quiet, sleepy area, that nonetheless has all the food and fun that you could ever hope for.

Places to eat

Formentera, with its reputation for beautiful oceans and water sports, has some of the freshest seafood to be found, complemented by the locally grown produce that many restaurants incorporate into its cuisine. Restaurant La Mariterranea, located in Calle Mayor, serves some of the best examples of that seafood, known particularly for its excellent paella, as well as a particularly delectable cheesecake.

Integral offers something a little different than many restaurants in Spain, being known for its vegetarian fare, which uses the organic and fresh ingredients seen in most prominent cooking on the island. The restaurant known as Oya may be more Italian, in that its best known for pizza, but it offers something a little different, in its retro clothing store and its extremely delicious, if potent, mojitos.

The island, in keeping with its quiet nature, offers excellent breakfast and brunch services, with strong coffee and a variety of food options at the Claro Formentera, offering views and services utterly on par with their culinary options.

Shopping

In sharp contrast to many tourist destinations, Formentera doesn’t make itself home to many chain stores. Whilst shoppers will find high fashion brands in some boutiques, much of what they’ll discover will be crafts, handiworks and unique clothing designs.

Markets populate many of the small towns, with the craft market in Nuestra Senora del Pilar, held on Sundays, particularly notable. Many markets offering what some might call ‘hippy fare’ exist across the island, showcasing unique and exciting items and crafts. To best shop in Formentera, you must be willing to explore and walk amongst the many stalls and streets of the island. Fortunately, the beauty and relaxed nature of the island make such an excursion not only enjoyable but something you might not want to stop doing.

Getting there & around

Though Formentera itself possesses no international airport, Ibiza does. A ferry from Ibiza takes a mere hour, halved if you choose to take the fast ferry, and some services now arrive at Formentera from the mainland. Certain services do allow you to board your car, however, car rental services are available at some of the port areas.

However, the recommendation often given to would-be residents is to rent a scooter, as they’re electric and since Formentera is seemingly designed for scooter travel. The island is nearly totally flat, with few hills, and the road system is quite sophisticated. Many cycling routes also exist throughout the island, allowing you to simply lose yourself in the hills and forts, before finding yourself once again, sitting on the ocean side or in a quaint side street, sipping a coffee or a mojito and enjoying the quiet, passive, lifestyle that Formentera so easily promotes