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Slow Lane Magazine, May 2019
Insights and stories from across Europe and beyond
  • favourite (but oft-forgotten) festivals
  • Nepal's secret valley
  • boutique beauty in Drôme Provençale
  • carving out a future in southern Italy
  • Inntravellers' Tales – our new writing competition
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Ibiza & Formentera

Hidden charms of the Balearics
 
Discover scenic Ibiza and unspoiled Formentera on this self-guided, two-centre walking holiday. Wander along Ibiza’s quiet headlands to secret coves, explore Formentera’s lagoons and white-sand beaches, and stay in two friendly hotels, each with an outdoor pool.
Ibiza & Formentera. 7 nights
Ibiza & Formentera. 7 nights
 

Holiday information

 

A walking holiday on Ibiza & Formentera

The popular image of Ibiza and the side of the island that this holiday reveals could not be more different. You won’t find the party set here – just laid-back villages, ancient stone watchtowers, and trails which beckon you onwards with the promise of hidden beaches and endless vistas. Ibiza may be known as the White Island, but this is far from the only colour in the landscape – greens, blues and reds also dominate the views as you gaze across the island’s pine woods and rich ochre-coloured soil towards the sea.
And if the north-eastern corner of Ibiza is laid-back, then its exclusive neighbour is slower still. The fact that Formentera is hard to reach without first going to Ibiza has worked to its advantage, meaning that it remains largely unspoiled – and wonderfully serene. Fields of wheat, oats, figs, almonds and grapes are cultivated in the interior, while along the coast you’ll find reminders of the two industries on which islanders relied for centuries: salt pans whose waters turn pink at certain times of the year; and traditional racks on which fish are still dried in the open air. This is a place for taking it easy – for enjoying gentle strolls or bike rides around the lagoon, browsing the artisans’ market, and unwinding on the vast expanses of pure white sand.
 
Gallery
 

Itinerary

The key to Inntravel holidays is flexibility. You can start on the day of your choice, and are free to add extra nights. There’s no fixed itinerary on either island, so take your pick of our suggested walking routes as the mood takes you.
  • The average maximum daytime temperatures and monthly rainfall relate to the nearest weather station and are intended as a guide only.
    Average temperatures and rainfall
      Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
    °C 14 15 16 18 21 25 29 29 27 23 18 16
    mm 39 32 41 40 29 18 7 27 48 74 54 57
  • Arrival in Sant Joan
    Night 1: at Agroturismo Can Fuster (the first of four nights here).
    As your first night’s accommodation is on the day of travel, Day 1 is your first day of walking.
  • Walking on Ibiza

    Choice of walks from Sant Joan: 7km to 15km

    Caló d'en Serra: 11km, 4hrs
    The first route takes you north across hills of scented Mediterranean scrub with far-reaching views out to sea before descending to the beautiful beach of Caló d’en Serra. From here you cross forest tracks to reach the black-and-white-striped Moscarter lighthouse and then follow a rocky coastal path into Portinatx. You return to Sant Joan either by inexpensive bus or by taxi (pay locally).

    Furnas Peak: 10km, 3hrs
    The second leads into the hills of the Serra Grossa to reach the peak of Furnas. Ascending on forest tracks, you are rewarded with near 360° views of the coastline when you reach the summit. Return via the same route.

    Cala de Sant Vincent: 10.5km, 3.5hrs; longer option: 15km, 5hrs
    The third takes you into the hills east of Sant Joan and along a beautiful valley that leads down through the hamlet of Sant Vicent to the sea at the Cala de Sant Vicent. You can catch the bus back from here (pay locally), or return to Sant Vicent and walk back to Sant Joan via a pretty river valley.

    Cala Xarraca: 7km, 2hrs
    A fourth shorter option features yet another idyllic cove and more sweeping coastal views as it follows an ancient cobbled trail to reach the sea at beguiling Cala Xarraca, a rocky cove with clear, and very calm, waters. Return via the same route.

    Choice of walks from Santa Eulalia: 3km to 9km
    At some point during your stay on Ibiza, we recommend making the short bus journey south to Santa Eulalia, an attractive market town with an excellent array of waterfront bars and restaurants. There’s plenty to see here – including a 16th-century fortified hill-top church – and we also provide notes for two additional routes.

    Es Canar: 9km, 2.5hrs
    This short linear walk takes you on an old footpath east along the coast to the small resort of Es Canar. Your path connects a number of beaches where you can stop and linger, perhaps even enjoying a dip in the sea, before reaching Es Canar from where you can catch a bus, taxi or ferry back to Santa Eulalia (pay locally).

    Cala Blanca: 9km, 3hrs
    This circular route takes you south from Santa Eulalia on a combination of coastal paths and quiet lanes to reach a hidden bay, accessed via a tunnel. You return via a ridge-top path affording fabulous views over the surrounding area and out to sea, before dropping down into Santa Eulalia on the pleasant waterfront promenade.
    Santa Eulalia - on the route to Es Canar
  • Transfer & ferry to Formentera
    Today you are transferred to Ibiza Town, where you catch one of the very frequent ferries to Formentera (tickets provided). It takes only 30 minutes to cross the stretch of water between the two islands, which is part of a natural park because of the large numbers of migratory birds that congregate here in spring and autumn. (In total, 210 resident or migratory bird species can be seen here.)
    Formentera’s compact size and good bus network mean that you don’t need a hire car to get about. We do, however, include the taxi journey from the ferry port to Hotel Sa Volta, or to Es Marès, if you choose to upgrade.
  • Walking, sightseeing & relaxation on Formentera
    On Formentera the emphasis is squarely on relaxation – there are several very inviting white-sand beaches which are hard to resist. However, if you do wish to enjoy more walking, we recommend a choice from three options:

    A choice of walks: 11km to 17.5km

    Around the lagoon: 13km, 3.5hrs from Es Pujols; 15km, 4hrs from Sant Francesc
    A long, but easy walk that circles the Pudent lagoon taking in the salt marshes, the sprawling beach of Llevant and the old railway track from the salt flats to the port-village of La Salina, before finally completing the loop of the lagoon. As you walk, keep a look-out for some of the many birds which can be seen here – depending on the time of year, you may spot flamingos, shelducks, black-winged stilts, Balearic shearwaters, Kentish plovers and black-necked grebes (the lagoon is home to one of Europe’s largest colonies of the latter).

    Es Pilar de la Mola: 11km, 3.5hrs; longer option: 17.5km, 5hrs
    This circular walk takes you from Es Caló (reached by bus/inexpensive taxi – pay locally) to the quiet south coast at Es Ram before continuing along a peaceful coastal path and ascending to the agricultural plain of La Mola. You can choose to extend the route to the lighthouse or head straight for the town of Es Pilar before continuing down an old cobbled path from where you can enjoy panoramic views over the island. Return to your hotel either by bus or taxi (pay locally).

    South to Es Migjorn: 14km, 4hrs from Es Pujols; 10km, 3hrs from Sant Francesc
    This pretty route takes you on quiet back roads and tracks south from Sant Francesc to the beach of Es Mal Pas, where you can explore the extensive sands of the south coast before returning via a different country track.

    Sightseeing & relaxation
    To explore further, you may like to hire a bike (or even an electric bike). Alternatively, if your stay includes a Wednesday or a Sunday, you could take the bus to La Mola, which holds a twice-weekly artisans’ market from June to October, where you can buy a variety of handcrafted goods.
    Walking around Formentera - the lagoon
 

Accommodation

Your base on Ibiza is a welcoming agroturismo in the island's pine-clad interior.
On Formentera, you stay at the friendly Hotel Sa Volta in Es Pujols, just 150 metres from the sea. We also offer a luxurious upgrade option here. Please indicate your preference at the time of booking. Whichever hotel you choose on Formentera, we recommend an extra night to discover more of this beguiling isle.
 
Prices & travel options
All prices are in £ sterling (GBP). If you'd like to see what they equate to in your currency, use the converter.
Currency converter

We can only accept payment in GBP, but you can use this converter to find out how much the holiday equates to in your own currency.

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NB: this should be used as a guide only. Fluctuations in exchange rates could result in significant variation by the time you come to pay.

  • 7 nights: 06 April - 30 June 2019 & 03 September - 27 October 2019

    Start any day | End by latest date(s) shown above

    Starting Price Single room
    6 - 9 April £725 £260
    10 - 16 April £760 £265
    17 April - 8 May £725 £260
    9 - 14 May £795 £280
    15 - 26 May £875 £350
    27 May - 9 June £960 £345
    10 - 23 June £995 £345
    3 - 9 September £995 £345
    10 - 26 September £960 £345
    27 - 29 September £875 £350
    30 September - 8 October £795 £280
    9 - 20 October £760 £265
    3rd & 4th person discount -£30
    Single traveller supplement £30

    Includes accommodation, meals and services integral to the holiday as described, plus walking notes and maps, but no travel from the UK, nor any connecting travel from the airport unless stated below.

    Included travel: taxi Sant Joan to Ibiza port, return ferries between Ibiza and Formentera & return taxis between Formentera port and hotel

    Pay locally: taxi Ibiza port to airport

    Book your flights through us and we'll find the best route and times to suit you. Please contact us to find out more about our flight booking service. We can also book connecting travel - see below.

  • Room upgrades (£ per person per night)

    Can Fuster
    Suite: 06 Apr - 14 May 2019 £22
    Suite: 15 May - 30 Jun 2019 £32
    Suite: 03 Sep - 30 Sep 2019 £32
    Suite: 01 Oct - 27 Oct 2019 £22
    Hotel Sa Volta
    Suite: 06 Apr - 30 Jun 2019 £32
    Suite: 07 Sep - 27 Oct 2019 £32
    Superior: 06 Apr - 30 Jun 2019 £12
    Superior: 07 Sep - 27 Oct 2019 £12

    Extra nights (£ per person per night) in a double or single room

    Hotel Sa Volta (B&B) Double room Single room
    06 Apr - 14 Apr 2019 £54 £76
    15 Apr - 21 Apr 2019 £70 £90
    22 Apr - 30 Apr 2019 £54 £76
    01 May - 14 May 2019 £58 £80
    15 May - 31 May 2019 £70 £90
    01 Jun - 15 Jun 2019 £90 £102
    16 Jun - 30 Jun 2019 £104 £116
    07 Sep - 14 Sep 2019 £104 £116
    15 Sep - 30 Sep 2019 £90 £102
    01 Oct - 13 Oct 2019 £70 £90
    14 Oct - 27 Oct 2019 £58 £80

  • 3 nights, staying in Hotel Es Marès (2 dinners)

    6 April - 15 June 2019 & 12 September - 31 October 2019 Price Single room
    6 - 26 April £960 £435
    27 April - 12 May £985 £435
    13 - 26 May £1080 £530
    27 May - 8 June £1190 £585
    12 - 24 September £1220 £595
    25 - 27 Septemeber £1080 £530
    28 - 30 September £925 £385
    1 - 24 October £870 £335
    3rd & 4th person discount: 6 April - 24 October -£30
    Single traveller supplement: 6 April - 24 October £30

    Extra nights from £94pp - please contact us for prices

  • RECOMMENDED AIRPORT(S):
    Ibiza

    Travelling from the UK

    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    Travelling from outside the UK
    We have many years' experience catering for customers who live outside the UK, and will be happy to make tailored arrangements to fit with your plans.

    You have two options:

    1) Book your own flights to London, from where we can book flights and onward connecting travel to your hotel.

    2) Book your own flights direct to an airport appropriate to your chosen holiday. You can either make your own way from the airport to the hotel, or we'll be happy to book onward connecting travel for you. Please consult with us before booking your flights, so that we can advise you on the suitability of your proposed route and timings.
    Outward route Airline
    Aberdeen - Ibiza TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Belfast Intl. - Ibiza easyJet,  jet2,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Birmingham - Ibiza Flybe,  jet2,  Ryanair,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Bournemouth - Ibiza TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Bristol - Ibiza easyJet,  Ryanair,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Cardiff - Ibiza Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Doncaster Sheffield - Ibiza TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Nottingham East Midlands - Ibiza jet2,  Ryanair,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Edinburgh - Ibiza jet2,  Ryanair,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Exeter - Ibiza TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow - Ibiza jet2,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Glasgow Prestwick - Ibiza Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    Leeds Bradford - Ibiza jet2,  Ryanair,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Liverpool - Ibiza Ryanair 
    Outward route Airline
    London City - Ibiza British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Gatwick - Ibiza British Airways,  easyJet,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Heathrow - Ibiza British Airways 
    Outward route Airline
    Luton - Ibiza easyJet,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    London Southend - Ibiza easyJet 
    Outward route Airline
    Stansted - Ibiza British Airways,  easyJet,  jet2,  Ryanair,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Manchester - Ibiza jet2,  Ryanair,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Newcastle - Ibiza jet2,  Thomas Cook,  TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Norwich - Ibiza TUI 
    Outward route Airline
    Southampton - Ibiza TUI 
    Travelling from outside the UK

    If you are flying from outside Europe,  you may need to fly to an airport not listed here. To discuss onward connecting travel to the start of your holiday, please contact us.

    This list of flight options should be used as a guide only, and you should check each airline’s website for current routes, frequency and schedules. Not all flights operate daily, and may not run for the entire season. You should also heed the latest flight arrival time and earliest flight departure time stated in the connecting travel section, as it may not be possible to arrange connecting travel outside these times. Please do not book your flights until we have confirmed your accommodation to you. Alternatively, our expert reservations team will be happy to offer advice and to make flight bookings for you. We charge £30 per person for our flight booking service (£50 for India and Nepal). Your flights are then covered by our package-booking conditions, which give you greater protection in the event of delay or cancellation, as well as providing ATOL cover.

  • Prices below are based on 2 people travelling together. If you are travelling solo or as a party of 3 or more and our arrangements include a taxi, please contact us for prices; additional passengers often pay less.

    Connecting travel options - flying via Ibiza

    Outward route Price per person Latest flight
    arrival time
    taxi Ibiza airport to hotel (0h30) £28 flexbile
    Homeward route Price per person Earliest flight
    departure time
    taxi hotel to Formentera port (0h45), ferry Formentera port to Ibiza port (0h30), taxi or bus Ibiza port to Ibiza airport (0h15, pay locally) included 1200
What is included
  • 7 nights
  • 2 dinners,
    2 picnics,
    7 breakfasts
  • route notes and maps
  • travel between Ibiza & Formentera
 
Reviews

If you've experienced this holiday first hand, why not write a review?

We are keen for as many customers as possible to review their holiday. To make it easier to do so, we include a specific review section on our post-holiday questionnaire, and this is what we publish here, unedited. Read our full review policy >

All 5 reviews
  • Mr K Povey
    Crediton
    05 June 2019

    Excellent accommodation in Ibiza...so the hotel in Formentera and the resort there were quite a let-down, though the hotel staff were great. Should have stayed the whole week at the agriturismo...

  • Mr G Pile
    Brough
    13 May 2019

    It was a lovely holiday. Can Fuster was excellent we had room 2 which we requested and it was great and the extra night was nice. The second hotel was also excellent great staff and again we had the upgrade which was well worth the addition cost. We stayed 5 nights which means we got to know the island better and enjoyed the lovely beaches. We felt that 2 nights was not enough for such a nice resort. We looked at the other hotel whilst we were there and were pleased with our choice. Our hotel was near the walks and the beaches. We would recomend anyone going to extend their holiday to stay extra nights in Es Pujols. We have been travelling with Inntravel for many years and have never had a problem with the paperwork but this year !!!

     

  • Mrs A Brown
    Bradford
    12 May 2019

    Our holiday was lovely - great places to stay, wonderful walks with amazing scenery all around, both islands were a revelation to us.  Another great holiday from Inntravel!

  • PeBe
    02 May 2019

    Personally enjoyed the beaches and boardwalks on Formentera.

    As mentioned previously a note of the rocky nature of some of the walks would be helpful. As an example on the walk to Cala Xaraca the instructions state "Follow this contry lane past a farm and in 100 m R on to a cobbled footpath into the trees." The cobbled footpath is a more like scrambling over rocks which for could be very difficult for less agile walkers.

  • Mrs M Bell
    Aldeburgh
    02 May 2019

    All of the travel and accommodation was of a good standard. The highlight was the beautiful beach walks on Formentera
 

FAQs

If you have any questions relating to this or any other Inntravel holiday, our friendly travel experts will be happy to help. You might also find our General FAQs section helpful.
  • We’ll send you route notes and maps 2-3 weeks before your holiday. The route notes not only contain directions to get from hotel to hotel, but also include practical information about places of interest and eateries along each route, plus cultural information about the area. If/when you are moving between hotels, you leave your luggage in reception as you leave, and it will be transferred ahead to your next accommodation, meaning that all you need to take with you are a camera, sun cream, drinks, food and waterproofs.

    For more detailed information, see our walking holidays in Europe page.
  • We can book a wide range of airlines and routes from the UK. As well as being more convenient for you to book all elements of your holiday together, it also means that we’ll accept liability for your travel arrangements, so if things go wrong, such as the airline going bust, we’ll make suitable alternative arrangements for you. For Europe and Morocco, there’s a £30 booking fee per person (£15 for children aged 2-11). For India and Nepal, the booking fee is £50 per person. More information on flights >
  • Absolutely! We are experts in tailored rail travel. Making use of sleeper trains or stopovers in cities along the route, we can get you from London to virtually anywhere in mainland Europe. We can even make arrangements to Mallorca, Sicily and Norway with a combination of ferries and rail. Please contact Abi to discuss your plans.
  • We can’t book flights that originate outside the UK, but if you wanted book your own flights to London (or elsewhere in the UK), we can make all onward travel arrangements (including flights) from there. Alternatively, if you are booking your own flights to an airport in continental Europe that’s appropriate for your holiday, we can book onward rail travel and/or taxis. More information about how we can tailor holidays for customers outside the UK >
  • Since our holidays are self-guided, we recommend calling us for a chat about your plans before making a booking, especially if it’s the first time you’ve booked with us.
    The price panel shows the supplement for a single room and also the single traveller charge (this covers (luggage) transfers and other costs which are usually shared between two people).
  • Once you’ve decided on your exact itinerary (our travel experts will be happy to offer advice), you need to provide us with your party’s details, either by phone or via our booking form. At this point we also ask you to pay a deposit so that we can secure a room for you immediately on confirming availability with the hotel(s). If it turns out that we can’t secure the accommodation for the holiday you’ve requested, or offer an acceptable alternative, we’ll refund your deposit promptly and in full. After booking your accommodation and other key elements, we'll then book your travel (or you can do so if you’re making your own arrangements) and send you a Booking Confirmation and Invoice.
  • Yes, it’s something we insist on, even for holidays in the UK. The vast majority of holidays go smoothly, but when things go wrong, it can be expensive to put them right. Buying a new pair of walking boots after your suitcase is stolen mightn’t seem so bad, but the bill for being airlifted down from a mountain with a broken leg or flown home while still recovering from an illness or accident can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

    You don’t have to buy our policy (if you live outside Europe you’ll definitely need to make your own arrangements, as the policy is only for UK and EU residents), but you do need to make sure that you’re covered for medical emergencies and repatriation. We also recommend that you are covered for other eventualities, such as cancellation and loss of luggage and passports.
  • It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of the correct travel documents, with the correct validity. If you’re a UK citizen, you need a full British passport to travel to Spain, but not a visa (if you are travelling after 31 October 2019, see the Brexit question below for more information). If you are a citizen of another country, you’ll need to check requirements with the national embassy or your own consulate.

    Current information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found through the following NHS link: www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk/advice/ You must make sure you have adequate insurance cover for illness, accidents and repatriation (see the insurance question). UK citizens should also obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) by applying at a Post Office or at www.ehic.org.uk. The EHIC allows reciprocal health care but should not be seen as a substitute for travel insurance. EHICs may cease to be valid in the event of a no-deal Brexit.
  • (Castilian) Spanish is one of several official languages; in Catalonia, for example, Catalan has equal status. The currency is the Euro. Spanish time is GMT/UTC + 1. It uses Daylight Saving Time, so in summer is on BST + 1.
  • Even in the event of a no-deal Brexit, it’s been confirmed that flights will continue as normal and that you won’t need a visa to go on holiday (the limit on stays is 90 days). What you will need if there’s no deal is a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond the date of your arrival (extra months added because you renewed your passport early do not count) and adequate travel insurance to cover you for accidents and illness in case reciprocal health deals are suspended. If you are driving while on holiday, you will probably need an International Driving Permit (plus a Green Card if you are taking your own car to Europe). More information >
  • The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) provides up-to-date, country-by-country travel advice, as well as information on security, local laws, passports and visas for UK citizens.
    If you live outside the UK, see our essential travel information page for a list of relevant websites.
Last fetch time is : 7/18/2019 3:23:30 PM