Ibiza Towns & Villages

Towns & Villages

Buscatell/Forada

This tiny village is dominated by the Bar Can Tixedo, which used to be a supermarket and has now converted itself into one of the coolest bars on the islands.

Behind the bar is the new supermarket, next door is the neighbourhood school and over the road another house – and that's all there is...

However, the bar more than makes up for this with a perfect front terrace for watching the world slowly trundle by... There's an art gallery inside and internet access with wi-fi for those enjoying the sunshine on the terrace with their laptop.

The perfect spot to break your journey to San Antonio...

Ca Na Negreta

The word Ca Na Negreta, to those who live on the island, means the scrapyard on the Ibiza - Santa Eulalia road, opposite the go-kart track.

It is, however, the name of the ribbon development that runs from just over the next hill down to the wood yard on your left as you head towards Ibiza town, some four kilometers away.

It is mainly industrial estate because of its easy access to Ibiza town, hence the main Syp supermarket warehouse and the Cafe Ibiza factory.

Nonetheless, the car parks of the cafes by the roadside are always busy, which proves that many people have discovered the villages charms even though very few live there?

Cala de Bou

This town on the southern shore of the Bay of San Antonio is often mistaken for being part of San Antonio, because there is no obvious boundary between the two.

However, it is actually part of the San Jose municipality and, in fact, is the largest town in it. It is currently undergoing drastic re-development under the title "The Plan of Excellence".

When that is complete the town will once again become the perfect family holiday resort, boasting half a dozen beaches and endless entertainment options all within easy walking distance of the many hotels that line the long shoreline of the town.

Cala Llenya

A sea that shimmers with all possible shades of blue, a broad beach with soft sand that the children can play in to their hearts' content - Cala Llenya is the perfect place for a family day at the beach. The bay is sheltered and the sea is shallow. Showers, recliners and sun shades are provided and you can hire a pedalo.

The small beach kiosk sells snacks and drinks. Vicente and Maria have been running this bar for almost 40 years. Back then, when they sold their first glass of wine, Cala Llenya was still completely untouched and there was no direct access road to the beach, no houses, villas or apartment complexes, and provisions were delivered in boxes and crates that had to be carried down to the bay on foot. The couple's main means of transport was a moped. Those times are long gone, but Cala Llenya has still managed to retain much of its natural charm.

Cala Llonga

By the sea in between Ibiza town and Santa Eulalia, this pretty little bay is home to a relatively new family holiday resort.

It used to be remote and difficult to get to, except by boat, which probably explains why it was a favoured haunt of smugglers for the 500 years prior to the arrival of the property developers.

Nowadays it offers all of the facilities required by its many tourist visitors, including the ability the ability to be a sheltered spot on a windy Spring day and to offer a cool breeze on hot summer days, when the wind blows from the south and all you want to do is immerse yourself in that lovely blue sea.

Cala San Vicente

Tucked away in the north eastern corner of the island, this little village sprung up around one of the biggest and most beautiful beaches on the island.

Protected by a huge cliff to the north, the settlement consists mainly of large hotels, which explains why it remains almost deserted throughout the winter. It does, however, have history by virtue of an ancient cave a few kilometers away up in the hills. The ancient contents of the "Cova d'es Cuilleram" prove the existence of a local community back before the time when the Greeks first discovered the island, to find its tiny population worshipping the goddess Tanit - and many still do?

The tiny villages other claim to fame is that it was the site of the first death of the Spanish Civil War on Ibiza. The victim was Raoul Villain, a political assassin who shot dead the leader of the French Socialist party in a crowded Paris cafe in 1914 - three days before the outbreak of World War 1. After the war he was tried and controversially acquitted before fleeing to Ibiza via South America. However, the socialists had long memories and in August 1936 a boatload of Republican soldiers arrived in the bay, marched Raoul down to the beach and shot him.

Cala Tarida

The road to Cala Tarida brings you to a large roundabout, which has one exit that takes you down to Cala Corral. If you don't take that turning you find yourself back on the road out of town along which you just came.

The village looks huge on the map, but apart from a couple of shops by the large roundabout that acts as the focal point for the village, there's not much else to it.

All of the rest is holiday accommodation.

The action all takes place on the long beach at the foot of the cliffs.

There you'll find an array of bars and restaurants throughout the summer, but take a picnic if you venture there out of season.

Cala Vadella

A picturesque little village arranged around a lovely beach, Cala Vadella seems quite incongruous in comparison to other local beach resorts.

The style of the buildings and the way in which they are crammed between steep cliffs give it a unique character.

Even the main road through the village finds itself forced to run along the sandy beach.

On top of the hill above the gorge extensive development has taken place...

However this ugly holiday accommodation cannot detract from the character of the pretty village far below on the beach.

Can Furnet

Can Furnet is not really a village - it's an urbanization. An urbanization is basically a bloated building project that became a housing estate, and this one finds itself halfway up a mountain opposite an illegal quarry.

It's not far from the sea, because this is Ibiza, however, you won't find a shopping centre, community centre or school in an urbanization.

They sometimes struggle to provide street lighting, decent rubbish collection facilities and the other sort of infrastructure that you might expect to find on a normal housing estate.