This guest post was written by Michael De Piano, a travel writer from Surrey, England
Why Going to Ibiza May Surprise You
So… who left it to the last minute to plan a nice bank holiday break this year? Although my girlfriend and I set out with the noble intention of booking something way in advance, a lack of time and indecision meant that we were left scouring travel websites at the 11th hour searching for a deal!
Amidst our squabbling, however, we came across a very good deal for a few nights stay in an apartment in Ibiza. After initially being quite dismissive about going to Ibiza, our travel agent friend reassured us that there is plenty to do aside from partying in one of the many (in)famous clubs and bars.
So in spite of our skepticism, we booked our stay and we were on a flight to Ibiza before we knew it!
Relaxing Beaches, Lovely Restaurants, and Ancient Coves
After arriving at Ibiza airport, we decided to book a car so that we could explore Ibiza from our base in Sant Josep de sa Talaia. This was definitely a good idea, as there are many fantastic things to see and do in Ibiza.
On our first day we decided to head to the Cala Conta beach. We were told that the beach was quieter and more laid-back than those surrounding Ibiza Town and San Antonio, so I was hopeful that I could enjoy my book in relative peace!
Pulling up to the beach I couldn’t help but notice the fabulous views of the islands around the coastline. This, combined with the turquoise waters, makes Cala Conta quite a picturesque beach that is ideal for the more relaxed tourist. It did get quite busy at peak times, but we managed to find a very good pitch when we arrived in the morning.
I would warn everyone that there is no shade at Cala Conta, so make sure that you bring your umbrella to avoid burning to a crisp!
That night we headed to the Ibiza Old Town to sample the atmosphere and grab a bite to eat. We read online about a lovely local place called La Olivia, and thought that it would be a good idea to go there for dinner. We were not disappointed…
La Olivia itself is a very romantic restaurant, and it was packed full of couples enjoying the balmy summer night. We chose to sit outside on the terrace, and we were treated to a quaint setting amongst the cobbled streets and whitewashed houses.
The food is also absolutely fabulous and reminded me of my time in Sardinien Italia. For my main, I ordered a beautiful sea-bass dish, and it was extremely light, fresh, and beautifully seasoned. So if you are in Ibiza Old Town and you’re looking for a place to eat, this restaurant is definitely recommended.
The following day, we decided to visit the rather enigmatic Can Marça Caves. The cave formation is over 100,000 years old, and has been shaped by early Earth faults.
The cave has also endured heat waves and ice ages, and at present time, is almost completely fossilised. Archaeologists have recently found bones and fossils of extinct rodents, and have sent them over to the Natural History Museum to be catalogued.
When we arrived, we descended the many steps down to the cave itself. It was quite beautiful, particularly with the formations of stalactites and stalagmites, along with the fantastic light show on the waterfall.
I also have to say that our tour guide was very good, and was able to communicate effortlessly in English, Spanish, and German. He had many interesting thing to say, and kept us engaged with plenty of smart quips and jokes! However, the best part of the whole trip was the stunning panoramic view of the bay that you can get at the top of the cave.
So if you are in Ibiza, the Can Marça Caves are certainly well worth a visit.
On our final day, we decided to visit the quaint village of Santa Gertrudis.
Santa Gertrudis is a place where the locals go to distance themselves from the tourists, and in our effort to see the real Ibiza and avoid the raucous party crowds, it made sense for us to visit the village.
Located in the geographical centre of the island, the village is steeped in history with its traditional square houses, whitewashed church, and a cluster of restaurants and shops. The beautiful surrounding landscapes include rich agricultural lands with live sheep, goats, and dairy cows.
You can visit Santa Gertrudis at any time of the day. We went there for a lovely lunch, and afterwards we went around some of the art and craft shops and galleries. Although we only spent a few hours in the village, it was definitely enough to have seen everything.
So if you are heading to Ibiza and you are going to rent a car, Santa Gertrudis is a great place to visit for the day.
Final Thoughts
I have to admit it, I would have never usually thought about going to Ibiza. We are all familiar with its hedonistic reputation, and I am sure that it is well earned. But the island should also be known for its stunning natural scenery, great local food, and relaxing beaches.
I was very surprised by how much I enjoyed my visit to Ibiza, and I would thoroughly recommend it as a great destination for a romantic weekend.
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Author Bio: Michael De Piano is a keen travel writer, electronic music enthusiast, and wielder of imaginary lightsabres from Surrey in England. He loves skiing, his big headphones, and reading fantasy novels while travelling. His favourite countries that he has been to are Austria, Mongolia, and Croatia. He hopes to write a book one day… although he does not know what it will be about.
Photo credits: click on the image to find the source on Flickr. All images were under Creative Commons license at the time this post was published.
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