About fifteen minutes’ drive north of Sant Antoni, the road drops through the pines to one of the prettiest bays on the west coast. It holds two beaches side by side, and they could hardly be more different.
What it’s like
Cala Salada is the bigger of the two: a pebbly beach with a rocky seabed, so water shoes are a good idea, and the kind of clear, turquoise water that makes snorkelling worthwhile. It has the services, with sunbeds and parasols for hire, toilets, a kiosk and a single restaurant that has long been a favourite with local families for a seafood paella. To the left, the old fishermen’s boathouses, carved into the rock with their wooden ramps, are one of the classic images of Ibiza.
A rocky path over the headland leads to Cala Saladeta, a small cove of soft sand that slopes gently into the sea. There are no services here at all, so bring water and shade. It is lovely, and on summer weekends very crowded. The rocks between the two coves are fenced off: jumping into the sea from them is dangerous.
Getting there
From 1 May to 15 October, the road down to the beach is closed to private cars between 9.30am and 5pm. Motorbikes, bicycles, taxis, residents and vehicles for people with reduced mobility can still go through. Outside those hours you can drive down, but the car park is small, with about 65 spaces, and fills quickly in summer.
The easiest option in season is the P7 bus, which runs from the Can Coix park-and-ride in Sant Antoni and drops you a short walk from the sand. Boats from Sant Antoni harbour also stop here in summer.
Good to know
Lifeguards cover the beach in the summer season, and an amphibious chair is available for swimmers with reduced mobility. Arrive early if you want a spot in Cala Saladeta.
