Cala Saona is a large sandy cove on the west coast of Formentera, one of the few beaches on the island with the name “cala”. Dunes protect it from behind, and low cliffs and fishermen’s boathouses close it in at both sides.
What it’s like
The seabed slopes so gently that you can walk out knee-deep for many metres, and on calm days the cove looks like a huge swimming pool. It is at its best with the wind from any direction except the west.
It is one of the five beaches on the island with lifeguards, who have a watchtower on the sand. There are sunbeds and parasols for hire, a kiosk, a beach bar on the left-hand side and three restaurants, public toilets, and kayaks, paddle boards and snorkelling gear for hire at the left-hand end. Buoys separate the swimming area from the boats.
Getting there
From Sant Francesc, take the road towards Cap de Barbaria and, after about two kilometres, turn off at the sign for Cala Saona. Wooden walkways lead from the dunes down to the sand.
Safety
On the right-hand side of the beach, a rope marks the edge of the cliffs: do not cross it. The waves keep eroding the rock, and there have been collapses over the years, some with serious consequences.
Good to know
Cala Saona is one of the best places in Formentera for the sunset, whether from the sand, the clifftop or the kiosk. On clear days you can see Es Vedrà and Ibiza, and on exceptional days, they say, even the coast of mainland Spain.
