La Savina is the port of Formentera and the first village every visitor sees: all the passenger boats from Ibiza arrive here. It is also the island’s only commercial and leisure harbour, with two yacht clubs.
What to see and do
A new seafront promenade runs along the harbour, with a craft market and live music on its pedestrian stretch. Behind the village lies S’Estany des Peix, an enclosed bay where boats moor all year round; swimming is allowed and it is a popular spot for windsurfing, with a municipal sailing centre on its northern shore.
On the other side, along the road to Es Pujols, the large lagoon of S’Estany Pudent was once used to produce sea salt and is today a good place for birdwatching. The beaches of Ses Illetes, Llevant and Es Cavall d’en Borràs are only a few minutes away.
There are shops, bars and restaurants, dive centres, car and boat hire, with or without a skipper, and boat trips. The tourist information office is to the right of the ferry terminal as you get off the boat, open every day in summer and with shorter hours in winter.
Festivals
On 16 July, the feast of the Virgin of Carmen, the boats in the harbour are decorated and a statue of the Virgin is taken out to sea in procession. The priest of Sant Francesc blesses the boats, and a wreath of flowers is thrown into the water in memory of the island’s sailors and fishermen lost at sea.
Getting there
Ferries from Ibiza arrive at La Savina throughout the day. From the port, buses, taxis and hire vehicles connect with the rest of the island.
Good to know
There is no pharmacy in La Savina: the nearest is a few kilometres away.
