Sant Carles de Peralta, San Carlos in Spanish, sits among pine woods and farmland in the north-east of Ibiza, a few kilometres beyond Santa Eulària. Its bohemian reputation goes back to the 1960s, when it became a meeting point for the hippies who settled in this part of the island.
What it’s like
Sant Carles has grown over the years, but the newer houses blend in with style and charm around the traditional centre and its pretty white church. Its residents are an interesting mix of Ibizans, Spaniards and people from all over the world, which gives the village a cosmopolitan, bohemian feel.
Opposite the church stands Bar Anita, an institution for three generations of islanders: the farming families of the north-east, the hippies who arrived in the 1960s and the visitors who still find their way here today. Until well into the 1970s it had the only telephone in the village, and one of its walls is still covered with old wooden post boxes. Many houses scattered through the countryside are too remote for the postman, so neighbours collect their letters here, and few leave without stopping for a drink and a chat. It is one of those places where time seems to have stood still.
Around it lies one of the prettiest corners of the island, with country lanes leading down to coves such as Cala Mastella, Cala Boix and Aigües Blanques.
Eat, drink and shop
There is a good choice of restaurants and bars, and they all have one thing in common: a warm, welcoming atmosphere where it is easy to strike up a conversation. The shops around the village invite you to browse colourful fashion and homeware, and they are a good place to find a nice souvenir at a reasonable price.
Las Dalias
The big draw is Las Dalias, on the main road just before the village. What began in 1985 with five stalls is now a market of more than 250. It opens on Saturdays for most of the year, and on Sundays too in spring and autumn, with longer hours in July and August. It closes in January. From June to September there is also a night market on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evenings. Check the times on its website before you go.
Festivities
Sant Carles celebrates its patron saint on 4 November, and its autumn festivities include the squid fair, the Fira des Calamar, one of the most popular food events on the island.
Getting there
Sant Carles is about 25 minutes’ drive from Ibiza Town. Las Dalias has its own car park, which fills by mid-morning on summer Saturdays. Three bus lines pass through Sant Carles at different times of year: the T5 and the A3 and A4.
Good to know
If you are visiting Las Dalias on a summer Saturday, come early, then head down to one of the north-east coves for the afternoon.
