Buoy Marking on Formentera Beaches

Ensuring Safety

Formentera, May 13, 2025

With the arrival of summer, Formentera is getting ready to welcome thousands of visitors looking to enjoy its crystal-clear waters. As it does every year around this time, the Consell Insular has begun installing buoys in the most frequented swimming areas, aiming to separate swimmers from boats and ensure a safe experience for everyone.

This initiative, which involves an investment of over 36,000 euros, will focus on coastal stretches with the highest density of visitors and boat traffic. The buoys will be placed approximately 200 meters from the shore, creating a zone where navigation is restricted and swimming is allowed.

The plan also includes the installation of exclusive access channels for boats, especially on beaches with a large number of swimmers and lifeguard stations.

The foundation of safety on any beach or coastal area of the island lies in respecting the zones designated for swimming and those for navigation, both by swimmers and by boat crews.

Priority Zones: Safety Where It’s Most Needed

The buoy marking project officially began on May 7, with initial work focused on ses Illetes, es Cavall d’en Borràs, and Cala Saona. These three beaches, besides being gems of Formentera’s coastline, are hotspots for boat activity, making them areas in need of special attention.

In the following days, crews will continue work on other beaches such as Llevant, es Pujols, es Caló de Sant Agustí, and the stretch between es Caló des Mort and es Arenals. All of these areas are part of a plan aimed at protecting swimmers in the parts of the island with the highest concentration of tourists and boats during the summer.
The total budget amounts to 36,500 euros (plus VAT), and covers not only the installation of buoys but also eight technical inspections throughout the season and their removal scheduled for the end of October.

Controlled Navigation and Mutual Respect

One of the most important measures in the plan is the distance at which the buoys are placed: around 200 meters from the coast. Within this zone, anchoring or sailing is prohibited, except when approaching the shore with extreme caution—whether by rowing, sailing, or motorboat. The aim of this rule is to prevent conflicts and accidents between swimmers and boats, especially on days with heavy visitor traffic.

On monitored beaches, designated Access Channels are also set up. These are marked on the beach by two flags and allow boats to reach the shore through a clearly defined corridor of buoys. It’s important to note that swimming in these areas is strictly forbidden, as boats cannot stop instantly like land vehicles, posing a serious risk to swimmers who overlook this fact.

Es Caló de Sant Agustí

In this regard, it’s worth highlighting that the natural harbor of Es Caló de Sant Agustí is officially considered a port, and theoretically, swimming is prohibited in the area.
This prohibition is neither enforced nor, fortunately, respected. However, if you’re reading this for the first time, you should be aware that when a boat is arriving or departing the area, you as a swimmer must make every effort to allow for safe maneuvering by moving away as much as possible—especially for your own safety.