Fine of Cala Duo

150.000 €

Formentera, March 31, 2026

The establishment Cala Duo, located in the Sa Sequi area within the Ses Salines Natural Park of Ibiza and Formentera, was at the center of one of the most notable controversies of the summer of 2025 regarding compliance with tourism and environmental regulations on the island. Authorities discovered that the venue, which held a bar-restaurant license, was in reality operating as a nightclub.

Inspections carried out by technicians from the Consell de Formentera, Local Police, and environmental officers from the Balearic Government confirmed several serious irregularities. These included the presence of DJs, loud music, an entrance fee that included a drink, and the existence of a dance floor—elements that clearly exceeded the activity authorized for the establishment.

In response to these irregularities, the Consell ordered the immediate cessation of the venue’s activity in August 2025 and sealed off part of its facilities, while also opening sanctioning proceedings. The decision was made after authorities also identified issues related to safety, overcrowding, and the occupation of public spaces within a protected natural environment.

Eight months later, in March 2026, the island administration has finally resolved this sanctioning procedure, imposing a financial penalty on the establishment and closing the case initiated following the inspections carried out the previous summer.

The origin of the proceedings

The administrative actions began after several inspections conducted at the establishment, particularly those carried out on August 22, 2024, and August 2, 2025. During these inspections, technicians detected that the venue was effectively operating as a nightclub without the required license.
Despite having authorization only as a bar-restaurant, inspections confirmed the presence of DJs, loud music, and a designated dance area. In addition, the venue charged an entrance fee that included a drink, a practice typical of nightlife venues.

After confirming these irregularities, the Consell de Formentera decreed on August 8, 2025, the provisional closure of the establishment until the detected deficiencies were corrected and the activity complied with current regulations.

Overcrowding

The technical reports included in the sanctioning file also detailed other relevant irregularities. One of the most serious was the overcrowding detected during inspections.
According to the technicians, the establishment exceeded the maximum permitted capacity—set at 50 people—by more than 300% and even up to 400%. This situation created a significant risk for the safety of attendees, further aggravated by the discovery of blocked or non-operational emergency exits.
This was compounded by the use of spaces located within the Ses Salines Natural Park without the necessary authorizations. During the inspections, noise levels close to 100 decibels were also recorded, far above the limits allowed in a protected natural environment.

Fine of 150,000 euros

In March 2026, the Governing Board of the Consell de Formentera finally approved the resolution of the sanctioning proceedings. The administration decided to impose a fine of 150,000 euros on the establishment, operated by the company Duo Formentera S.L.
Although the initial file included several violations classified as very serious, the final resolution chose to sanction only the main one: carrying out a major permanent activity—such as operating as a nightclub—without the corresponding license.

The other irregularities detected, such as overcrowding, environmental impact, and excessive noise levels, were included as aggravating circumstances within the main sanction.

Rejected appeals

During the processing of the procedure, the company submitted appeals requesting the dismissal of the case or, alternatively, a reduction in the severity of the alleged violations.
However, the legal services of the Consell rejected these appeals in their entirety. In their resolution, they concluded that the facts had been sufficiently proven through inspection reports and technical documentation, and that the procedure had been conducted with all legal guarantees.

Regional regulations provide for fines of up to 300,000 euros for very serious violations related to business activities. In this case, the administration set the fine in the upper half of the range, justifying the amount due to the presence of several aggravating factors, such as the safety risks caused by overcrowding, the environmental impact, and the fact that the activity took place in a protected natural area.