By Ramón Tur, Formentera resident ·
Es Arenals is a wide sandy beach in the Migjorn area, on the south coast of Formentera. It has a family atmosphere and the water is very shallow as you go in, but you should swim with care: there are currents further out.
Here you will find how to get there (the turning at km 10.9 and the free car park, and why the bus is not the best option), where to eat, when to go depending on the wind and what precautions to take.
Facilities :
Location :
Es Arenals is on the south coast of Formentera, on the stretch of Migjorn beach. It owes its name to the wide sandy area that this section of coast always keeps: “arenals”, in Catalan, are large expanses of sand.
It is about 400 metres long and a wide beach, with plenty of space between the dunes and the shore.
By car, motorbike or bicycle. Take the main road towards La Mola. At kilometre 10.9 you will find, on the right, the turning signposted for Es Arenals. After about 70 metres along that paved road there is a junction: left for Es Arenals; right for La Fragata beach. From there you can take almost any of the tracks that lead to the sea and you will reach the beach, but the most comfortable option is to carry on along the paved road to the car park, just behind the dunes. You can hire a car, scooter or bike with our discount code.
Car park. There is a parking area, and it is free and has no access control. See the car park’s location on Google Maps.
By bus. It does not reach the beach: line 2 leaves you at the “Cruilla Arenals” stop on the main road, 1.5 km from Es Arenals beach. In my opinion, it is not at all a comfortable way to visit Es Arenals.
By taxi. The most common taxi ranks are in the port of La Savina, in es Pujols and in Sant Francesc. If you are not near any of them, the most practical thing is to call Radio Taxi (971 32 23 42) and arrange a pick-up. In high season you may have to wait.
No. Unlike Ses Illetes and Levante, there is no access control here and the car park is free.
Umbrella and sun lounger hire. There is hire at several concessions along the beach. They cost €10 per item (umbrella or sun lounger) per day, the same price at every concession in Formentera. They cannot be booked in advance: they are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Beach bars (chiringuitos). Gitana, at the eastern end of the beach, and KM11, at the western end.
Restaurants. For lunch or dinner: Restaurante Flipper, Restaurante Hannah Formentera (in the building that was for years the Restaurante Es Arenals) and Restaurante Maysi.
Es Arenals looks like a calm beach, and it is, but it deserves a certain amount of care when swimming: along this part of the coast the currents are changeable, especially further out, and can put your safety at risk. You go in with very little depth and can touch the bottom for many metres, but do not stray far from the shore if there is a current. Always check the colour of the flag to know the swimming conditions.
Professional lifeguards. The beach has two lifeguard towers. The service runs from 1 May to 31 October, from 11:00 to 18:00, seven days a week, as on the other beaches in Formentera that have lifeguards.
“Reactive” rescuers. At Es Arenals, as at Llevant, the “reactive rescuers” work: staff of the beach concessions trained to act in emergencies until the medical services arrive. They are the ones who respond when the professional lifeguards are off duty, that is, before 11:00 and after 18:00.
If you witness an emergency, call 112.
Es Arenals has a family atmosphere and naturism is not commonly seen. If you would like to practise it, other parts of Migjorn are more suitable, although no beach in Formentera bans it.
The ideal conditions to visit Es Arenals are with an easterly or northerly wind: the sea is flat and the white sand and the blue of the water show dreamy blues.
All this part of the Formentera coast is affected, especially in winter, by storms that can change the look of the area from one year to the next, and Es Arenals is no exception. Even so, you can usually count on a very wide beach between the dunes and the sea, with a very gradual drop in depth.
There is nothing more magical than spending an evening on Migjorn beach, with the sun slowly sinking on the horizon over the cliffs of Cap de Barbaria, accompanied by the sound of the waves and savouring a freshly made mojito.
You can watch the sunset from the beach itself or from some of the rocks near the two beach bars, accompanied by the music dedicated to that moment.
If you are looking for a relaxed atmosphere and breathtaking views, Chiringuito Gitana, at the far eastern end of the beach, is the perfect choice. Here, amid warm colours and an authentic vibe, you will find a little corner of paradise.
Towards the western end, Chiringuito KM11 awaits you, a perfect spot for those looking for a unique experience and an always lively atmosphere. Excellent cocktails and a spectacular view will stay with you until the last ray of sun, to the rhythm of “Follow the Sun” by Xavier Rudd.
Whatever your choice, a sunset at Migjorn is a moment to remember forever from your holidays in Formentera.
I’m Ramón Tur, the person behind everything written and photographed on this website about Formentera. I discovered the island in 1972 when my parents, aboard the mythical Joven Dolores, took me on vacation from Ibiza for the first time, and it was love at first sight that has only grown stronger over time, making Formentera my place of residence for many years now. If you wish, you can follow me on Instagram @4mentera.com_
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