By Ramón Tur, Formentera resident
Ses Illetes is the most famous and beautiful beach in Formentera: fine white sand and calm, crystal-clear water, in the Ses Salines Natural Park, in the north of the island.
It is very close to the port of La Savina, which is why it is almost the only choice for people who come from Ibiza to spend the day. Here you will find how to get there, what services are available, how much the sun loungers cost, where to eat and which day is best to go.
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Location :
If you're planning to visit Formentera, make sure to check out our discount codes section first.
Ses Illetes is in the north of Formentera, inside the Ses Salines Natural Park. You get there along the road that skirts s’Estany Pudent from La Savina or es Pujols, as far as the signposted entrance.
The name means “the islets” (“illetes” is the diminutive of “illa”, island, in Catalan) and refers to the small islets just off the coast.
By car or motorbike. You enter through the Natural Park control barrier, where an access fee is paid. Fees, hours and rules are in our guide to parking at Ses Illetes. When the car park fills up, the “full” sign is displayed and a queue forms at the entrance: you have to wait for cars to leave before another is let in. The wait can be very long, so it is best to arrive early.
By bus. The tourist line L3 leaves from the port of La Savina and reaches Platja Illetes in about 15 minutes. The L7 is the option for those staying in Migjorn or es Pujols. Up-to-date timetables and prices at busformentera.com.
By taxi. The most common taxi ranks for getting to Ses Illetes 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.
On foot or by bike. It costs nothing. If you walk from La Savina, it is better to follow the coast as soon as you step off the ferry rather than walk along the road.
If you are coming from Ibiza for the day, you don’t need a car to get to Ses Illetes. By hiring a bike or a motorbike, or taking the L3 bus, you can reach the beach without any problem. Here is the ferry with discount code and an idea of how to spend a day in Formentera.
On foot or by bike, it is free; you don’t have to pay anything. By car or motorbike, an access fee is paid per day, and the price depends on the date. Electric vehicles don’t pay anything either: they enter and park for free. Check the current rates in the parking guide we have prepared for you.
Umbrella and sun lounger hire. They cost €10 per item (umbrella or sun lounger) per day. They cannot be booked in advance: they are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Restaurants. There are four on the beach: Es Ministre, Juan y Andrea, Es Molí de Sal and El Pirata. They are expensive restaurants: check the menu before ordering and, if you are on a tight budget, bring food and drink with you before heading to the beach.
Activities. At the northern end of the beach, a little beyond es Ministre, is the water sports school White Sand Surf, offering paddleboard and kayak hire and other water activities.
Any day is a good day to visit the most beautiful beach in Formentera, but the wind affects how you will find it. Let me explain.
Ses Illetes faces west. When the levante blows, an easterly wind, the wind goes from land to sea and the water at Ses Illetes stays flat, with no waves, with that look and those colours that fascinate everyone who visits. With other winds, it is worth looking at Llevant beach, behind Illetes, where the effect is the opposite.
If you're planning to visit Formentera, make sure to check out our discount codes section first.
At the northern end, es Pas des Trucadors is a tongue of sand separating Formentera from s’Espalmador. Even though it is tempting, and you will often see bathers crossing the channel on foot, it is dangerous: the currents are very strong and a red flag flies permanently. Sadly, drownings have occurred in this area because some people were unaware of the danger and overestimated themselves. [Align this sentence with the final Spanish version.]
Here is how to get to s’Espalmador safely.
The best hotels and apartments to stay near Ses Illetes are in es Pujols and La Savina, just 5 minutes by car or motorbike from the beach. Some of the hotels:
At the hotels and apartments on this list you can use the 4MENTERA discount code on the establishment’s official website.
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_
If you're planning to visit Formentera, make sure to check out our discount codes section first.
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