VISIT IBIZA

R E D E F I N I N G Ibiza

The 'White Island' has a well-earned reputation for being the ultimate party destination, with hedonistic tourists and serious music lovers flocking there every summer for decades. But amongst the throng of the party people, it's easy to overlook the history and culture soaked into the fabric of the island's buildings and beaches.Ibiza has a well kept secret; it is riddled with idyllic quiet corners, and in reality, as long as you avoid staying in Ibiza Town or San Antonio, you’ll succeed in escaping the madding crowds and finding your own calm and alluring slice of the island, discover the rich tapestry that is the island’s colourful history and find your own personal paradise. Travel back in time a handful of decades and Ibiza was a true escapist paradise. Wild, natural unspoilt and full of special magic. During the swinging sixties, hippies settled on the island that had already enjoyed decades of writers, painters, bohemians and other artists working and enjoying life on Eivissa. Hollywood stars came to escape and search for privacy and this Mediterranean island that shines with creativity eventually became an important music Mecca. The 'flower power' revolution bought with it a whole plethora of rock stars, lured by the friendly, open-minded, easy, laid-back vibe, unspoilt beauty and the sun which shines for 60% of the year. Ibiza was the island the place for those 'in the know'. When the tourism boom in the 1970s reached the white isle, cheaper travel came hand in hand, as well as newly built accommodation. With the influx of finance that tourism brought upon the isle, discos started to make their appearance. These define the history of recent times. Pacha quickly became the mecca of Ibiza nightlife when it opened in 1973. The end of the 70s broughtWham! to shoot 'Club Tropicana' and a whole new generation of young British holiday makers followed. To cater for all types of European taste, the soundtrack was wide and eclectic. The Balearic musical spirit was born. This wasn't missed a years later by visiting UK DJsDanny Rampling,Paul Oakenfold, Johnny Walker and Nicky Holloway who promptly took the attitude back to London. The early 90s saw this osmosis all come together. As European holiday makers came en masse, large clubs such as Amnesia and Ku Club easily filled to cater for this massive tourist industry. The word and reputation of these 'super clubs' quickly spread attracting the fashionable, rich and famous to experience the magic of Ibiza's amazing nightlife. Change was in the air, however. Change that would see the face of tourism change forever. Increasing prices and government regulations mounting all led to shifts in the dynamic of the island and true party clubbers started venturing to such alternative destinations as Malta and Croatia. The legendary but now closed forever super club Space most definitely represented the old days of freewheeling' clubbing. The open roof, jets flying over to a screaming dancefloor, in parallel to a relaxed yet hedonistic vibe are scribed into history. However, the wild spirit of Ibiza ever continues. It has simply evolved with time. The parties may be smaller than the superclub, but they are every bit as hedonistic as the spirit of the 'wild days'.

THE Ibiza Journey

Ibiza is a safe and accepting place. Anyone, no matter their age can come and enjoy. Party people - young and old arrive in droves over the summer and are swept up in the party culture. The beaches are plentiful and cater for all. Some are quiet, some a constant daytime party soundtracking the day, even nudists have their open places. Of course, the beaches wouldn't be an experience without the beach restaurant. Today, with climate change being undeniable, tourism in Ibiza is evolving and has become redivide. Luxury travel now isn’t just about opulence and hedonism, it is the ability to explore the world, safe in the knowledge you are doing so in a sustainable and ethical fashion. Sustainable tourism management ensures visitors are able to respect the island’s environment and support local development. Eco-tourism plays a huge role on the island, with environmental concerns shaping and pathing the way into the future. On an island of such excess, everyone from club owners to hoteliers, shopkeepers, DJs and villa owners are looking at ways of adjusting their offering to allow for a more sustainable future. There is almost a state of urgency about it all, with innovative answers being sought to protect Mother Nature, the most important lady of the White Isle. We have already witnessed a push for greener public transport, improvements on waste management, especially one-time-use plastics and an all important battle against oil explorations continues as ever. Many local environmental and tourist groups like Love Ibiza, Ibiza Limpia, and The Nature Project also sponsor beach clean-ups. Businesses, realising that the usual tourism spots are now bursting at the seems, have looked to set up off the beaten track, and so began the rise of Agrotourism. If we travelled back a decade, you would be pushed to find an agroturismos; an Italian word that refers to a working farm that rents out some of its rooms. Today, Ibiza has become world renowned for its huge influx of rustic yet luxurious traditional accommodation, where guests can stay in field and woodland settings and feast upon local produce, safe in the knowledge their green credentials are sustained. Don’t be fooled into thinking that off the beaten track means remote. Ibiza is a small island at 20km by 50km and so the path less trodden is only ever a hop, skip and perhaps a taxi ride away from the infamous clubs, restaurants and beaches. The ultimate pull is that visitors to the new rustic establishments get the perfect blend of nature, peace, hedonism and wild antics that are synonymous with Ibiza. With the tourist season expanding to welcome visitors much earlier in the year and holding on to them way past the time the sun sets on the average holiday season, Ibiza is now a year round destination. March and October are becoming the new must-visit dates, with tourists lured over by reduced prices, less crowding and yet a perfect average forecast of 24-27C. Ibiza and the island’s visitors are ever-evolving. What hasn’t changed is Ibiza’s magical concoction of magnetic traits that promise her visitors hypnotic sunsets, beach scenes, crystal clear waters, and of course, parties from dusk to dawn.

Eco-tourism plays a huge role on the island, with environmental concerns shaping and pathing the way into the future. Everyone from club owners to hoteliers, shopkeepers, DJs and villa owners are looking at ways of adjusting their offering to allow for a more sustainable future. ”

IBIZA, Naturally. IBIZA, Naturally.

It is without doubt that Ibiza is one of the most famous cities in the Balearic Islands for its spectacular clubbing scene, foodie credentials and luxury accommodation. However, you will discover that there is far more to Ibiza when you journey past the white washed walls and disco lights and discover the natural world that lies beyond. Ibiza boasts two worldclass nature reserves, each adorned with flora, fauna, landscapes and wildlife that will take your breath away. Here you’ll find mysterious caves, ancient monuments, folklore, almond groves and olives trees, crystal clear waters and rugged rock formations and the homes of a cornucopia of birds and beasts.

The es Vedrà und es Vedranell and the rocky islands of Poniente Nature Reserve

Set to the south west of the island, in the municipality Sant Josep de sa Talaia, you’ll find the nature reserve of es Vedrà und es Vedranell and the rocky islands of Poniente Nature Reserve. As one of the island’s most spectacular attractions, the reserve is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is surrounded by unspoiled beaches, cliffs and a horizon of rocky islands that make this place unique. If the sea, nature and their surroundings are your passion, then es Vedrà und es Vedranell and the rocky islands of Poniente Nature Reserve is your go-to place to leave your cares behind, take time out and just be at one with nature on holiday. Es Vedra is a small island that reaches almost 400m high, made of limestone and set like a beacon within the Mediterranean Sea. Surrounded by legends and mystery, it is thought to be the tip of the sunken city of Atlantis and the home of Homer’s wailing sirens who lured sailors to their peril.

Es Vedra is also the setting for one of Ibiza’s popular fables. Es Gegant des Vedrà or The Giant of Es Vedra is the story of two brothers who, set about curing their father of an incurable illness. They venture to the Es Vedrà island together to find rock samphire and, once there, come across a huge giant living upon the island, huddled in a rugged cave. The two brothers are cunning and, together with the assistance of sea urchins, manage to debilitate the giant and succeed in collecting the samphire for the cure. Throughout the years, the island’s only habitant was a monk who took residence in the mid 19th century, in order to escape the rest of the world. Aside from reportings of UFOs and other fantastical sightings, you’ll find only animals amongst the slopes and island caves. Wild goats roam, Ibizan wall lizards dart from rock to rock and an endangered species of falcons call it their home. Part of the reserve and the highest point in Ibiza, Sa Talaiassa stands tall at 473 metres high and is rich with lush vegetation and rare animal inhabitants. The peak is reachable by foot, or for the less active enthusiast, by car. Whether by foot or wheels, once you arrive, you will thank your lucky stars you made the journey. The views are simply spectacular and when the weather allows it, you can see right over to mainland Spain and Mallorca. It’s no wonder that the name translates to ‘Watchtower’.

IBIZA, Naturally.

Natural Park of Ses Salines

Take a trip to the south of the island and you’ll find Ibiza’s second natural park of Ses Salines. The Ses Salines d’Eivissa i Formentera Natural Park is located between the two islands of Ibiza and Formentera, comprising the southern area of the Ibiza, the north of Formentera and the sea that separates them. Throughout history this area has seen much salt production activity and over the years this has formed a unique landscape where countless species of birds come to nest, historical and cultural landmarks create spectacular points of interest and marine life thrives. The reserve covers 3000 hectares of land and 13,000 marine hectares and the seabeds are home to 220 different species of marine sea life. If you venture to the extreme coastlines of the park, you’ll find an idyllic setting where marine and coastal ecosystems exist in delicate harmony. Three quarters of the park is made up of marine seascapes, characterised by the existence of the oceanic Posidonia, an area of major marine ecological importance. The existence of this plant creates the supreme clarity of the area’s waters as well as serving as a protected area for a vast range of marine species. The Posidonia also plays a large part in protecting the beaches of Ibiza from wave erosion and in 1999 the site was declared well territory by UNESCO. Back on land the nature park is home to an impressive array of plant species; in fact it includes almost all of the plant species found on the Pityusic Islands. On the island of Formentera you’ll find coastal pine and juniper groves scattered throughout the park area as well as lush vegetation surrounding lagoons, cliffs and both mobile and semi mobile dunes. It is this dramatic terrain and spectacular landscapes that keep tourists flocking to witness the beauty of the park and the nature that lies within. Within the park, you’ll find over two hundred species of birds, with waterfowl and seabirds playing a major role. It’s a paradise for bird watchers, with flamingos, the common stork, the white jar, and the black-legged plover taking residence, along with seabirds such as the Audouin’s gull and the Balearic shearwater. Estany Pudent is home to one of the highest concentrations of black-necked grebes in Europe. Other famous residents include the Pityusic lizard (Podarcis pityusensis), endemic to these islands and with different subspecies on the islets, with characteristics that include the whole possible range of colours from brown to blue. The lizards of Formentera are hardy creatures and live on some of the driest and harshest environments for life. The humble garden dormouse (Eliomys quercinus) can also be found creeping amongst the wild vegetation, as well as various species of snails and beetles, also endemic to the island.

Throughout history this area has seen much salt production activity and over the years this has formed a unique landscape where countless species of birds come to nest